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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.

About this comparison →
181Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76.5

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
190
199996
2000131
2001181
2002210
2003189
2004219
2005
Compare all A4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
76Engine And Engine Cooling
28Exterior Lighting
17Power Train
16Visibility
11
All reported categories
Air Bags
8Equipment
8Tires
6Engine
5Seats
5Suspension
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Unknown Or Other
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Wheels
3Fuel/propulsion System
2Seat Belts
2Steering
2Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
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87,000 miles · Feb 26, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE PEDAL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THERE WAS NO BRAKING FORCE AT ALL. I ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT WAS UNABLE TO BEFORE THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE GARAGE, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE HOUSE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE BODY S…

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WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE PEDAL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THERE WAS NO BRAKING FORCE AT ALL. I ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT WAS UNABLE TO BEFORE THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE GARAGE, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE HOUSE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE BODY SHOP AND WILL THEN BE SENT TO THE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219210

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

2002 AUDI A4 CUSTOMER STATES THAT FAILED BRAKES CAUSED AN ACCIDENT**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES COLLAPSED UPON HIM TRYING TO APPLY THEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE COLLISION MUST HAVE OCCURRED FIRST, AND IN THE COURSE OF THE COLLISION, THE BRACKET IN WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS MOUNTED COLLAPSED, AS IT WAS DESIGNED T…

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2002 AUDI A4 CUSTOMER STATES THAT FAILED BRAKES CAUSED AN ACCIDENT**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES COLLAPSED UPON HIM TRYING TO APPLY THEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE COLLISION MUST HAVE OCCURRED FIRST, AND IN THE COURSE OF THE COLLISION, THE BRACKET IN WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS MOUNTED COLLAPSED, AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10191109

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW VEHICLE ROLLING OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, AND IT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10065454

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.