1997 AUDI A8 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
12
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
21
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 AUDI A8
The 1997 AUDI A8 has received a total of 12 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. 21 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (2 complaints), Vehicle Speed Control (2 complaints), and Air Bags (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1997 AUDI A8
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1997 AUDI A8, potentially affecting up to 53,200 vehicles.
Recall 08V397000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 13,900 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
View full details →Recall 97V175000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 39,300 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 AUDI A8
12 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 AUDI A8. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionswitch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentmechanicalaccessory Scissorscrewbottle Jacklift | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingbrake Lights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodybumpers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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 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
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER'S 1997 AUDI A8 QUATTRO ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. *NM *NM
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
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
Safety Rating for the 1997 AUDI A8
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 AUDI A8 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 AUDI A8
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 21 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 AUDI A8. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
0001 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
INFORMATION ON REPLACING DAMAGE FASTENERS WHEN A CONDITION EXIST WHERE THE REAR LICENSE PLATE FASTENERS MAY BE BROKEN, LOOSE OR FALLEN BEHIND THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER / LENS ASSEMBLY.
9903 — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
INFORMATION ON DEACTIVATING / ACTIVATING THE REAR SIDE AIRBAGS. *TT
9809 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
SUBJECT ON CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, FUNCTION OPTIONS. *YC
9801O — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUBJECT ON DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 00591 & 00592L. *YC
9803K — AIR BAGS
CUSTOMER REQUESTS DEACTIVATION OR REACTIVATION OF REAR SIDE AIRBAGS. *YC
980169 — AIR BAGS
INFORMATION ON REPLACING AIRBAG COMPONENTS AFTER AN ACCIDENT. *YC
9801A — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SUBJECT REGARDING CRANKSHAFT CENTER BOLT AND CAMSHAFT SPROCKER BOLT, CORRECTIONS. *YC
9801D — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
INFORMATION ON FRONT AXLE COMPONENTS. *YC
9801E — SUSPENSION:REAR
INFORMATION ON REAR AXLE COMPONENTS. *YC
9801F — WHEELS
SUBJECT ON WHEELS AND TIRES. *YC
Showing 10 of 21 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 AUDI A8
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the AUDI A8
- 1995 AUDI A8 — 0 complaints
- 1996 AUDI A8 — 1 complaint
- 1997 AUDI A8 (current)
- 1998 AUDI A8 — 4 complaints
- 1999 AUDI A8 — 13 complaints
- 2000 AUDI A8 — 4 complaints
- 2001 AUDI A8 — 8 complaints
- 2002 AUDI A8 — 1 complaint