1997 Audi A4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System:ignition:switch (21) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (8) · Suspension:front:control Arm (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
41 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2022-07-01 · campaign 22V471000 · 28,624 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (66)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:labels 2019-08-28 · AWC 19-05 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this communication is issued to inform dealers of updated shipping regulations related to lithium ion batteries.
Equipment 2019-07-22 · AWC 19-04 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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
Exterior Lighting 2017-07-31 · A941791 2012749- · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, and/or third brake light lens.
Equipment 2017-06-28 · SM 44-2017 EN · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
Engine 2017-05-10 · A171782 2010043- · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin contains all the the audi oil quality standards that should be used when doing an oil change.
Equipment 2017-03-03 · ATE-17-05 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 66 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.