2002 Audi A4
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 76 of 181 complaints (42%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 131 in 2001 to 181 in 2002.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2002 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,250–4,300 | 3,350–4,300 | 3,350–4,300 | 3,350–4,300 | 3,350–4,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–24 | 18–23 | 18–23 | 18–23 | 19–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–21 / 22–29 | 15–20 / 22–29 | 15–20 / 23–29 | 16–20 / 23–29 | 16–20 / 23–29 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 370–494 | 386–494 | 386–494 | 386–494 | 386–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 96 | 131 | 181 | 210 | 189 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2002 Audi A4 have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2002 Audi A4?
Electrical: 76 of 181 NHTSA complaints (42%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Audi A4 get?
EPA rates it 18–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 Audi A4?
EPA estimates $3,350–$4,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (11)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg | 25 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 17 mpg | 26 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $4,300 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 16 mpg | 23 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $4,300 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 17 mpg | 26 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 15 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $4,300 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 11 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 16 mpg | 23 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $4,300 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 76 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 21V470000 · Jun 24, 2021
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 · Campaign 14E007000 · Mar 12, 2014
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: 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.