1997 Audi Quattro recalls & problems
The 1997 Audi Quattro has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 11 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (3 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints11filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 Audi Quattro.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal | 3 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Cooling system › Radiator assembly | 3 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2 | — |
| Suspension Front › Control arm › Lower arm; Front › Macpherson strut | 2 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
| Air bags Frontal | 1 | — |
| Equipment Recreational vehicle/trailer › Lpg systems › Water heater | 1 | — |
| Electrical system Ignition › Switch | 1 | — |
| Exterior lighting Headlights › Switch | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Feb 12, 2005 · 84,750 milesExterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 AUDI A4 QUATTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AT NIGHT. HE HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E049000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE FAILURE HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,750. UPDATED 07/07/08. *BF UPDATED - Mar 11, 2007 · 59,000 milesSuspension › Front › Macpherson strut
ON SUNDAY NIGHT, 3/11/07, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR AUDI A6 QUATTRO WAGON WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL. AS SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR VEERED WILDLY, SPINNING A FULL 360 DEGREES. TO GAIN CONTROL MY WIFE NEXT TRIED LIGHT ACCELERATION AND WAS ABLE WITH THAT AND BRUTE FORCE TO PULL THE CAR ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER, AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, TOLD US THAT A NUT HAD COME OFF THE BOLT HOLDING THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A NUT WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSEN LIKE THIS AFTER 60,000 MILES AND 10 YEARS. THE REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE BOTH STRUTS AND OTHER DAMAGED COMPONENTS. WE ARE VERY MUCH RELIEVED THAT THIS FAILURE DID NOT HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS, BUT ARE… - Oct 1, 2005 · 71,000 milesElectrical system › Ignition › Switch
I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IDENTICAL TO RECALL 00V317000. THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING FRACTURES, ALLOWING THE IGNITION AND STARTER TO FIRE CONTINUOUSLY. MY STARTER BURNED OUT AND THE REPAIR OF BOTH THE SWITCH AND THE STARTER COST $830.56. AUDI CLAIMS MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL GROUP.*JB - Dec 7, 2004Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 AUDI A4 QUATTRO. WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. NOW, LAST WEEK I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE FROM AUDI ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM; PREMATURELY WORN OUT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. I CALLED THE AUDI DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT BRINGING THE CAR IN TO BE LOOKED AT. THE PERSON I TALKED TO ON THE PHONE TOLD ME THAT SINCE THEY HAD NO RECORD OF A 60,000 MILE CHECKUP, THAT AUDI WOULD NOT PAY THE COST OF REPAIRS, IF NECESSARY. HE TOLD ME THE COST TO REPAIR THESE LOWER CONTROL ARMS IS AROUND $1,100 PARTS AND… - Jan 15, 2003Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
HEATER STOPPED WORKING-HEATER CORE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OKAY. THERMASTAT REPLACED. WATER PUMP FOUND TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL AND REPLACED. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AND FOUND CRACKED HEAD. HEAD REPLACED -S STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE HEAT PROBLEM. HEATER CORE REPLACED-STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RADIATOR REPLACED - PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SOLVED, HOWEVER CAR RUNS WORSE THAN IT DID BEFORE SPENDING $3,500-. TOTALL FRUSTRATED AND NO HELP FROM AUDI AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS. CAR WARRANTY RAN OUT IN DECEMBER-PROBLEM OCCURED IN JANUARY. - Mar 22, 2000Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
THE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT IS KNOWN TO MANY OF US A4 OWNERS. IT HAS TO DO WITH VERY POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN WET CONDITIONS. THESE CARS DID NOT COME WITH A SHIELD BEHIND THE FRONT DISCS TO PREVENT WATER FROM ACCUMULATING. THE RESULT IS LITTLE OR NO BRAKING FOR 1-2 SECONDS AFTER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I MUST DRAG THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO DRY THE DISCS BEFORE THEY WILL PERFORM AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN DEPTH ON AUDIWORLD.COM(USE THE ARCHIVES TO INVESTIGATE). AUDI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DUE TO NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT FAILS TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. IT SEEMS LIKE A COUPLE OF SHIELDS WOULD BE AN INEXPENSIVE AND EASY FIX TO THE… - Dec 20, 1999Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
DONT HAVE PARTS FOR VEHICLE RECALL ITEMS. *AK - Dec 11, 1998Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
GAS PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY STICKS WHEN DEPRESSED, NO POWER, FOLLOWED BY POWER SURGE.(SUDDEN ACCELERATION). THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT START UP OR WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.