NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Audi S4 Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Audi S4 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 22 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Audi S4. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2002 Audi S4 owner complaints

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Audi S4, describing incidents dated December 26, 2002 to December 23, 2008.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 10 complaints
Service Brakes 9 complaints
Seats 3 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Equipment 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10266651 · Filed April 24, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWN A 2002 AUDI S4. THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED HALF OF THE DISPLAY WAS WELL LIT WHILE THE OTHER HALF WAS NOT. OCCASIONALLY THERE WAS ALSO AN ODOR SIMILAR TO ELECTRICAL SMOKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE…
ODI #10263585 · Filed March 30, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LCD SCREEN ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS LINES RUNNING THROUGH THE SCREEN, WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM VIEWING THE INFORMATION. HE HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 5/5/09 *CN UPDATED…
ODI #10255752 · Filed January 20, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI S4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED MISSING AND FADED PIXELS, AS WELL AS INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…

Read all 22 complaints

Air Bag Inflators May Underinflate Bag

NHTSA #21V470000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported June 23, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 62,812 vehicles

Repair completion: 6.11% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 69CJ · Owners notified November 2, 2021

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

2002 Audi S4 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

22 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Audi S4.

Electrical System

ODI #10266651

Incident: April 22, 2008 · Filed: April 24, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWN A 2002 AUDI S4. THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED HALF OF THE DISPLAY WAS WELL LIT WHILE THE OTHER HALF WAS NOT. OCCASIONALLY THERE WAS ALSO AN ODOR SIMILAR TO ELECTRICAL SMOKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SINCE THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DO NOT REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT A CABLE MAY BE DISCONNECTED WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ONE YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10263585

Incident: May 17, 2008 · Filed: March 30, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LCD SCREEN ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS LINES RUNNING THROUGH THE SCREEN, WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM VIEWING THE INFORMATION. HE HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 5/5/09 *CN UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB

Electrical System

ODI #10255752

Incident: September 7, 2006 · Filed: January 20, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI S4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED MISSING AND FADED PIXELS, AS WELL AS INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10252773

Incident: December 23, 2008 · Filed: December 25, 2008

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2002 AUDI S4 HAS FAILED. WITHOUT THIS DISPLAY, THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS SITUATION INCREASES DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE ERRORS WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE DISPLAYED. I AM AWARE OF THIS BEING A VERY COMMON FAULTY PART AND WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING INTO A RECALL. *TR

Electrical System; Equipment

ODI #10244903

Incident: September 17, 2008 · Filed: October 8, 2008

I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 36,XXX MILES ON IT. THE CENTER LCD SCREEN DOES NOT WORK. THE CAR IS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW AND THE CENTER CLUSTER INFORMATION CENTER IS BUSTED. ITS BARELY READABLE, BUT DISPLAY IMPORTANT USER DIAGNOSTIC/INFO ABOUT THE CAR (SERVICE LIGHTS, ETC). THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROMPT A RECALL. IT'S A 2002 AUDI S4, 2.7T THE PREVIOUS OWNER COMPLAINED TO ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT IT NEVER WORKED FOR HIM EITHER. (HE OWNED CAR FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS+). *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10208421

Incident: August 15, 2007 · Filed: November 8, 2007

1. PURCHASED A 2002 AUDI S4 2.7T. 2. THE AUTO CHECK SYSTEM IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN WARM. THE LCD RIBBON CABLE LOOSES CONTACT AND DOESN'T DISPLAY THE INFORMATION IT SHOULD. CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED. 3. WAS QUOTED OBSCENE AMOUNTS BY AUDI DEALERS TO REPLACE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. $250 FOR A USED CLUSTER THAT WOULD NEED THE ODOMETER ADJUSTED FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10208206

Incident: November 2, 2007 · Filed: November 7, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LED DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DISPLAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,500.

Electrical System

ODI #10204632

Incident: February 1, 2006 · Filed: October 1, 2007

DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LED DISPLAY IS BURNING OUT. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10165685

Incident: August 14, 2006 · Filed: August 16, 2006

THE BRAKES BOOST/VACUUM ASSIST LINE CHECK VALVE CRACKS APART INTO TWO PIECES. THIS CAUSES THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKE SYSTEM IN THE CAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARNING ABOUT THE PENDING LOSS OF BRAKES. ONE SECOND YOU HAVE BRAKES THE NEXT IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO PUSH A BRICK THRU THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10145179

Incident: November 7, 2005 · Filed: December 14, 2005

CAM COVER OIL LEAKS DISCOVERED AFTER 50,000 MILE SERVICE AT APPROX 48,500 MILES 11/7/05. AUDI TSB 05-03, NOV. 2, 2005 COVERING 2000-2006 MODELS A4, CABRIOLET, TT, A6, S4, ALLROAD, A8, S8, AND RS6 WITH ENGINES 1.8T, 2.8 V6, 2.7 V6T, AND 4.2 V8 STATES THAT IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS AND THE AREA IS WET WITH FLUID RESIDUE OR DROPLETS THAT ARE NOT COMING OFF, TO CLEAN THE OIL STAINED AREA AND TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT IT COULD BE THE RESULT OF SPILLAGE WHEN TOPPING OFF OR NORMAL GASKET "SWEATING" AND IS NOT INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. IF FOUND AND NO CUSTOMER COMPLAINT, NO ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN. IF FOUND AND ONLY IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS, THEN REPLACE GASKETS AND LEAK TEST THE ENGINE. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE POLICY OF HIDING BY LACK OF DISCLOSURE, THE LEAK AND UNFAIRLY SHIFTING THE COST OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT TO THE CUSTOMER. AUDI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FORCED TO COVER THESE LEAKS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND NOTIFY OWNERS TO BRING THEIR CARS IN FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. *JB

Other Audi S4 model years

Check your 2002 Audi S4 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi S4 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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