1997 Audi A4 problems and owner complaints

APPARENTLY RELATED TO CASE: EA04017 I WAS DRIVING A 1997 AUDI A4 2.8L V6 QUATTRO AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT: I WAS DRIVING 55-MPH ON THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY IN NEW YORK, AROUND NOON (AMBIENT TEMPERATURE ~30F ABOVE ZERO). I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER AN HOUR WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING TO NEARLY 70-MPH DOWN HILLS BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AT THE TIME AND SET TO 55-MPH, SO I TURNED IT OFF BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT OCCURRING. I TRIED BRAKING AS I WENT DOWN HILLS AND THAT SLOWED ME DOWN ENOUGH …

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088142 at NHTSA ↗

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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10210693 at NHTSA ↗

UPON STARTING THE CAR, IT MADE A NOISE AS THOUGH THE KEY WAS STILL IN STARTING POSITION. THE CAR DROVE OKAY, BUT THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, DIGITAL ODOMETER, EVERYTHING ELECTRIC WOULD NOT WORK. I WENT TO WORK, PLANNING TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER LATER THAT DAY. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AT LUNCH TIME, THE KEY WOULD NOT EVEN GO INTO THE IGNITION. AFTER CALLING AAA, AND HAVING 3 DIFFERENT TOW TRUCKS, NO ONE WAS ABLE TO TOW THE CAR BAUSE IT HAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR ON TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL. I THEN CALLED EVERY LOCKSMITH…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100785 at NHTSA ↗

RE: 1997 AUDI A4; RECALL CAMPAIGN LE, ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH. *BF THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2001 PRIOR TO ANY FAILURE. A FEW YEARS LATER THE SWITCH FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER THAT PROMPTED THE INITIAL RECALL. THE IGNITION SWITCH BLEW UP THE STARTER CAUSING $1100 IN DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101202 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067375 at NHTSA ↗

STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS AND IDLED. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE EARLY MAY, WITH NO SUCCESSFUL REPAIR. VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC IS A SAFETY HAZARD. AUDI AMERICA CONTACTED, DEALER WORKING ON CAR FOR 30 DAYS. CAR STALLS AND IT TAKES UP TO 6 CRANKS OF UP TO 30 SECONDS EACH TO RESTART.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723632 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022229 at NHTSA ↗

CONTROL ARM FAILURE, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND VEERING INTO A CURB, DAMAGING THE VEHICLE ($2000+), INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILED PART (ESURANCE). IT WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS GOING ONLY 35 MPH, THAT NO ONE WAS STANDING OR DRIVING WHERE I HIT THAT CURB.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091173 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A RATTLE IN THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT RATTLE STILL EXISTS, ALSO THE UPHOLSTERY IN THE VEHICLE HAS WORN OUT PREMATURELY, IT WAS REPLACED ON FEB 20, 2000, BUT IMMEDITELY STARTING SHOWINGS SIGNS OF WEAR WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND ALSO A CUT IN THE LEATHER ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563079 at NHTSA ↗