Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
226 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 22% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen98
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan93
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde67
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect47
- Band onvoldoende profiel42
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm36
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld33
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd24
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
67 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 327 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 120 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 59% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 17.5% | 11.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 15.8% | 16.1% |
| Suspension | 14.2% | 12.2% |
| Visibility | 10.8% | 6.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.3% | 7.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.8% | 9.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
75 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 257,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
28 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 71% arrived as used imports, 29% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1997 Audi A3.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 1997 Audi A3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10249085 | Google Maps Street View (NVLW)) |
| 10249054 | Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota. |
| 10243787 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10231130 | Idenifying and mixing factory fill engine coolants |
| 10216682 | Engine oils that meet Audi Oil Quality Standards. |
| 10216662 | Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants. |
| 10216656 | Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants. |
| 10155644 | This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward. |
| 10128422 | This circular contains important information regarding A3 e-tron tooling. Information will be covered in the subsequent sections depending on the dealership's current status. |
| 10128350 | This informational bulletin contains all the the Audi Oil Quality Standards that should be used when doing an oil change. |
| 10128222 | Due to increasing requests for high voltage personal protective equipment (HVE PPE) for dealer technicians working with high voltage vehicles (Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid, Electric Vehicle), the Volkswagen Tools and Equipment Team has identified two US based suppliers to support dealers in USA and Canada. |
| 10128009 | This information TSB provides information regarding the correct way to torque adjust a wheel bolt. |
| 10127856 | This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, and/or third brake light lens. |
| 10124021 | VWGoA is pleased to inform you of the release and automatic delivery of new Required Special Tools used on Audi vehicles. Starting March 25, 2013, every Audi dealer will be shipped one AT-348 Special Tool Package, Freight F.O.B. Snap-On OEM and invoiced directly by the Audi Special Tools Program (Snap-On Business Solutions - SBS). |
| 10058584 | AUDI: ENGINE, ON SOME VEHICLES, WOULD RUN IRREGULARLY OR HAVE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON OR POSSIBLE FILTER ELEMENT FOR CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT VALVE CAN LOOSEN AND IN OIL CIRCUIT, THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM LOOSENED PARTICLES. MODEL ALL. ALL YEARS. *PE |
| 10054859 | AUDI: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, USE CALIBRATED TORQUE WRENCH AND NOT TORQUE STICKS, TORQUE EXTENSION BARS AND IMPACT GUNS/WRENCHES NOT APPROVED FOR USAGE ON WHEEL BOLTS BY MANUFACTURER, THAT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO BRAKE, STEERING WHEEL, HUB. MODEL 1995-2014 ALL. *PE |
| 10027923 | AUDI: WHEEL BOLTS REQUIRE TORQUE ADJUSTMENT. TORQUE STICKS AND TORQUE EXTENSION BARS ARE NOT APPROVED BY AUDI OF AMERICA, INC. AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO APPLY TORQUE TO WHEEL BOLTS. ALL AUDI MODELS INCLUDED. *PE |
| 10022141 | HEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER. *KB |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)