Most common 2002 Audi S4 problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi S4 complaints by model year
Best S4 years: 2009, 2008, 2007. Years to avoid: 2010, 2000, 2001, 2005. Compare all years →
2002 Audi S4 recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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.
What 2002 Audi S4 owners say
Electrical system
Tl 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.
I bought my car with 36,[redacted] 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+).
Brakes
Ongoing complaint: brakes vibrate when stopping. Dealer reported front rotors warped and pads have chunks missing. Dealer replaced with part nos. 8d0-615-301-m front brake discs and 4b3-698-151 front brake pads/linings. The car was returned to me with the vibration still present. I contacted the dealer service advisor who advised me to drive a few hundred miles to see if the brakes bed and the vibration smoothes out.
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.
Seats
The driver's seat experienced a rocking motion when the vehicle accelerated. The consumer suspected possible seat frame damage. The seat would rock forward and backward upon acceleration and deceleration. The dealer refused to do any further repairs. The problem gradually became worse. There was a coolant leak and an electrical short where the oil pressure switch was located.
Drive's seat experienced a rocking motion when vehicle accelerated.consumer suspected possible seat frame damage.
2002 Audi S4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Audi S4 a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 S4 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the S4 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Audi S4?
The electrical system — 10 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the brakes (9) and seats (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Audi S4 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Audi S4, the most recent from June 23, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi S4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2008 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2000, 2001 and 2005. See the full Audi S4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Audi S4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 36,000 miles; 72% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.