IllustrationTHIS IS A MORE COMMON ISSUE THEN AUDI WILL ADMIT, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND AUDI STILL WONT REPLACE ALL 6 IGNITION COILS (THEY REPLACE THEM ON A AS NEEDED BASIS).*AK
2002 Audi A4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most A4 years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →181Owner complaints
Model-year median: 76.5
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2002 Audi A4
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 181 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 76 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 28 reports
- Exterior Lighting: 17 reports
- Power Train: 16 reports
- Visibility: 11 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
520–25K
1425–50K
1350–75K
1675–100K
12100–150K
7150K+
114 reports with mileage · 67 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
76 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
COIL PACKS ARE FAILING ON MANY OF THESE CARS. I HAD TO HAVE 2 FAIL BEFORE THEY WOULD REPLACE ALL 4. THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED IF THIS IS HAPPENING SO OFTEN TO SO MANY. *AK
ACCORDING TO REPORTS ON AUDI FORUMS, COIL PACKS HAVE BEEN FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE. THERE IS ONE PER CYLINDER, AND PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SUCCESSIVE FAILURES. AUDI OF AMERICA WILL ONLY REPLACE THE FAILED ITEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, AND ALL THE DEFECTIVE ITEMS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE IGNITION COIL FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. *SLC
Recall campaigns
121V470000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jun 23, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CJ.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.