NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Audi A8 Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Audi A8 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 10 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Audi A8. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1997 Audi A8 owner complaints

Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Audi A8, describing incidents dated August 31, 1999 to December 5, 2006.

Most-cited components

Power Train 3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Electrical System 1 complaint
Equipment 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Of the 10 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10176112 · Filed December 14, 2006
MY 1997 AUDI A8 IS EQUIPPED WITH A VEHICLE JACK THAT IS GROSSLY INADEQUATE FOR CHANGING A TIRE AND IS HAZARDOUS TO ANYONE USING IT-- IT IS PRONE TO COLLAPSE. MANY USERS OF THIS JACK HAVE EXPERIENCED COLLAPSE, AND AUDI DOES NOT CARE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
ODI #10176010 · Filed December 13, 2006
MY 1997 AUDI A8 HAS AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON A RECENT VISIT TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THEY HAVE RESET THE FAULT CODE. WHEREVER, SOON AFTER THAT THE WARNING LIGHT CAME UP AGAIN AND STAY ON NOW. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND…
ODI #10115642 · Filed March 23, 2005
VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT IN REVERSE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BUMPER GOT CAUGHT ON SOMETHING AND RIPPED OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER ANTICIPATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TOO LOW, AND HAD INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

Read all 10 complaints

TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE

NHTSA #08V397000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported August 14, 2008 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 13,900 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 37D5/J2 · Owners notified September 12, 2008 · Vehicles built July 19, 1995 – August 14, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 13,900 MY 1996-2003 AUDI A8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE LOCKING CABLE MAY MOVE OUT OF POSITION OVER TIME. WITH THE LOCKING CABLE OUT OF POSITION, THE SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION EVEN IF THE IGNITION KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION LOCK.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE BY INSTALLING AN ADJUSTING PIECE THAT WILL SECURE THE LOCKING CABLE IN PLACE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Notes

VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI RECALL NO.37D5/J2. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

VW/AIR BAG GROUND CONTACT WIRE

NHTSA #97V175000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported October 8, 1997 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

Potentially affected: 39,300 vehicles

Owners notified October 13, 1997 · Vehicles built July 1, 1994 – September 30, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Safety consequence

ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 13, 1997.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Audi A8. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

10 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Audi A8.

Equipment

ODI #10176112

Incident: January 1, 2006 · Filed: December 14, 2006

MY 1997 AUDI A8 IS EQUIPPED WITH A VEHICLE JACK THAT IS GROSSLY INADEQUATE FOR CHANGING A TIRE AND IS HAZARDOUS TO ANYONE USING IT-- IT IS PRONE TO COLLAPSE. MANY USERS OF THIS JACK HAVE EXPERIENCED COLLAPSE, AND AUDI DOES NOT CARE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

Air Bags

ODI #10176010

Incident: December 5, 2006 · Filed: December 13, 2006

MY 1997 AUDI A8 HAS AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON A RECENT VISIT TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THEY HAVE RESET THE FAULT CODE. WHEREVER, SOON AFTER THAT THE WARNING LIGHT CAME UP AGAIN AND STAY ON NOW. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THERE WERE MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR OF THE A8. I READ THE OWNER'S MANUEL, AND IT SAYS IF THE AIR BAG WARNING IS ON, WHEN COLLISION OCCURS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL BECOME DEACTIVATED (I.E. FRONTAL AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF A FRONTAL CRASH.) SINCE THE AIR BAG IS A VITAL SAFETY SYSTEM, I'D STRONGLY SUGGEST TO YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS FAILURE. *NM

Structure

ODI #10115642

Incident: February 23, 2005 · Filed: March 23, 2005

VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT IN REVERSE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BUMPER GOT CAUGHT ON SOMETHING AND RIPPED OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER ANTICIPATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TOO LOW, AND HAD INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10113823

Incident: January 27, 2005 · Filed: February 16, 2005

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER'S 1997 AUDI A8 QUATTRO ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. *NM *NM

Electrical System

ODI #10028551

Incident: July 13, 2003 · Filed: July 18, 2003

THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY 1997 AUDI A8 FAILED INTERNALLY AND WAS DISABLED IN IT'S ABILITY TO SPRING BACK FROM THE START POSITION. WITH THE SWITCH CONTACTS IN A POSITION BETWEEN START AND RUN, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT WILL OPERATE. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS / TAILLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS , WIPERS AND OTHER SYSTEMS. THIS CONDITION CAN ALSO ALLOW THE STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IN THIS INSTANCE, THIS OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME AT NIGHT WITH MY WIFE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVILED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED ON OTHER AUDI MODELS. THE NHTSA HAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED RECALLS ON THE 1997 A6 (00V317000) AND 1996 A4 (96V017000) MODELS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. I CONTACTED AUDI USA CUSTOMER SERVICE (REPS. NAME- MEGAN) AND ENTERED A COMPLAINT - CASE#30325223 THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BY AUDI USA THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE AUDI DEALER AT A COST OF $535.00 FULLY CHARGED TO ME. *JB

Power Train

ODI #10002547

Filed: January 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECT.*JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Power Train

ODI #875245

Filed: November 20, 2000

BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP PUSHING BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER 4 TIMES, AND EVERYTIME DEALER SAID ROTORS WERE DAMAGED. CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 10000 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE MAKER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE A8 ROTORS WEAR QUICKLY. *YH

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #846336

Crash

Incident: August 31, 1999 · Filed: September 1, 1999

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO PARK THIS VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER BEING WEDGED IN BETWEEN TWO PARKED VEHICLES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Power Train

ODI #735848

Filed: November 6, 2000

WE WANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE ODOMETER "ROLLBACK" (CHANGING FROM KILOMETERS TO MILES). DOES THIS CONSTITUTE ODOMETER FRAUD IF STICKER WAS NOT ON THE DOOR WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE? WE WANT TO KNOW IF ALL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS WERE MET FOR IMPORTATION TO THE U. S. FROM MEXICO IN 1999. AND WERE ALL TAXES AND/OR PENALTIES PAID IN FULL? ALSO WERE ALL DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS COMPLIED WITH? VEHICLE ID NUMBER IS NOT ON THE DASH ON LEFT-HAND SIDE, VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE.*AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #558574

Incident: October 13, 2000 · Filed: December 14, 2000

REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB OUT. NLM

Other Audi A8 model years

Check your 1997 Audi A8 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi A8 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check an Audi VIN