1997 Audi A4: recalls and complaints
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1997 Audi A4. The newest campaign is 22V471000. NHTSA received the report on 1 Jul 2022. The NHTSA record gives the component Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module. NHTSA has 98 complaints on file for this model year. 4 NHTSA investigations name this model year.
The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.
This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.
Remedy of the newest campaign, 22V471000, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on . Complaint file through . Recall file through .
Since the last update
No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks
Recall campaigns
6 campaigns, newest first. 212,551 units in total.
- 22V471000Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
- 06V403000Electrical System / Ignition / Switch
- 00V317000Electrical System / Ignition / Switch
- 99V131001Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- 97V175000Air Bags / Frontal
- 97V115000Seat Belts / Rear/Other
22V471000Received . 28,624 units.
Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 69BT.
06V403000Received . 28,594 units.
Electrical System / Ignition / Switch
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain passenger vehicles, as a result of a problem in the production process of the ignition switch, the anchor point of the spring may crack. This could potentially cause the return spring force to be insufficient for returning the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This condition causes electrical accessories such as windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a new ignition switch with an optimized anchor point free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834. Note: this recall supersedes the remedy program under a previous recall (please see 00v317).
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. Manufacturer campaign number JS. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
00V317000Received . 27,900 units.
Electrical System / Ignition / Switch
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The plastic ignition switch housing can fracture at the return spring anchor point. Fracture of the housing could cause the return spring force to be insufficient for returning the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This condition causes electrical accessories such as windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
99V131001Received . 88,121 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold may not open or close fully at temperatures below -4 f under certain driving conditions.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Manufacturer campaign number UH/KU. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
97V175000Received . 39,300 units.
Air Bags / Frontal
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Activation of the air bag under these conditions can cause personal injury.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a ground wire on the driver side air bag.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
97V115000Received . 12 units.
Seat Belts / Rear/Other
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may not lock properly when engaged, or not remain locked after being engaged.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a crash, an improperly locking seat belt could cause injury to an occupant.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the rear seat belt assembly.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC.
The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.
Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.
Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.
Complaints by component
98 complaints, 119 component mentions.
A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.
- 1997 Audi A4
- All 1997 vehicles
| Component | 1997 A4 | All 1997 vehicles | A4, all years | Mentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 285.7 | 81.5 | 110.6 | 34 |
| Suspension | 159.7 | 64 | 33.3 | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 126.1 | 101.4 | 116.4 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 109.2 | 129.3 | 78.9 | 13 |
| Seats | 50.4 | 13.2 | 10.5 | 6 |
| Power Train | 42 | 87.7 | 59.9 | 5 |
| Unknown or Other | 33.6 | 21.3 | 17 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33.6 | 43.7 | 39.5 | 4 |
| Visibility | 33.6 | 56.1 | 31.3 | 4 |
| Steering | 33.6 | 70 | 34 | 4 |
The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 17.
- Complaints that report a crash
- 7
- Complaints that report a fire
- 3
- Injuries in the complaints
- 5
- Deaths in the complaints
- 0
- Date of the newest complaint
- 7 Jul 2014
These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.
Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.
Investigations
| Number | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Campaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA00021 | Engineering analysis | DEGRADED BRAKING IN WET WEATHER | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 Aug 2000 | 29 Mar 2002 | |
| PE00016 | Preliminary evaluation | DEGRADED BRAKING WET WEATHER CONDITION | Electrical System | 4 Apr 2000 | 11 Aug 2000 | |
| RQ00009 | Recall query | IGNITION SWITCH | Electrical System | 21 Mar 2000 | 30 Nov 2000 | 00V317000 |
| RQ99008 | Recall query | POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM BY-PASS | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 Jun 1999 | 14 Nov 2000 | 99V131001 |
Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.
Other model years
The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.
Official channels
- NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
- NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
- NHTSA page of the 1997 Audi A4The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.
Cite this page
Recall Register. 1997 Audi A4: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/audi/a4/1997/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through .
Sources
- Source
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
- Licence
- US government work, public domain
- Recall file through
- 29 Sep 2026
- Complaint file through
- 15 May 2019
- First complaint in the file
- 1 Jan 1995
- Manufacturer in the recall file
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.
Questions
- How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1997 Audi A4?
- 212,551 units in 6 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
- How many recall campaigns does the Audi A4 have for all model years?
- NHTSA lists 27 recall campaigns for the Audi A4, model years 1995 to 2022. 6 of them name the 1997 model year.
- Which component do the complaints about the 1997 Audi A4 name most often?
- Electrical System: 34 of 119 component mentions, or 285.7 per 1,000. For all 1997 vehicles the figure is 81.5 per 1,000.
- Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1997 Audi A4 open?
- No. Each of the 4 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.