13 of the
119 complaints about the 1997 Audi A4 are about the
engine — 11% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
76,500 miles.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10194438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesPascoag, RI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10100490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Menlo Park, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE TIMING BELT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10017560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesShoreview, MN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 complaint #10007751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stanford, CT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 complaint #8021571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mission, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD DUE TO TIMING BELT FAILURE RESULTING IN MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #8015754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #8006653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corona, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #756903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, EITHER TIMING BELT OR TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS CAUSE FOR STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #895189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Langhorng, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #876686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pine Island, MN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #725831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchester, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #707516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchester, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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 SUMMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #707516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.