RoadVitals

1997 Audi A4 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jun 19, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 98 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jun 19, 2007

1997 AUDI A4 QUATTRO LEASE WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT AUDI CORPORATION IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH SLOG AND DID NOT SEND HIM A LETTER**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE, WHICH NOW SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER MECHANICS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS FULLY AWARE OF AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM FROM THE USE OF INFERIOR ENGINE OIL OR FROM INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES, CAN CLOG THE OIL PUMP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10194438
Incident
May 13, 2007
Engine
Filed Nov 24, 2004

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OIL SLUDGE RELATED FAILURE ON OUR 1997 AUDI A4. INGRID EVERT, FROM THE OFFICE OF AUDI OF AMERICA'S MARK TRAHAN, HAS TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR IS WITHIN THE VIN RANGE AFFECTED BY WHAT IS, IN HER WORDS, A "MANUFACTURING DEFECT". HER REASON FOR REFUSAL IS THE FACT THAT I CHANGE MY OWN OIL AND THUS LACK RECEIPTS. SO, ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS WITHIN THE AFFECTED VIN RANGE, AND I HAVE PERFORMED ALL OIL CHANGES IN EXCESS OF THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE REGARDLESS OF THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE CAR, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10100490
Incident
Nov 24, 2004
Mileage
89,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2003

THE TIMING BELT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017560
Incident
Apr 24, 2003
Engine
Filed Feb 18, 2003

TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED AT 64K. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS VIRTUALLY UNDER NO TENSION AND WOULD HAVE FAILED IMMEDIATELY IF NOT CAUGHT BY A VIBRATING SOUND FROM IDLE TO 2200RPM.

NHTSA ID
10007751
Incident
Feb 18, 2003
Mileage
64,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TIMING GEAR BELT BROKE, CAUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8021571
Incident
Oct 22, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 7, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD DUE TO TIMING BELT FAILURE RESULTING IN MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. *YH

NHTSA ID
8015754
Incident
Jun 2, 2002
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2002

TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES WHICH INTERFERED WITH ENGINE VALVES, VALVES WERE BENT. *AK WHILE TRAVELING THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND IDENTIFIED THAT THE STARTER WAS BROKEN. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED BUT FURTHER DIAGNOSIS LED TO FINDING THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE STARTER TO FAIL, BENDING VALVES AND DAMAGING THE HEAD. ALL WERE REPLACED. *JG

NHTSA ID
8006653
Incident
Jan 23, 2002
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2002

I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARGES INCURRED OF APPROXIMATELY $4000. DUE TO THE FACT THE NEW TENSIONSER PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THEN THE ORIGINAL AND DUE TO THE FAILED TENSIONER / TIMING BELT DAMAGED MY CYLINDER HEAD AND VALVES.*AK

NHTSA ID
756903
Incident
Jul 30, 2001
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, EITHER TIMING BELT OR TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS CAUSE FOR STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
895189
Incident
Aug 20, 2001
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND A TECHINICIAN SAID IT WAS A BROKEN TIMING BELT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS TOO EARLY TO HAPPEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
876686
Incident
Oct 5, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 12, 2000
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE ENGINE, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES CLAIM # 53-C745-067. NLM

NHTSA ID
6900689
Incident
Apr 26, 2000
EngineSuspension
Filed Jul 22, 2000

I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE CONTROL ARMS ARE FAILING BECAUSE AUDI DIDN'T PROVIDE FOR LUBRICATION POINTS.. THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE LOSS OF THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS, AND COULD NOT RESPOND WHEN I SAID I HAD NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT HAD LOST IT'S ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS.. OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS ALSO GOT TO BE A PROBLEM CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN AND ENGINE VIBRATION.. THESE BOLTS SHOULD BE SAFETY WIRED TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. I THINK AUDI SHOULD COVER THE COSTS OF REPLACEMENT OF THE CONTROL ARM AND ENGINE MOUNT, BUT THE DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM COULD BE DUE TO WEAR, ALTHOUGH AGAIN I DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON MY JEEP OR OTHER VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
725831
Incident
Jul 15, 2000
Engine
Filed Jun 13, 1999

PLAZA MOTORS HAS IGNORED COMPLAINTS. AM NOW USING PARKTOWN. BETTER, BUT AM READY TO GET RID OF CAR BECAUSE PROBLEMS ARE PERSISTING. DO NOT FEEL THAT AUDI EVEN CARES. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
707516
Incident
Oct 2, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .