1997 Audi A8 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A8 years
- More complaints than other years 9th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Audi A8. That ranks 9th out of 32 A8 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (4 complaints, 40%), typically at around 57,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 10owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Audi A8 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4 | 40% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 20% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 10% | 135,700 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 10% | 63,700 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 10% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Audi A8 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could allow the vehicle to roll, causing a crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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.
Risk: Activation of the air bag under these conditions can cause personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will install a ground wire on the driver side air bag.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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
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…
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
While driving the consumer's 1997 audi a8 quattro accelerated suddenly. *nm *nm
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…
Other Audi A8 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 A8 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 A8 | 5 | 10 |
| 2020 A8 | 3 | 5 |
| 2019 A8 | 14 | 3 |
| 2018 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 A8 | 8 | 3 |
| 2016 A8 | 11 | 4 |
| 2015 A8 | 31 | 5 |
| 2014 A8 | 18 | 5 |
| 2013 A8 | 49 | 6 |
| 2012 A8 | 11 | 1 |
| 2011 A8 | 15 | 1 |
| 2010 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 A8 | 5 | 1 |
| 2008 A8 | 8 | 1 |
| 2007 A8 | 4 | 2 |
| 2006 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2005 A8 | 6 | 1 |
| 2004 A8 | 20 | 1 |
| 2003 A8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000 A8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1999 A8 | 9 | 4 |
| 1998 A8 | 4 | 3 |
| 1997 | 10 | 2 |
| 1996 A8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 A8 | 0 | 1 |
See all Audi A8 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Audi A8?
Owners most often report power train, vehicle speed control, air bags problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Audi A8?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Audi A8 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A8 model years, the 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.