NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 104 owner complaints for the 2002 Audi Allroad. Most complaints involve electrical system (18) and engine and engine cooling (16). The EPA rates it 16 mpg combined.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 68,240 MY 2001-2004 AUDI A6 QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L, 2.8L, OR 3.0L ENGINES AND MY 2001-2005 ALLROAD QUATTRO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.7L OR 4.2L ENGINES. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMINUM VENTILATION LINE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE NIPPLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HALOGEN LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, CERTAIN CONNECTOR PINS IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. NOTE: VEHICLES WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT IN THESE VEHICLES CONTAINS A FUSE, WHICH PRECLUDES EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW IN THE CASE OF A SHORT CIRCUIT. AUDI S6 AND S6 AVANT VEHICLES ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH XENON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND, THEREFORE, ARE NOT LONGER AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER'S KNEES PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT) LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT CAN CONTACT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND FELT MY BACK IN PAIN/BURNING. THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT HAD CAUGHT THE SEAT BACK ON FIRE AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED MY SKIN. LUCKILY, I WAS ON A CITY STREET WITH A SPOT ABLE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY, TURN OFF THE CAR, AND SMOTHER THE FLAME WITH MY JACKET. I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AND UNABLE TO PULL OVER THIS WOULD HAVE BURNED ME MUCH WORSE OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN I REPORTED IT TO AUDI ALL THEY HAD TO SAY WAS IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND ASK ME TO PAY $190 TO DIAGNOSE IT. I DON'T THINK 'OOPS IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY' COVERS MY SEAT CATCHING ON FIRE AND BURNING ME WHILE I'M DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BECOME A DEADLY INCIDENT IN DIFFERENT DRIVING CONDITIONS! HOW IS THIS OK?! THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY!”
“MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS MARKING MISFIRE BUT I HAVE GOTTEN A COMPLETE TUNE-UP, CHANGED ALL 6 COILS ON THE ENGINE CHANGED ALL THE SPARK PLUGS, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AND CHANGED EVERYTHING I CAN THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ENGINE ALL BRAND NEW AND NOTHING HAS WORKED AND ITS STILL SAYING MISFIRE...I'VE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM FOR AUDI'S AND THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING... ALSO, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL ONE DAY MY WINDOWS WORK THE NEXT IT DOESN'T SOMETIMES MY LIGHTS WILL WORK AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, SOMETIMES MY RADIO WILL WORK SOME TIMES IT DOESN'T, THE INFORMATION ON MY DASH SOMETIMES DOESN'T LIGHT UP AND I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING AT NIGHT TIME, I HAVE CONSTANTLY BEEN TO THE MECHANICS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON BUT WE CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, I'VE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS BUT ITS REALLY MAKING IT HARD FOR ME TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY ON MY CAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME AND MY LIGHTS END UP NOT WORKING I CAN CAUSE A VERY BIG ACCIDENT I AM VERY VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE DEFECTS,…”
“RAINWATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE, COLLECTING IN THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL, SHORTING OUT SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I UNDERSTAND VW/AUDI VEHICLES HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS OCCURRING DUE TO FIREWALL/POLLEN FILTER/SUNROOF DEFICIENCIES WHICH ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN AND THEY AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE VERY UNCOOPERATIVE IN EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE DESIGN OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS INHERENT DESIGN FLAW. AUDI IS VERY UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS TO DENY SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AT NO TIME DURING ANY REGULAR SERVICE WAS IT EVER SUGGESTED THAT THESE DRAIN PLUGS SHOULD BE CLEANED - WHILE THE CLEANING OF THE SUNROOF RAILS WERE??? NO OWNER COULD POSSIBLY BE AWARE THAT SUCH A DISASTER AWAITS THEM IF THESE INACCESSIBLE DRAIN PLUGS AREN'T CLEANED. *JS”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allroad Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | $5,000 | 555 |
| Allroad Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | $5,000 | 555 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Oct 29, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 104 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (18), engine and engine cooling (16), power train (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2002 Audi Allroad at 16 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).