Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Audi Cabriolet, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering1
- Vehicle speed control1
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
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Audi Cabriolet failed the safety check 2.74% of the time — 71% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 100,907 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
98 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 245 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, 122 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 64% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 14.8% | 7.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 13.9% | 9.7% |
| Suspension | 11.5% | 12.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.7% | 16.1% |
| Brakes | 9.0% | 11.8% |
| Visibility | 6.6% | 6.6% |
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
11 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 209,000 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
6 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 67% arrived as used imports, 33% were sold new in New Zealand.
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.
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 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 |
| 10020721 | OIL SLUDGE LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION. *KB |
| 10016508 | REPAIRS OF OIL SLUDGE RELATED PROBLEMS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)