The 2002 Audi A4 has 2 safety recalls and 181 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (79 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints181filed by owners
Crashes · fires13 · 6reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints
2002 Audi A4 in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
NHTSA recall 21V470000 · Jun 23, 2021 · 62,812 vehicles
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
NHTSA recall 14E007000 · Mar 7, 2014 · 50 vehicles
Problem: The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Risk: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2002 Audi A4 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
2002 Audi A4 Avant 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
A4
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
A4
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel
A4 quattro
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel
A4 Avant quattro
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel
A4 quattro
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
A4 Avant quattro
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
A4
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
A4 quattro
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
A4 quattro
18mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
A4 Avant quattro
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
A4 Avant quattro
18mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Ignition; Wiring
79
0
5
0
9,382 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Nov 24, 2020 · 370,000 miles · fireEngine 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 HEADLIGHT ISSUE OR A WIRING ISSUE.. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT.
Aug 22, 2020 · 193,897 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags 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 OF MALFUNCTIONING SEATBELT AND AIRBAG
Dec 15, 2018 · 144,678 milesUnknown or other WHEN IT RAINS WATER GETS IN THE CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE NOW MY WINDOW DONT COME DOWN ARE UP
Aug 7, 2018 · 150,000 milesEngine 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, (833) 448-2449) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Mar 24, 2018 · 106,000 milesElectrical system 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.
Feb 10, 2018 · 89,000 milesEngine WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE WHEEL STEERING SUDDENLY BLOCKED AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT NOR TO THE RIGHT. MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE STREET SHOULDER. DIAGNOSTIC AT THE BODY SHOP: POWER STEERING BELT BROKEN AND EVEN MISSING. NEED REPLACEMENT.
Mar 7, 2018 · 90,000 milesEngine WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE CAME OUT. STOPPED VEHICLE ON THE SIDE ROAD TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. DROVE AFTER ENGINE HAS COOLED OFF TO THE NEXT BODY SHOP. DIAGNOSTIC: ENGINE COOLING IS LEAKING, WATER PUMP IS DEFECT. TIMING BELT WILL BE AFFECTED IF NOT REPLACED AS WELL.
Dec 20, 2010 · 134,000 miles · crashSuspension I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN RENTON WA. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR WENT BY I NOTICED THAT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE TITLE. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO CONTACT DMV. TALKED TO A PERSON IN THE RENTON OFFICE AND TWICE TO THE COVINGTON OFFICE. THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY A 39 DOLLAR CHARGE TO GET A TITLE. DECIDED TO MAYBE TRADE THE CAR IN AND FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS BENT. I ALREADY SPENT 1200 DOLLARS FOR PARTS MISSING ON THE CAR. NOW ANOTHER PART IS AD AT ANOTHER 1500 DOLLARS TO MAKE THE AIR WORK. APPARENTLY THE CAR HAD BEEN CRASHED AND PICKED BACK TOGETHER JUST TO OFF IT. COMPLAINED A OUT PARTS MISSING AND THEY AGREED TO GIVE ME 400 DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM. NEVER DID SEE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
