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1997 Audi Quattro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
11Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19941
19956
199611
19979
199821
19997
2000
Compare all Quattro years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Suspension
2Air Bags
1
All reported categories
Electrical System
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Steering
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 P…

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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 PROBLEM. AGAIN, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY A4S. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720949

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1998
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE MEDIA IN THE ROAD. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. THE DRIVER SAID THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821981

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.