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2002 Audi S4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
143
200087
200122
20021
200329
200443
2005
Compare all S4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Seats
3Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

9 reports
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38,750 miles · Aug 16, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10165685

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES THEY VIBRATED/ PULSATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10059188

27,836 miles · Feb 17, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 …

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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. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10058332

26,361 miles · Feb 11, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES CONTINUED TO PULSATE AFTER LAST ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE OUT OF SPEC AND REPLACED THEM WITH PART NUMBER 8D0-615-601-D.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057012

26,359 miles · Feb 11, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PULSATION FELT WHEN BRAKING. DEALER ROAD TESTED AND REPORTED THAT THE PULSATION WAS FELT, THEY INSPECTED AND REPLACED FRONT ROTORS WITH PART NUMBER 8D0-615-301-M. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, THE CONDITION STILL EXISTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057011

24,353 miles · Feb 11, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES PULSATE WHEN STOPPING. DEALER ROAD TESTED VEHICLE TO CONFIRM CONDITION. DEALER REPORTED THAT FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS HAD EXCESS RADIAL AXIAL RUN-OUT. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY WITH PART NUMBER 8D0-615-301-M. REPLACED REAR ROTORS WITH PART NUMBER 8D0-615-601-D.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057010

17,817 miles · Feb 11, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES PULSATE/VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED. DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS HAVE EXCESSIVE RUN-OUT. REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS WITH PART NO. 8D0-615-301-K. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057008

15,701 miles · Feb 11, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CAR SHIMMIES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER BRAKING. AUTO GALLERY, 21301 VENTURA BLVD., WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364 MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR SO I COULD DRIVE HOME TO OVERLAND PARK, KS AND HAVE ROTORS INSTALLED. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY GO THROUGH SO MANY FOR S4S, A6S, AND A8S (SAME BRAKES) THAT THE…

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CAR SHIMMIES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER BRAKING. AUTO GALLERY, 21301 VENTURA BLVD., WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364 MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR SO I COULD DRIVE HOME TO OVERLAND PARK, KS AND HAVE ROTORS INSTALLED. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY GO THROUGH SO MANY FOR S4S, A6S, AND A8S (SAME BRAKES) THAT THEY CANNOT KEEP ENOUGH IN STOCK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057004

6,000 miles · Dec 11, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED MY AUDO S4 AVANT NEW ON NOV. 10, 2001. IT HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 6 REPAIRS PERFORMED TO CORRECT BRAKE PULSATION OR VIBRATION. PADS AND/OR FRONT AND/OR REAR ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CAR LEAVES THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE FACILITY OPERATING NORMALLY, BUT WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES THE CO…

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I PURCHASED MY AUDO S4 AVANT NEW ON NOV. 10, 2001. IT HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 6 REPAIRS PERFORMED TO CORRECT BRAKE PULSATION OR VIBRATION. PADS AND/OR FRONT AND/OR REAR ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CAR LEAVES THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE FACILITY OPERATING NORMALLY, BUT WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES THE CONDITION RETURNS. IS THERE A REAL FIX FOR THIS?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049596

Official recalls

1

21V470000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jun 23, 2021

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.