Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Audi Cabriolet, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system7
- Structure1
- Visibility1
- Exterior lighting1
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
72 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 253 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, 139 of these cars first registered in 1996 took their annual MOT test. 64% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1996 the figure was 65%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.7% | 16.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 13.7% | 6.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 10.1% | 9.7% |
| Brakes | 7.2% | 11.5% |
| Tyres | 6.5% | 3.4% |
| Visibility | 6.5% | 6.7% |
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
8 of these cars first registered in 1996 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 226,000 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 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
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 1996 Audi Cabriolet: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 54051 | CONDITION WITH VEHICLES CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION IS SLOW OR INOPERATIVE. *YC |
| 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 |
| 10025703 | EXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOSITURE ACCUMULATION. *PE |
| 10022141 | HEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER. *KB |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)