2002 Audi A4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A4 years
- Far more complaints than other years 8th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Audi A4. That ranks 8th out of 31 A4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (76 complaints, 42%), typically at around 9,700 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 181owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Audi A4 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 76 | 42% | 9,700 | “ignition coil” (39%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 28 | 15% | 29,100 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 9% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 9% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 11 | 6% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 4% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 4% | 5,455 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 3% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 3% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 3% | 1,873 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 3% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 2% | 8,916 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 2% | 73,769 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 2% | 56,600 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 2% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% | 97,250 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | 193,897 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | 33,930 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | 300 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 26,286 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Audi A4 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
I slid off a wet curvy down hill road and slammed into an embankment. Went unconscious and woke with a large laceration to back of head. Saw that the passenger airbags exploded but none for driver's side. Seatbelt on driver's side tighten so tight could strangled me if i was wearing it. Have video…
When it rains water gets in the car on the driver side now my window dont come down are up
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, [redacted]) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS…
Takata recall; fuel pump went out while driving causing car to stop and almost lead to an accident. (ca electric components do not always work, window is a big one. Wheels all had to be replaced within six months and the axel appears to cause wheel damage. Constant leaks such as coolent.
Other Audi A4 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 A4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 A4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 A4 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 A4 | 6 | 3 |
| 2021 A4 | 11 | 4 |
| 2020 A4 | 128 | 3 |
| 2019 A4 | 10 | 1 |
| 2018 A4 | 45 | 1 |
| 2017 A4 | 55 | 1 |
| 2016 A4 | 11 | 0 |
| 2015 A4 | 19 | 0 |
| 2014 A4 | 32 | 0 |
| 2013 A4 | 24 | 0 |
| 2012 A4 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 A4 | 11 | 0 |
| 2010 A4 | 64 | 0 |
| 2009 A4 | 120 | 2 |
| 2008 A4 | 175 | 4 |
| 2007 A4 | 196 | 3 |
| 2006 A4 | 295 | 3 |
| 2005 A4 | 219 | 3 |
| 2004 A4 | 189 | 2 |
| 2003 A4 | 210 | 3 |
| 2002 | 181 | 1 |
| 2001 A4 | 131 | 1 |
| 2000 A4 | 96 | 2 |
| 1999 A4 | 190 | 4 |
| 1998 A4 | 258 | 4 |
| 1997 A4 | 98 | 6 |
| 1996 A4 | 89 | 4 |
| 1995 A4 | 1 | 1 |
See all Audi A4 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Audi A4?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, exterior lighting problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 76 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Audi A4?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Audi A4 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A4 model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.