Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2002 Audi A4. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Air Bag Inflators May Underinflate Bag
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (181)
181 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 181 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 76 | 42% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 28 | 15.5% |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 9.4% |
| Power train | 16 | 8.8% |
| Visibility | 11 | 6.1% |
| Air bags | 8 | 4.4% |
| Equipment | 8 | 4.4% |
| Tires | 6 | 3.3% |
| Engine | 5 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 2.8% |
How 2002 compares with other A4 years
Best and worst A4 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 258 | 4 |
| 1999 | 190 | 4 |
| 2000 | 96 | 2 |
| 2001 | 131 | 1 |
| 2002 | 181 | 1 |
| 2003 | 210 | 3 |
| 2004 | 189 | 2 |
| 2005 | 219 | 3 |
| 2006 | 298 | 4 |
| 2007 | 219 | 5 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | $3,550 | 386 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 23 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 23 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2002 A4 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2002 Audi A4 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2002 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 21V470000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2002 Audi A4 problems?
Owners filed 181 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (76), Engine and engine cooling (28), Exterior lighting (17) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2002 Audi A4 get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 20 city, 29 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2002 A4 compare with other years?
Among the 1998–2007 Audi A4 model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (96) and the 2006 the most (298). The 2002 drew 181. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.