Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Audi A4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system33
- Suspension19
- Service brakes, hydraulic14
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Power train5
- Visibility4
- Steering4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Seats4
- Air bags3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Audi A4 failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,377 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1997 Audi A4 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp) and 1.8 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 60 |
| 1.8 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 30 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
133 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 11% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen86
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde56
- Band onvoldoende profiel41
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm39
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect38
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm35
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af30
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt20
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
187 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,028 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, 325 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 60% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 20.0% | 12.2% |
| Brakes | 11.1% | 11.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.2% | 16.1% |
| Steering | 8.9% | 3.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8.6% | 9.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.7% | 7.2% |
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
159 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 313,000 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
91 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 68% arrived as used imports, 24% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 10.9–12.5 L/100 km (about 19–22 mpg US), CO₂ 251–288 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.8 | 8.6 | 10.9 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 8.7 | 11.2 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.7 | 9.4 | 11.8 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 14.5 | 9.3 | 12.1 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 14.3 | 9.8 | 12.3 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 15.0 | 9.5 | 12.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Audi A4.
| 2020032 29 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. Safety Risk: In a cra… |
| 2006275 20 Oct 2006 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the ignition switch return spring anchor point may crack. If this happens, the return spring force may be insufficient for returning the i… |
| 2000238 23 Oct 2000 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the plastic ignition switch housing may fracture at the return spring anchor point. Fracture of the housing could cause the return spring f… |
| 1997176 10 Oct 1997 | Seats And Restraints THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS COULD ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS A… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED, OR NOT REMAIN LOCKED AFTER BEING ENGAGED.
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 A4: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627071 | SUBJECT REGARDING NOISY FRONT SUSPENSION. *JG |
| 621502 | THIS TECHNICAL REPAIR MANUAL CONTAINS THE ELECTRICAL WIRING DIAGRAMS, TROUBLESHOOTING AND COMPLENT LOCATIONS. *TT |
| 604441 | PROCEDURES ON INSTALLING TRANSMISSION SOUND DEADENING SHIELDS *TT |
| 604438 | VEHICLE EXHIBITING A WHINING / WHIRRING TYPE NOISE AT CERTAIN MPH RANGES. *TT |
| 603965 | SUBJECT ON CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, FUNCTION OPTIONS. *YC |
| 603131 | TURBOCHARGER, FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. *YC |
| 601885 | EXPERIENCING KNOCKING/CREAKING NOISES FROM REAR AXLE. *YC |
| 600728 | TIGHTENING TORQUE FOR OIL DRAIN PLUG. *YC |
| 53624 | VEHICLES WILL BE SHIPPED WITH A PAINT PROTECTION PRODUCT CALLED RAPGARD. *YC |
| 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. |
| 10164518 | This communication is issued to inform dealers of updated shipping regulations related to lithium ion batteries. |
| 10163501 | This communication is issued to remind dealers of the repair validation process for repair group 19. 2005-2019 A3, 1996-2019 A4, 2008-2019 A5, 1992-2019 A6, 2012-2019 A7, 1997-2019 A8, 2019 E-Tron, 2015-2019 Q3, 2010-2019 Q5, 2007-2019 Q7, 2019 Q8, 2000-2019 TT, 2008-2018 R8 |
| 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. |
| 10128399 | Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 19 number 14-50 dated June 20, 2014. Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants. G11, G12, and G12+ coolants have been replaced by an improved version. G12++ coolant (for service available) has been introduced in MY 2005 for all engines. G13 has been introduced in MY 2008 as factory filling and service. |
| 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. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
DEGRADED BRAKING IN WET WEATHER
DEGRADED BRAKING WET WEATHER CONDITION
IGNITION SWITCH
POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM BY-PASS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation