IllustrationWIPERS FAILED AS I WAS TRAVELING ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM. THE PROBLEM WAS A SEIZED WIPER PIVOT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH WAS CLEANED AND LUBRICATED, AND IS NOW IN WORKING CONDITION. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales 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
Visibility complaints
11 reportsWINDSHIELD WIPERS SLOWED CONSIDERABLY AND STOPPED WORKING; FORTUNATELY WE WERE ONLY A HALF-MILE FROM HOME. MECHANIC ADVISED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY WIPER BRACKETS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. ADVISED THEY WERE SURPRISED AUDI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 AUDI A4. WIPER STOPPED WORKING. CHECKED FORUMS AND THE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS INTERMITTENTLY, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, ADJUST THEMSELVES OUTWARD MAKING OPERATION A DANGER. NEVER ABLE TO DUPLICATE AT DEALER, NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND STILL A PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY TO EVALUATE, AND NOW THEY SAY THEY WILL ONLY PAY IF THEY FIND SOMETHING. *JB
THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR HAS AUTO DIMMING FEATURE THAT HAS FAILED TO WORK CONSISTENTLY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. THI SAME MIRROR ALSO ADJUSTS ITSELF WITHOUT THE OPERATOR TOUCHING THE ADJUSMENT SWITCH. THE DEALERS COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THESE PROBLEMS AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.
NUMBEROUS OF FAILURES; WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM, DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR BURNED OUT 3 TIMES, ALL REPLACED. *BF THE FIRST DAY THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE LOT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, HOWEVER 2 MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, AND 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A SMALL…
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NUMBEROUS OF FAILURES; WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM, DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR BURNED OUT 3 TIMES, ALL REPLACED. *BF THE FIRST DAY THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE LOT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, HOWEVER 2 MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, AND 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A SMALLER BATTERY WAS INADVERTENTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY, RADIO AND SPEAKERS WERE REPLACED. *JB
STEREO-FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT ON AT LEAST (4) OCCASIONS WINSHIELD FLUID DISPENSER/WIPER MALFUNCTION SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION-AT LEAST (5) OCCASIONS SOLENOID VALVE BAD CLUTCH SWITCH BAD BLOWER IN AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER UNIT BAD PIRELI TIRES-BROKEN BELTS IN ALL FOUR (AT 25,000 MILES)- THESE ARE THE TIRES PLACED ON …
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STEREO-FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT ON AT LEAST (4) OCCASIONS WINSHIELD FLUID DISPENSER/WIPER MALFUNCTION SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION-AT LEAST (5) OCCASIONS SOLENOID VALVE BAD CLUTCH SWITCH BAD BLOWER IN AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER UNIT BAD PIRELI TIRES-BROKEN BELTS IN ALL FOUR (AT 25,000 MILES)- THESE ARE THE TIRES PLACED ON THE VEHICLE BY AUDI COILS BAD GAS GAUGE MIS READ
RIGHT SIDE MIRROR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE, HOWEVER WHEN YOU GO BACK IN FIRST THE MIRROR DOES NOT RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL SPOT. AUDI HAS SAID THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. IT IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE BECAUSE EVERYTIME YOU NEED THAT MIRROR IT IS …
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RIGHT SIDE MIRROR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE, HOWEVER WHEN YOU GO BACK IN FIRST THE MIRROR DOES NOT RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL SPOT. AUDI HAS SAID THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. IT IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE BECAUSE EVERYTIME YOU NEED THAT MIRROR IT IS POINTED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION (USUALLY INTO THE SKY). IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND GENERAL DRIVING, THE MIRROR IS NEVER IN THE CORRECT SPOT. I HAVE HAD SOME VERY CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE IN ORDER TO SEE IN THAT VEHICLE YOU NEED THAT RIGHT SIDE MIRROR. I RECENTLY HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AT 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE A GUY CUT ME OFF, I COULD HAVE EASILY MOVED INTO THE OTHER LANE BUT BECAUSE THE MIRROR WAS POINTED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, THIS WAS NOT AN OPTION. WHEN I SLAMMED THE BRAKES THE BUY BEHIND ME SLAMMED HIS AND SLIDE RIGHT BY ME NARROWLY BASHING MY BACK BUMPER. THE WHOLE THING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE MIRROR WORKED. THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR THAT HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. AUDI AGAIN HAS SAID IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT FIXED IT. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND AN ACCIDENT(S) IS WAITING TO HAPPEN. THANKS
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
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.