Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Audi A8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train4
- Vehicle speed control2
- Exterior lighting1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Air bags1
- Electrical system1
- Structure1
- Equipment1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the United Kingdom
14 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 101 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
In Finland
7 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 330,000 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
4 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 25% arrived as used imports, 75% 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 1 variant: combined 13.0 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 299 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A8 quattro · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.4 | 10.1 | 13.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Audi A8.
| 2008274 5 Aug 2008 | Other On certain vehicles equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission, a locking cable may move out of position over time. With the locking cable out of position, … |
| 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 IS RECALLING 13,900 MY 1996-2003 AUDI A8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE LOCKING CABLE MAY MOVE OUT OF POSITION OVER TIME. WITH THE LOCKING CABLE OUT OF POSITION, THE SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION EVEN IF THE IGNITION KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION LOCK.
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.
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 A8: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 610574 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING DAMAGE FASTENERS WHEN A CONDITION EXIST WHERE THE REAR LICENSE PLATE FASTENERS MAY BE BROKEN, LOOSE OR FALLEN BEHIND THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER / LENS ASSEMBLY. |
| 610271 | INFORMATION ON DEACTIVATING / ACTIVATING THE REAR SIDE AIRBAGS. *TT |
| 604017 | SUBJECT ON CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, FUNCTION OPTIONS. *YC |
| 603329 | CLUNKING OR RATTLING NOISE FROM ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS. *YC |
| 603328 | CONDITIONS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, DELAYED DOWNSHIFT ON VEHICLES WITH 4.2L AND 01L TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLES WITH 4.2L AND 01L TRANSMISSION ON VEHICLES WITH 4.2L AND 01L TRANSMISSION. *YC |
| 603134 | CONDITION WITH INSUFFICIENT VEHICLE GROUND AT GROUND LOCATION 43. *YC |
| 601533 | CUSTOMER REQUESTS DEACTIVATION OR REACTIVATION OF REAR SIDE AIRBAGS. *YC |
| 601074 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING AIRBAG COMPONENTS AFTER AN ACCIDENT. *YC |
| 600742 | SUBJECT ON DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 00591 & 00592L. *YC |
| 600735 | SUBJECT ON POWER STEERING. *YC |
| 600734 | SUBJECT ON ABS FRONT AXLE COMPONENTS. *YC |
| 600733 | SUBJECT ON WHEELS AND TIRES. *YC |
| 600732 | INFORMATION ON REAR AXLE COMPONENTS. *YC |
| 600730 | INFORMATION ON FRONT AXLE COMPONENTS. *YC |
| 600729 | VEHICLE EXHIBITS DELAYED 1-2 SHIFT UNDER PART LOAD AFTER A COLD START. *YC |
| 600727 | SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKSHAFT CENTER BOLT AND CAMSHAFT SPROCKER BOLT, CORRECTIONS. *YC |
| 54059 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING THE REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE/MOTOR. *YC |
| 53636 | CONCERNS WITH CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER, SOUND OUTPUT LOW OR DISTORTED, TAPES MAY BE DESTROYED. *YC |
| 53632 | SUBJECT ON THREADED POP RIVETS. *YC |
| 53631 | SUBJECT ON PNEUMATIC RIVETING GUN 2002 FOR BODY REPAIR. *YC |
| 53630 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES BODY REPAIR MATERIAL. *YC |
| 53629 | CONDITIONS WITH REAR DOOR SUNSHADE PULL TAB. *YC |
| 53628 | CONDITIONS WITH REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE. *YC |
| 53625 | THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY HAS ESTABLISHED A TOLL-FREE OE SERVICE LINE TO ASSIST THE DEALER NETWORK REGARDING ANY GOODYEAR TIRE CONCERNS. *YC |
| 53622 | INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF FRONT FLOOR MATS. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)