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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Engine complaints

5 reports
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370,000 miles · Nov 25, 2020
EngineExterior LightingFire

2002 AUDI A4 WITH 370K BURNED A BIT OF OIL WHICH WAS FINE CLEANED THE ENGINE OUT WITH CLEANERS IT SMOKED A BIT WHICH IS NORMAL.. HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING 'HIDS' SO I PARKED IT. 3 DAYS LATER I GO TO TAKE THE CAR ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT LIT ON FIRE ! NOT SURE IF IT WAS A HEADLIGHT ISSUE OR A WIRING ISSUE.. I…

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2002 AUDI A4 WITH 370K BURNED A BIT OF OIL WHICH WAS FINE CLEANED THE ENGINE OUT WITH CLEANERS IT SMOKED A BIT WHICH IS NORMAL.. HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING 'HIDS' SO I PARKED IT. 3 DAYS LATER I GO TO TAKE THE CAR ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT LIT ON FIRE ! NOT SURE IF IT WAS A HEADLIGHT ISSUE OR A WIRING ISSUE.. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT.

NHTSA ODI #11376377

150,000 miles · Dec 7, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT. AUDI BROOKLYN (665 65TH ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11220, (833) 448-2449) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11156722

89,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE WHEEL STEERING SUDDENLY BLOCKED AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT NOR TO THE RIGHT. MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE STREET SHOULDER. DIAGNOSTIC AT THE BODY SHOP: POWER STEERING BELT BROKEN AND EVEN MISSING. NEED REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11081003

90,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE CAME OUT. STOPPED VEHICLE ON THE SIDE ROAD TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. DROVE AFTER ENGINE HAS COOLED OFF TO THE NEXT BODY SHOP. DIAGNOSTIC: ENGINE COOLING IS LEAKING, WATER PUMP IS DEFECT. TIMING BELT WILL BE AFFECTED IF NOT REPLACED AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11081002

152,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Engine

I AM WRITING REGARDING A SAD STORY ABOUT MY 2002 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0 SEDAN . WHILE I REALIZE THAT THE CAR IS NOT NEW, AND WITH 152,000 MILES ON THE ROAD; I AM STILL DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERIES OF EVENTS THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE NOW! ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AS I TURNED THE ENGINE ON, I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING …

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I AM WRITING REGARDING A SAD STORY ABOUT MY 2002 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0 SEDAN . WHILE I REALIZE THAT THE CAR IS NOT NEW, AND WITH 152,000 MILES ON THE ROAD; I AM STILL DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERIES OF EVENTS THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE NOW! ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AS I TURNED THE ENGINE ON, I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING LIKE SOMETHING HAD BEEN HIT AND FALLEN APART IN THE ENGINE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (FLASHING). I TOOK IT TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC. AT THIS POINT, I AM THINKING THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH A COIL ? BUT NOT REALLY SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOT THAT LONG AGO, MIGHT I ADD! WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS. ONCE THEY OPENED THE CASE, THEY FOUND SCREWS LOSE THAT HAD LITERALLY FALLEN OFF AND BROKEN. THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT HOUSING WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AMONGST OTHER PARTS (I HAVE PICTURES). HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE? AFTER ALL, THE BOLTS ARE ENCASED, AND IT IS NOT LIKE ANYONE MESSED WITH THEM. THE SAD PART IS THAT THE SAME HAD HAPPENED ON THE OTHER SIDE A YEAR AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573561

Official recalls

1

21V470000 · 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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.