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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

Steering complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
65,000 miles · Jan 15, 2009
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE GRINDING NOISE PERSISTED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WORSENED WHEN MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE GRINDING NOISE PERSISTED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WORSENED WHEN MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. THE FLUID WAS REFILLED AND THE GRINDING NOISE CEASED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE NOISE RETURNED AND WAS WORSE THAN EVER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10255168

2,860 miles · Dec 17, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipmentSeatsFire

IGNITION COIL FAILED ON HIGHWAY. CAR "SHOOK" VIOLENTLY UNTIL STOPPED IN PARKING LOT. ONCE CAR WAS OFF THE ROAD, THE COIL HOUSING CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ULTIMATELY BURNED ITSELF OUT, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED AUDI USA OF THE DEFECT AND RECOMMENDED VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. AUDI US…

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IGNITION COIL FAILED ON HIGHWAY. CAR "SHOOK" VIOLENTLY UNTIL STOPPED IN PARKING LOT. ONCE CAR WAS OFF THE ROAD, THE COIL HOUSING CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ULTIMATELY BURNED ITSELF OUT, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED AUDI USA OF THE DEFECT AND RECOMMENDED VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. AUDI USA ELECTED TO REPAIR CAR UNDER WARRANTY. MULTIPLE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE (SEE LIST). TS

NHTSA ODI #10000173

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.