Photo: Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2002 Audi A4: common problems and reliability
· 2000-2004One of the weaker A4 years.
189 owner complaints, most about electrical system. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2002 A4?The 2002 Audi A4 has 189 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and engine and engine cooling. Owners most often flag oil sludge in the engine.
Safety record for the 2002 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2002 Audi A4 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other A4 years only. How we score it
Is 2002 a good year for the A4?
Across the 28 A4 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2023) to 673 (2007). With 189 complaints, the 2002 A4 sits above the model's median of 110.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2002 A4
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 21V470000Volkswagen 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.
engine and engine cooling:engine
Campaign 14E007000The 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.
What owners report on the 2000-2004 A4
Owners express a deeply divided sentiment about this generation.
- RecurrentOil sludge in the engine
- RecurrentTurbo whining and failure
- RecurrentTiming belt replacement is expensive and labor-intensive
- RecurrentDigital display/instrument cluster panel fails
- IsolatedOil fumes entering the cabin
Owner insights for the 2000-2004 A4. Read the full 2000-2004 owner report.
Typical used price
Used A4 listings typically run $12,444–$21,675 across 2007 to 2024 model years.
Other A4 model years
Compare every A4 year side by side to see how 2002 ranks against the rest.
Compare the A4 against its rivals
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