1997 Audi A4: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 98 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (30% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2022
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I was sitting at a stop light and was struck from behind at speeds between 40 to 60 miles a hour. My airbags did not deploy and my driver seat came lose from the floor and because of this I received injuries to my neck and face. *js”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 audi a4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the brakes failed when engaged. The contact was attempting to stop for a traffic stop but the vehicle did not respond. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 70,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2014
“In a snow storm, driver braked at an intersection, automatic brakes kicked in but did not stop the 10 mile per hour slide through the intersection. Car stopped parallel to the curb and was immediately t-boned by an suv. Air bags did not deploy. Driver was wearing aseat belt and suffered a brokev arm . . .lucky. Based upon the condytion of the car, driver should be dead. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“I was stopped at a red light when a car crashed into the back of my 1997 audi a4. This caused my car to crash into the car in front of me and that car to crash in to the car in front of it. My driver-side air bag did not deploy and my seat belt did not lock up. The air bag on the passenger side did deploy. Because the air bag and seat belt did not work, I hit the windshield and had to go to the hospital for medical attention. *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2013
“Braking performance seems to be dramatically reduced in wet, and especially wet and cold, conditions. This happens often, but does not happen regularly, and always after prolonged high-speed driving without brake application. The reduction in performance seems much more dramatic than would be expected from typical reduction in brake performance in these conditions. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Dec 2007
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 audi a4. The vehicle was serviced for recall # 06v403000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). When the vehicle was picked up from the dealer, the battery was dead and had to be jump started. The vehicle failed to restart after being driven 25 miles and then parked. The dealer stated that the battery failure was unrelated to the recall repair. The contact purchased a new battery, but the vehicle still would not start. A local mechanic stated that the cause of failure was the starter and the wire was burned to the starter. The engine size was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 76,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2007
“1997 audi a4 quattro lease with engine problems customer states that audi corporation is fully aware of the problems with slog and did not send him a letter**cc the consumer stated the oil pump failed which caused oil starvation to the engine, which now sounds like a diesel engine. The consumer mechanics informed the consumer that the manufacturer was fully aware of an oil sludge problem from the use of inferior engine oil or from infrequent oil changes, can clog the oil pump. The consumer stated he never received a letter regarding an oil sludge problem. *jb”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2007
“Audi safety recall js - ignition switch repaired customer wants to be reimbursed for repairs made from an outside dealer**nar**cc 06/06/07 add to letter send from office of att general**cc the consumer was denied reimbursement because the repair was not made at an authorized dealership and because the consumer waited several months to execute the repair. *jb *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2007
“Dt*: the contact stated the windshield wipers intermittently failed to operate. There was a NHTSA recall, #00v317000 on the vehicle regarding the ignition switch. The contact expressed the windshield wiper failure was related to the recall. However, the dealer determined the failure of the windshield wiper motor was not included in the recall.”Owner report · Visibility · Dec 2006
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 audi a4. When turning the key to the right to start the vehicle, the key remains in the start position instead of turning back. The manufacturer stated that his VIN was not included in NHTSA recall # 06v403000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). The current mileage is 111,000 and failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2006
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AS A RESULT OF A PROBLEM IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ANCHOR POINT OF THE SPRING MAY CRACK. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WITH AN OPTIMIZED ANCHOR POINT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES THE REMEDY PROGRAM UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 00V317).
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING CAN FRACTURE AT THE RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT. FRACTURE OF THE HOUSING COULD CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A VACUUM BY-PASS SYSTEM INTO VEHICLES OPERATED IN THESE STATES WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT VACUUM FOR FULL BRAKE ASSIST UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 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 inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED, OR NOT REMAIN LOCKED AFTER BEING ENGAGED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.
How other years compare
Check your exact A4 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Audi A4 reliable?
NHTSA has 98 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 1997 Audi A4. The most complained-about area is electrical system (30% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Audi A4 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 92,457 miles or less.
Does the 1997 Audi A4 have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:ignition:switch. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.