Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Audi A4 problems
Owners filed 189 complaints about the 2002 Audi A4 with NHTSA between May 2002 and Nov 2020. The most-cited component is electrical system (76).
Complaints
189
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system76
- Engine and engine cooling29
- Exterior lighting18
- Power train17
- Visibility12
- Equipment11
- Tires9
- Air bags8
- Vehicle speed control6
- Engine5
- Suspension5
- Seats5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Wheels3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
47
58
7
5
10
13
10
3
16
5
4
0
2
2
0
0
4
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2003 | 58 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
76 reports4 fires
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
29 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT WITHOUT PROPER WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITHIN THE ENGINE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Exterior lighting
18 reports1 fire
“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.”
Power train
17 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THEY DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO BUY HER VEHICLE FOR $500. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.”
Visibility
12 reports1 fire
“WIPERS 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”
Equipment
11 reports1 fire
“I BOUGHT A 2002 3.0 A4 QUATTRO ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO. A MONTH AFTER BUYING IT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WHEN YOU START THE CAR IT GIVES YOU A "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" WARNING AND THEN HAS A PICTURE OF A BULB WITH AN X ACROSS IT. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND ENDED UP BUYING A NEW BULB FOR IT. TURNS OUT THE BULB WASN'T OUT AND THE PROBLEM RESOLVED ITSELF IN ABOUT A WEEK. THE LIGHT WORKED FINE AFTER THAT. ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO I INSTALLED AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS. THEY WORKED PERFECTLY UP UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO. NOW I AM GETTING THE SAME "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" WARNING WHEN I TURN ON THE LIGHTS. THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE LOW BEAMS. THE PARKING LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS WORK JUST FINE. I FIGURED THE PROBLEM WOULD RESOLVE ITSELF AS IT DID LAST TIME, BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY AUDI OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND NOBODY HAS FOUND A FIX FOR IT. REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TIMES THEY TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP OR REPLACE THE BULBS, THE PROBLEM STILL RETURNS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.