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1997 Audi A4 problems

The most common problem on the 1997 Audi A4 is electrical system, typically around 118,000 miles. It has 1.7 times the complaints of a typical A4 model year.

Typical year1.7x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
98
Recalls
6
Service bulletins
66
Worst area
Electrical
Fuel economy
19-21mpg
Typical repair
$2,000

The worst 1997 Audi A4 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Audi A4

Ball joint 20Wipers 7Stalling 6

Recalls 6

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported July 1, 2022 · 28,624 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V‑056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.

Recall number 22V471000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignition: switchReported October 23, 2006 · 28,594 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This condition causes electrical accessories such as windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install a new ignition switch with an optimized anchor point free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Owners may contact audi at 1‑800‑822‑2834. Note: this recall supersedes the remedy program under a previous recall (please see 00v317).

Recall number 06V403000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignition: switchReported October 11, 2000 · 27,900 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This condition causes electrical accessories such as windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

Recall number 00V317000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported May 21, 1999 · 88,121 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
Remedy
Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.

Recall number 99V131001 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported October 8, 1997 · 39,300 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
Activation of the air bag under these conditions can cause personal injury.
Remedy
Dealers will install a ground wire on the driver side air bag.

Recall number 97V175000 · Recall details

Seat belts: rear/otherReported July 22, 1997 · 12 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may not lock properly when engaged, or not remain locked after being engaged.
Risk
In the event of a crash, an improperly locking seat belt could cause injury to an occupant.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear seat belt assembly.

Recall number 97V115000 · Recall details

See all 6 recalls for the 1997 Audi A4

Defect investigations

Degraded braking in wet weatherOpened August 11, 2000, closed March 29, 2002

There is no summary currently available

EA00021

Degraded braking wet weather conditionOpened April 4, 2000, closed August 11, 2000

There is no summary currently available

PE00016

Ignition switchOpened March 21, 2000, closed November 30, 2000

There is no summary currently available

RQ00009

Power brake booster vacuum by-passOpened June 1, 1999, closed November 14, 2000

There is no summary currently available

RQ99008

Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Audi A4 66

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 66 bulletins for the 1997 Audi A4

1997 Audi A4 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.8L 4‑cylFWD182721
1.8L 4‑cyl4WD182721
2.8L 6‑cylFWD16-1725-2619-20
2.8L 6‑cyl4WD16-1724-2519

What 1997 Audi A4 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jul 7, 2014 · Airbags, Seats · NC · crash · 2 injuries

I was sitting at a stop light and was struck from behind at speeds between 40 to 60 miles a hour. My airbags did not deploy and my driver seat came lose from the floor and because of this I received injuries to my neck and face.

Filed Jan 31, 2014 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 audi a4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the brakes failed when engaged. The contact was attempting to stop for a traffic stop but the vehicle did not respond. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Jan 31, 2014 · Airbags · 113,000 miles · CO · crash · 1 injury

In a snow storm, driver braked at an intersection, automatic brakes kicked in but did not stop the 10 mile per hour slide through the intersection. Car stopped parallel to the curb and was immediately t-boned by an SUV. Air bags did not deploy. Driver was wearing aseat belt and suffered a brokev arm . . .lucky. Based upon the condytion of the car, driver should be dead.

Filed Jan 15, 2013 · Airbags, Seat belts · 183,000 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

I was stopped at a red light when a car crashed into the back of my 1997 audi a4. This caused my car to crash into the car in front of me and that car to crash in to the car in front of it. My driver-side air bag did not deploy and my seat belt did not lock up. The air bag on the passenger side did deploy. Because the air bag and seat belt did not work, I hit the windshield and had to go to the hospital for medical attention.

Filed Apr 1, 2009 · Suspension · VA

The lower front control arms in my '97 audi a4 1.8t quattro were replaced by an authorized audi dealer as part of a voluntary recall campaign in 2004 by audi to replace a noted defective part. A class action lawsuit brought against audi by several owners spurred the voluntary recall. My lower control arms need replacing again, based on an inspection by an independent mechanic. When I contacted audi customer service I was told that the 2004 control arm recall had a one-year warranty and after that time I was responsible for the replacement cost, which exceeds $2,000 for the lower front control arms. This is the second time this defective part needs replacing and it is a safety issue. Numerous audi owners have reported repeated lower control arm failure and the federal safety agency is urged to call a mandatory recall for audi to repair this defective part so it does not need to be replaced by owners every few years.

Filed Jul 2, 2008 · Electrical · 92,457 miles · DC

I received safety recall js for the audi a4 ignition switch in november 2006 and complied with the instructions by bringing the car to the dealer for a replacement switch in january 2007. The dealer did not do the repair because they said my car already had the correct switch. In june 2008, this ignition switch malfunctioned in the exact manner described in the recall. When I started the engine, I heard a crack in the ignition switch and then the electrical components, including dashboard lights, horn, turn signal, windshield wipers, and air conditioning, immediately became inoperative. When I turned off the engine, the key would not return to the off position and had to be pulled out by force and subsequently forced back in to put the car in neutral for the tow truck. I contacted both the dealer and audi customer relations about the problem, but since the recall had been closed by this time, no one was willing to consider the possibility that the repair had not been done properly or that the ignition switch in my car, which they had previously claimed was the correct one, was just as defective as the recalled switch. I brought the car to an independent repair shop and had the switch replaced at my own expense. I asked for reimbursement from audi, but they refused.

Filed Jun 16, 2008 · Electrical · 67,487 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 audi a4. In january of 2004, the contact was informed of a recall on his vehicle regarding the ignition switch. The dealer performed the recall repair for free; however, the ignition switch failed in 2007. The dealer conducted a visual inspection. A technician stated that because the replacement had been done in 2004, a new ignition switch would not be necessary. On june 9, 2008, the ignition switched failed again. When the failure occurred, the contact was unable to turn off the vehicle. As a result, the battery drained. He took the vehicle to the dealer again and they stated once more that because the vehicle was previously repaired under recall, they were not responsible. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. The recall number was unknown. The failure mileage was 67,487 and current mileage was 141,500.

Filed Dec 29, 2007 · Brakes · 130,000 miles · WA · crash

1) failure of front left (driver side) hydraulic brake hose at caliper end at inboard side of hose strain relief. The damage location appears to be where hose is subject to maximum stress and flexing when front wheels turn. Further inspection revealed concealed damage to right (passenger) front brake hose at the same location. 2) consequence was loss of all hydraulic braking when hose burst, resulting in minor accident. Damage to vehicles was minor because of good fortune to have failure at low speed--no injuries resulted. 3) front hydraulic brake hoses were replaced with new oem hoses supplied by audi dealer. Because both hoses exhibited similar wear, other audi a4 vehicles 10 years old and/or with 100,000+ miles may be subject to similar front brake hose failures.

Filed Dec 3, 2007 · Brakes · OH

Braking performance seems to be dramatically reduced in wet, and especially wet and cold, conditions. This happens often, but does not happen regularly, and always after prolonged high-speed driving without brake application. The reduction in performance seems much more dramatic than would be expected from typical reduction in brake performance in these conditions.

Filed Aug 2, 2007 · Electrical · 165,522 miles · HI

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 audi a4. The vehicle was repaired for the federal safety agency recall number 06v403000 (ignition switch). When the contact went to retrieve the vehicle from the dealer, it failed to start. The dealer stated that they could only release the keys and vehicle to a tow service. The invoice stated that the repairs were made. The contact stated that this is the only audi dealer in his area. The manufacturer stated that they are unable to provide any assistance. The current and failure mileages were 165,522. The consumer stated to the audi back to fix and the VIN should show car could drive normally to dealership. The consumer stated dealership sabotaged car and drafted false documents. Updated 08/24/07

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Compare the 1997 Audi A4

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Other model years

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Questions about the 1997 Audi A4

Is the 1997 Audi A4 reliable?

Owners have filed 98 complaints about the 1997 Audi A4, 1.7 times a typical A4 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1997 Audi A4?

Electrical system, with 33 complaints, typically around 118,000 miles. Next is suspension (19).

How many recalls does the 1997 Audi A4 have?

6 recalls, covering air bags, electrical system and service brakes, hydraulic.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Audi A4 get?

Official estimates for the 1997 Audi A4 range from 19 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.8L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 27 highway.

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