1997 Audi QUATTRO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 33.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Water Heater | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Water Heater: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm: 1; Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007733 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
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 I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102338 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
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 C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10102338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139450 · 2005-10-12 (October 12, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185514 · 2007-03-19 (March 19, 2007)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230353 · 2008-06-09 (June 9, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 84,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720949 · 2000-04-03 (April 3, 2000)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720949 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.