1997 Audi A8
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Audi A8 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 100 on record.
1997 Audi A8 at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1997 Audi A8 recalls 2
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.
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.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1997 Audi A8 common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1997 Audi A8 MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1997 Audi A8 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1997 Audi A8. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
Manufacturer service bulletins 33
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 33.
Vehicle will not communicate with diagnostic scan tool or emissions test equipment. Customers may have issues with vehicle passing state IM emissions test programs because the scan tool cannot communicate with the vehicle. ABS and/or brake lamp(s) will be illu…
Bulletin A451510 2042048- · Power Train · Oct 2015Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants.
Bulletin 134120253033 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2013Seat Belt
Bulletin SM562013 · Seat Belts · Jun 2013Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants.
Bulletin 133520253032 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOISTURE ACCUMULATION. *NJ
Bulletin 0715 · Exterior Lighting · Nov 2007AUDIO: EXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOISTURE ACCUMULATION. CONDENSATION IS VISIBLE ON THE INSIDE OF HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, FRONT TURN SIGNAL OR THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LENS. DAMP AIR SETTLES ON THE INSIDE OF A COLD LENS, WHICH CREATES CONDENSATI…
Bulletin TSB-94-07-15 · Exterior Lighting · Nov 2007EXTERIOR LIGHTS, MOSITURE ACCUMULATION. *PE
Bulletin 2012749-2 · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2007HEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER. *KB
Bulletin 20056243 · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2007CHECK/REPLACE REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *TC
Bulletin JE · Suspension · Nov 2004SERVICE ACTION JE CAMPAIGN-CHECK/REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AUDI HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE CASES, ONE OR BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT WEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BOOTS IS NOT OBVIOUS. *…
Bulletin 11242004 · Suspension · Nov 2004Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the A8. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 2
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Audi A8. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Other
On certain vehicles equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission, a 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 key is not in the ignition. This could allow the vehicle to roll and strike a person , object or vehicle without warning, causing personal injury. Correction: Dea…
Transport Canada #2008274 · Aug 2008Seats And Restraints
THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS COULD ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE INJURY. CORRECTION: A GROUND WIRE WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Transport Canada #1997176 · Oct 1997Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, and currently in its fourth generation, the A8 has been offered with either front- or permanent all-wheel drive and in short- and long-wheelbase variants. The first two generations employed the Volkswagen Group D platform, with the current generation deriving from the MLB platform. After the original model's 1994 release, Audi released the second generation in late 2002, the third in late 2009, and the fourth and current iteration in 2017. Noted as the first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, all A8 models have used this construction method co-developed w…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
1997 Audi A8 vehicles on record
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN003589
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZWN005182
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN013054
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN004670
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN004017
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN009795
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN000838
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN008514
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN012145
1997 Audi A8WAUBG84D9VN007827
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN012060
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN002507
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN009288
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZWN000417
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN000737
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN003347
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN004865
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN012359
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN003595
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN010612
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN012964
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZWN001417
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN007411
1997 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN006909