RoadVitals

2002 Audi A4 Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Apr 14, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 181 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2011

2002 AUDI A4 1.8T, TRANSMISSION CTV, THE CAR HAS 75,000 MILES EVERYTHING WORKS IN THE CAR WITH SOME MINOR STUFF, BUT THE TRANSMISSION START TO JERK WHEN STOP IN A RED LIGHT, IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE, IT WANT TO MOVE THE FORWARD, SO I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD SO IT DOESN'T MOVE. IT STARTS TO GET DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THAT KIND OF CONDITION. THIS IS THE SECOND AUDI I OWN AND THAT?S A SHAME THAT SO GOOD QUALITY CAR HAS THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND THE DEALERS AND AUDI USA DON?T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. YOU SPEND 30 THOUSAND OF DOLLARS AND YOU HAVE TO THROW YOUR CAR AWAY BECAUSE THE FIX COST MORE THAN WHAT YOUR CAR IS WORTH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10395921
Incident
Mar 18, 2011
Mileage
75,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 12, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND INSTANTLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ID
10376367
Incident
Jan 11, 2011
Mileage
97,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 18, 2010

MY 2002 AUDI A4 HAS A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THIS DEFECT RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF MY ABILITY TO PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE (AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION). THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE PAST MONTH ( WHICH IS WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED). I WAS FACED WITH A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE WHERE I NEEDED TO REVERSE IN ORDER TO AVOID A BUS FROM HITTING MY CAR WHILE IT WAS TURNING ONTO THE ROAD I WAS STOPPED AT. THE REVERSE DID NOT WORK, AND IT ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I QUICKLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO REVERSE AND LUCKILY (THAT TIME) IT WORKED. I NOTICED THAT WHEN MY CAR DOESN'T REVERSE THE PRND FLASHES ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICED THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR AUDI A4'S. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY ERROR THAT AUDI HAS NOT RECALLED. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILING AND SAID IT WILL GET WORSE OVER TIME. I CALLED MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350391
Incident
Aug 8, 2010
Mileage
75,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 119000.

NHTSA ID
10342665
Incident
May 1, 2010
Mileage
119,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 24, 2010

I HAVE AN 2002 AUDI A-4 WITH A CONSTANT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD HESITATION PROBLEMS ON AND OFF SINCE 2002. SEVERAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE DEALER HAS NEVER ADDRESSED THE TRANSMISSION HESITATION. SINCE I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR VERY OFTEN, THE TRANSMISSION IS FINALLY SKIPPING. THE DEALER INDICATES THE CAR MOST LIKELY IS THE BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF THE NEED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I GENERALLY KEEP MY CARS OVER 10 YEARS AND SERVICE THEM LIKE A BABY. THIS IS DISHEARTENING, SINCE THE REPAIRS WOULD BE MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. MY DAUGHTER HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH HER VS PASSAT AND AFTER POURING MONEY INTO IT, PROBLEMS CONTINUED. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED AND WILL NOT BUY AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10321809
Incident
Feb 15, 2010
Transmission
Filed Jun 6, 2008

1. DRIVING THE CAR. 2. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE GEAR LIGHTS WILL START TO BLINK (PARK, DRIVE, REVERSE, NEUTRAL) AND THE CAR WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR CANNOT REVERSE AND ON INCLINES THE CAR WILL SLIDE BACKWARDS. SOMETIMES, WHEN THE CAR SLIDES BACK, STEPPING ON THE BRAKE WILL NOT STOP THE CAR. ONCE, THE CAR SLID BACKWARDS AND I COULD NOT STOP IT AT ALL AND LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME. 3. THE GEARBOX HAS BEEN REPLACED COSTING $2000 AND THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY BEEN PARTIALLY FIXED. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. AUDI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM & REFUSES TO OWE UP TO THEIR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10230087
Incident
May 21, 2007
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 20, 2007

I HAVE AN AUDI A4 2002 WITH CVT. OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO THE TRANSMISSION HAS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN MOVING FROM A FULL STOP. THIS CAN HAPPEN IN A PARKING LOT OR MY HOME DRIVEWAY. AFTER ENGAGING THE DRIVE GEAR AND DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR FAILS TO MOVE FOR ANYWHERE FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A MINUTE OR SO. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DISCONCERTING ,AND I BELIEVE UNSAFE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ONCE CRUISING THE CAR EXPERIENCES NO PROBLEMS. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON ONE OCCASION THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RECREATED. ON ANOTHER THEY DID RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND NOTIFIED ME THAT REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE BETWEEN $1700 AND $6000. IT IS A FIVE YEAR OLD CAR WITH 58000 MILES. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM THE TRADE IN VALUE OF THE VEHICLE REFLECTS THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS EXPERIENCE. I HAVE FOUND MANY ON THE INTERNET.*AK

NHTSA ID
10185610
Incident
Jul 3, 2006
Mileage
45,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 8, 2005

THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUDI A4, 3.0 AUTOMATIC, 2ND OWNER, COMING OFF A 3 YR. LEASE IN WHICH ALL OF THE WARRANTY WORK WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS 62,000 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLETE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER SAYS IT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9,213.72. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. RECORDS SHOW THAT THERE WERE (3) OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE OWNER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE SHIFT-CONTROL SOFTWARE. ON THE 2ND OCCASION THE DEALER REMOVED AND CLEANED THE CONNECTION TERMINALS OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). ON THE THIRD OCCASION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE (TCM). THEN THE VEHICLE WENT OFF-LEASE AND THE DEALERSHIP SOLD IT AT AUCTION TO A USED CAR DEALER. SINCE THEN THE CAR WAS SOLD TO AN UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER AND NO HISTORY WAS EVER PRODUCED WHICH DESCRIBED THE PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SOME INTERNAL DEFECT OR PROBLEM WHICH WAS NEVER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS, AND THEREFORE IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. OF COURSE, THE DEALERSHIP AND AUDI USA IN MICHIGAN WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT NOTHING WAS EVER WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ONLY THE (TCM). IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WHY WOULD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCUR SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OFF LEASE WARRANTY, ESPECIALLY ON A SEALED UNIT, WHICH THESE UNITS ARE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10142035
Incident
Aug 15, 2005
Transmission
Filed Nov 2, 2004

I HAVE A 2002 A4 1.8T. IN JANUARY OF 2004, I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED WITH 22678 MILES ON IT. ON MONDAY, OCTOBER, 25TH, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM AND MENTIONED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS HESITATING. AFTER EVALUATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH WAS GOING AGAIN AND THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE CAR NOW OLNY HAS 32,317 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO "WEAR" BY DRIVING. SINCE MARCH OF 2002, WHEN I PICKED UP MY NEW CAR, I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS (MOST OF WHICH INCLUDED ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, SHORTS, AND OTHER MALFUNCTIONS). *AK

NHTSA ID
10098176
Incident
Oct 25, 2004
Mileage
32,317 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 9, 2004

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT HESITATION WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR WE LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN THAT WAS VERY FLAT WITH NO HILLS. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON MOSTLY BACK ROADS AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. AFTER A FEW MONTHS WE MOVED AND THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FASTER, NOW THE PROBLEM WAS BECOMING VERY NOTICEABLE. AS YOU ACCELERATE THE CAR HESITATES AND YOU HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR THEN THE CAR JERKS FORWARD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT ADJUSTMENTS AND STILL THE PROBLEM WAS THERE. NEXT I MET WITH AN AUDI TECH REP, WHO DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. AFTER MORE COMPLAINING THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE, THIS STILL DID NOT FIX. NOW I HAVE MOVED TO AN AREA THAT IS HILLY, AND WHEN YOU STOP AT A RED LIGHT ON A HILL THE CAR DRIFTS BACK WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR HAS GONE TO A NEW DEALER FOR ANOTHER MODULE AND MORE ADJUSTMENTS AND IS STILL NOT FIXED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT OTHER AUDI A4 OWNERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE. AUDI SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BE FOR SOMEONE GETS HURT. I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A SAFE, WELL BUILT, LONG LASTING CAR, I GUESS I WAS WRONG. WITH ALL OF THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUDI. I ONLY HOPE THAT THE OTHER AUDI A4 OWNERS WILL TAKE THE TIME TO PASS ON THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THIS DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
10056815
Incident
Apr 12, 2003
Mileage
8,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system+4 more
Filed Dec 7, 2003

STEREO-FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT ON AT LEAST (4) OCCASIONS WINSHIELD FLUID DISPENSER/WIPER MALFUNCTION SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION-AT LEAST (5) OCCASIONS SOLENOID VALVE BAD CLUTCH SWITCH BAD BLOWER IN AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER UNIT BAD PIRELI TIRES-BROKEN BELTS IN ALL FOUR (AT 25,000 MILES)- THESE ARE THE TIRES PLACED ON THE VEHICLE BY AUDI COILS BAD GAS GAUGE MIS READ

NHTSA ID
10049354
Incident
Feb 14, 2002
Mileage
300 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
10003728
Incident
Jan 2, 2003
Transmission
Filed Jan 2, 2003
Crash reported

AN ACCIDENT OCCURED IN MY 2002 AUDI A4 WITH THE NEW-FOR-2002 CVT TRANSMISSION (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION) RESULTING FROM A CONDITION THAT I BELIEVE IS DEFECTIVE RELATING TO THE FUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR FROM A DEAD STOP, THERE IS A LONG LAG BETWEEN BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MOVE. AS A RESULT, IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY IN TRAFFIC, ONE MUST PRESS THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ADVANCE. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF ONE MUST QUICKLY STOP, RIGHT AFTER STARTING. IN THIS CASE, MY FIANCE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER AT A LIGHT WHEN THEY QUICKLY STOPPED JUST AFTER STARTING.

NHTSA ID
10000695
Incident
Dec 5, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .