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
What owners actually said
181 reports
56,600 miles · Dec 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY SO THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY SO THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THIS FAILURE WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAD BECOME CAUGHT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT HAD NOT HAPPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,600. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11
NHTSA ODI #10369120
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2010
Exterior Lighting
NO KNOWN EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT STOPS WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS FREQUENTLY IN AUDI A4 OF MODEL YEAR 2002-06. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10362179
110,000 miles · Sep 16, 2010
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS FOR THE 2002-2005(6) AUDI A4 WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF AND OFTEN TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY ANN ACCIDENT OR IMPROPER CARE BUT RATHER FAULTY MANUFACTURING. IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES. WHEN THIS PROBLEM BEGINS IT WILL TYPICALLY OCCUR REGULARLY (EVERY USE OF THE VEHICLE). REPLACI…
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THE HEADLIGHTS FOR THE 2002-2005(6) AUDI A4 WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF AND OFTEN TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY ANN ACCIDENT OR IMPROPER CARE BUT RATHER FAULTY MANUFACTURING. IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES. WHEN THIS PROBLEM BEGINS IT WILL TYPICALLY OCCUR REGULARLY (EVERY USE OF THE VEHICLE). REPLACING THE BULBS DOES NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS INHERENT IN THE IGNITER WHICH AUDI CHARGES APPROXIMATELY $600. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356012
155,000 miles · Sep 15, 2010
Exterior Lighting
2002 AUDI A4 WITH HID HEAD LAMPS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. GET AN ERROR CODE "FRONT RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" OR "LEFT FRONT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" WHILE LIGHTS GO OFF COMPLETELY. HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS SUCH THAT I HAD THE BULBS REPLACED BUT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10355814
106,555 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Exterior Lighting
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ON 2002 AUDI A4 QUATTRO KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING AFTER MULTIPLE DEALERSHIP MAINTENANCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353106
58,000 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Exterior Lighting
MY 2002 AUDI A4 3.0 HAS A RECURRING ISSUE WHERE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I WILL DRIVE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GET A "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" NOTIFICATION. IF I TAP THE EXTERIOR OF THE LIGHT IT WILL TEMPORARILY RETURN TO POWER. BUT WITHIN A FEW MORE MINUTES THE LIGHT GOES BACK OUT. THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT BROU…
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MY 2002 AUDI A4 3.0 HAS A RECURRING ISSUE WHERE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I WILL DRIVE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GET A "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" NOTIFICATION. IF I TAP THE EXTERIOR OF THE LIGHT IT WILL TEMPORARILY RETURN TO POWER. BUT WITHIN A FEW MORE MINUTES THE LIGHT GOES BACK OUT. THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT BROUGHT ON THE FAILURE. IT JUST HAPPENED ONE NIGHT AND HAS CONTINUED SINCE THEN. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE, ALTHOUGH ONE MECHANIC HAS SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT FOR CLOSE TO $1000. THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T AFFORD, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TICKETABLE OFFENSE SO I'VE BEEN FORCED TO LIMIT MY NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10352989
75,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Power Train
MY 2002 AUDI A4 HAS A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THIS DEFECT RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF MY ABILITY TO PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE (AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION). THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE PAST MONTH ( WHICH IS WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED). I WAS FACED WITH A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE WHERE I NEEDED TO RE…
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MY 2002 AUDI A4 HAS A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THIS DEFECT RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF MY ABILITY TO PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE (AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION). THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE PAST MONTH ( WHICH IS WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED). I WAS FACED WITH A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE WHERE I NEEDED TO REVERSE IN ORDER TO AVOID A BUS FROM HITTING MY CAR WHILE IT WAS TURNING ONTO THE ROAD I WAS STOPPED AT. THE REVERSE DID NOT WORK, AND IT ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I QUICKLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO REVERSE AND LUCKILY (THAT TIME) IT WORKED. I NOTICED THAT WHEN MY CAR DOESN'T REVERSE THE PRND FLASHES ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICED THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR AUDI A4'S. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY ERROR THAT AUDI HAS NOT RECALLED. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILING AND SAID IT WILL GET WORSE OVER TIME. I CALLED MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10350391
102,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
Exterior Lighting
I OWN A 2002 AUDI A4 1.8L TURBO. EVERY TIME I NEED TO USE MY HEADLIGHTS, I GET A "LEFT HEADLAMP DIPPED" MESSAGE AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON. THERE ARE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THIS OTHER THAN STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING MY LIGHTS ON. IT HAS OCCURRED NOW FOR 1 YEAR. AT FIRST, TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON REPEATEDL…
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I OWN A 2002 AUDI A4 1.8L TURBO. EVERY TIME I NEED TO USE MY HEADLIGHTS, I GET A "LEFT HEADLAMP DIPPED" MESSAGE AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON. THERE ARE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THIS OTHER THAN STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING MY LIGHTS ON. IT HAS OCCURRED NOW FOR 1 YEAR. AT FIRST, TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON REPEATEDLY WOULD TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM AND TURN BOTH LIGHTS ON. BUT NOW, THE LEFT LIGHT WILL NEVER TURN ON AND THE ERROR MESSAGE STILL APPEARS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AND READ MANY AUDI OWNERS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM- ALL OF WHICH HAVE NOT SOLVED THE ISSUE, EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO AUDI DEALERSHIPS FOR SERVICE. AUDI TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE ANSWER, AND AUDI SEEMS TO BE PERPLEXED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT! ESSENTIALLY, I CAN NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT ANYMORE FOR FEAR OF LOSING MY ONLY WORKING HEADLIGHT, AND FOR FEAR OF BEING TICKETED BY POLICE. AUDI NEEDS TO FIND A SOLUTION AND FIX THEIR HEADLAMPS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344461
119,000 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 119000.
NHTSA ODI #10342665
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2010
Exterior Lighting
2002 AUDI A4 3.0 QUATTRO SEDAN HAS HAD PULSATING/FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IF NOT A YEAR OR TWO. CENTRAL ELECTRONIC MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE PULSATING HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED. THEREAFTER, AUDI INDICATED "LEFT DIPPING HEADLIGHT" WHICH OCCURRED WHEN THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DIED. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED TO SOLVE…
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2002 AUDI A4 3.0 QUATTRO SEDAN HAS HAD PULSATING/FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IF NOT A YEAR OR TWO. CENTRAL ELECTRONIC MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE PULSATING HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED. THEREAFTER, AUDI INDICATED "LEFT DIPPING HEADLIGHT" WHICH OCCURRED WHEN THE LEFT HEADLIGHT DIED. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ARGUMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT AUDI/ AUDI OF AMERICA HAS HAD A DEGREE OF KNOWLEDGE IN TERMS OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM YET HAVE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY SOLVE IT. *TR
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.
2002 Audi A4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year