Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Audi A4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My Audi a-4 was parked all day, all of a sudden the car caught on fire only in the dash. I have reported this to Audi they refuse to give me a report after looking at the car. They also said they could not tell if it was tampered with. The fire dept that put out the fire, said it was an electrical fire. This car is stock, I have had to replace the ignition switch and module. This car has had recalls and May complaints. This could caused injury and death if my child and I were in the car. I feel as if I am being blown off, I have called and spoke to many people and there is no straight answer. Now my car is sitting at scottadale paint and auto body where I was instructed to leave it by Audi. I have called there today to check on my car and no one can find it. I have also been sending e-mail and so on.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Audi A4. The vehicle was serviced for recall # 06V403000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). When the vehicle was picked up from the dealer, the battery was dead and had to be jump started. The vehicle failed to restart after being driven 25 miles and then parked. The dealer stated that the battery failure was unrelated to the recall repair. The contact purchased a new battery, but the vehicle still would not start. A local mechanic stated that the cause of failure was the starter and the wire was burned to the starter. The engine size was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 76,000.
Upon starting the car, it made a noise as though the key was still in starting position. The car drove okay, but the wipers, headlights, digital odometer, everything electric would not work. I went to work, planning to bring the car to the dealer later that day. When I returned to my car at lunch time, the key would not even go into the ignition. After calling aaa, and having 3 different tow trucks, no one was able to tow the car bause it has all wheel drive and I could not get the car on to put it in nuetral. I then called every locksmith in the phonebook until one finally stopped by. He was able to lubricate the key and get it in the ignition. Upon doing so he told me that the housing was probably fracture and out of place. I drove it straight to the dealer, where I was not informed of the ignition recall, and charged $542 to replace the electrical switch and housing of the ignition. …
I received safety recall js for the Audi A4 ignition switch in November 2006 and complied with the instructions by bringing the car to the dealer for a replacement switch in January 2007. The dealer did not do the repair because they said my car already had the correct switch. In June 2008, this ignition switch malfunctioned in the exact manner described in the recall. When I started the engine, I heard a crack in the ignition switch and then the electrical components, including dashboard lights, horn, turn signal, windshield wipers, and air conditioning, immediately became inoperative. When I turned off the engine, the key would not return to the off position and had to be pulled out by force and subsequently forced back in to put the car in neutral for the tow truck. …
I have a 1997 Audi A4 q that has a common defect with the ignition switch. This is a very well known problem with these cars and because of the defect there has been a recall already done for this car (NHTSA campaign id number 00V317000) as of oct 06,2000. I called the a local dealer and the manufacturer and gave them my VIN # and they claim my car was not part of the recall. However, I went to the NHTSA website and looked at the make, model and year of my car and it does show that the year of my car was included. In fact, I was even able to print off several documents referring to the recall and it does show that my VIN is actually included (VIN ranges wau---8d-va000181 to wau---8d-va294397). Quoting the recall letter; "the plastic ignition switch housing can fracture at the return spring anchor point. …
The failure I am having is with my ignition switch. When turning on the car, the ignition key does not return to the proper position after the engine has been started. This causes electrical accessories, such as windshield wipers, headlights, power windows, and heating/air conditioning to be inoperative after starting the car. Also, when turning off the car the key does not turn all the way to the off position. This results in difficulty in removing and reinserting the key, and it also does not cut off all power resulting in a dead battery on several occasions when I returned to the car, and it also does not activate the anti theft alarm system. This vehicle had a recall for this exact same problem in 2001, and the dealer claims to have changed the defective part however the problem has resurfaced. Paul miller Audi was not willing to correct the problem at their cost.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Audi A4. In January of 2004, the contact was informed of a recall on his vehicle regarding the ignition switch. The dealer performed the recall repair for free; however, the ignition switch failed in 2007. The dealer conducted a visual inspection. A technician stated that because the replacement had been done in 2004, a new ignition switch would not be necessary. On June 9, 2008, the ignition switched failed again. When the failure occurred, the contact was unable to turn off the vehicle. As a result, the battery drained. He took the vehicle to the dealer again and they stated once more that because the vehicle was previously repaired under recall, they were not responsible. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. The recall number was unknown. The failure mileage was 67,487 and current mileage was 141,500.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Audi A4. The vehicle was repaired for NHTSA recall number 06V403000 (ignition switch). When the contact went to retrieve the vehicle from the dealer, it failed to start. The dealer stated that they could only release the keys and vehicle to a tow service. The invoice stated that the repairs were made. The contact stated that this is the only Audi dealer in his area. The manufacturer stated that they are unable to provide any assistance. The current and failure mileages were 165,522. The consumer stated to the Audi back to fix and the VIN should show car could drive normally to dealership. The consumer stated dealership sabotaged car and drafted false documents. Updated 08/24/07
Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to turn on the ignition, the key turned forward but would not spring back into place. The ignition housing return spring anchor point fractured causing the return spring forces to be faulty for returning the ignition key to the proper position after starting the vehicle. The service dealer was notified who determined that the original parts were replaced under recall campaign id#00V317000. The contact insisted that even though the original parts were replaced, the replaced parts May have been faulty. The service dealer refused to remedy the problem under the recall. The manufacturer was notified, and determined that it was not an open campaign.
Recall 00V317000: ignition switch defect.I have a 1997 Audi A4 VIN [redacted] that was repaired under the recall in jan 2004. The symptoms prompting the recall have reoccurred (wipers and light not working due to switch defect). Took car to the dealer who status recall work was warranted for 1 year or 12000 miles so they will not fix at their expense. The vechile is 8 years old this year. Is there any requirement the the recall remendy work? It appears they put in a part that has the same defect that lead to the recall. Updated 07/25/2012
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles, as a result of a problem in the production process of the ignition switch, the anchor point of the spring May crack. This could potentially cause the return spring force to be insufficient for returning the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new ignition switch with an optimized anchor point free of charge. The recall began on November 27, 2006. Owners May contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The plastic ignition switch housing can fracture at the return spring anchor point. Fracture of the housing could cause the return spring force to be insufficient for returning the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
NHTSA investigations
Ignition switch
There is no summary currently available
Degraded braking wet weather condition
There is no summary currently available
Electrical complaints in other A4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1997 Audi A4?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Audi A4, 34% of the model year's 98 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Audi A4 electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 06V-403 (switch, Oct 23, 2006); NHTSA recall 00V-317 (switch, Oct 11, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Audi A4 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 118,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.