1997 Audi A4 from North America - Comments

Side Moldings (rubber) on both sides of car rusted off at 50,000 miles and had to be replaced ($250)

Windshield washer pump stopped working at 55,000 miles ($230)

Turbocharger blew at 60,000 miles ($1400)

Oil Line/Tubing broke and sprung a massive leak at 61,000 miles ($257)

Oil Pump Broke in conjunction with line and tubing at 61,000 miles ($1004)

Suspension Arms (curved and straight) are completely worn at 62,000 miles and need to be replaced ($1600)

The Audi is a beautiful car. It drives and handles extremely well when working properly, but ironically enough, as soon as the car went off warranty at 3 years, I started having massive problems with the car.

There are very few Audi service centers in America and as a result always have a backup of clients to do work for (usually 2-4 weeks to have my car looked at), and the labor costs for work on the Audi in Massachusetts is billed out at $68/hr (Flynn in Pittsfield) or $89/hr (Pass & Weiss) in Burlington. Additionally, the parts aren't cheap, thus the reason for my expensive repairs.

Yeps,

I recommended the Audi A4 1.8 Turbo for my girlfriend. It handles well and is safe on the road. However, it is as reliable as a 1982 Lada. One problem after the other...

Fails to start, rust forming around the rims, control arms failing every other year I mean, come on. AC temp control has a mind of its own. Squeaks from the rear end. If you put a Lada badge on this car, you would not be far off. Piece of junk.

Absolutely true - the car appears to be built for a limited lifetime. A $25.000+ car that is worth scrap value after 6 years and less than 90 k Miles!

It appears that timing belt failures are "pre-scheduled" - Unfortunately I did not know about audiworld and this website before, so I was not warned that the recommended change interval was too long.

Audi-USA appears to ignore their responsibility. Other manufacturers (Mazda) issued recalls for the same defect.

What are you guys talking about?

My dad owns a '97 Audi A4 1.6, 110 hp (stick shift) (soon to be mine!!!).

I drive it VERY often and love it!

It only gave some minor engine problems when we missed the scheduled services. And I gotta tell you that my dad drives it as if it were a truck, loads it up with heavy merchandise (he's a commercial representative).

Other than that it drives beautifully.

Service and parts cost a little, I agree, but if you take care of it it will keep in the same condition as when you first bought it. The Audi dealer charges too much! Your best deal is to take it to any other Audi authorized garage, they charge less and do a better job.

I drag race this car often and have beaten even tuned up cars ("mine" is not tuned up!).

Overall; The A4 is a great car and whoever had a major problem with it it;s probably their fault due to lack of care...

Chriss Jwainat

Thessaloniki, Greece.

I agree with all the above, I have owned a 1.9TDi for the last two years and each year I have had to replace at least one or two parts on the suspension. This years bill is over $1000 (owch) I will be looking to trade in next year and I will not buy another Audi (although the car is very solid and at 50mpg very economical.

I don't know what you guys are talking about...

I have an Audi A4 2.8 and I have only the best comments for it, it handles like a dream and has a lot of power. Yes, the parts can be expensive and there are few dealers in the middle of nowhere, but overall I think its worth the investment, and if you take care of it, the car is wonderful. (i guess you just have to take the time to care for it)

That's what you get for buying an automatic.

Hmm really??? I'm thinking about buying me one...lol...now I'm having second thoughts after reading all those comments!

Timing belt: $280

Alternator: $615

A/C compressor: $1075.

Trading in your Audi for a Honda: Priceless.

I am the proud owner of a 1997 Audi A4 1.8T with less than 50,000 miles on it. A beautiful silver one with no rust. Fun to drive when it's working properly and better looking than much of the newer stuff on the road. But you cannot judge a book by its cover. This year alone almost $5,000 in repairs - AC, control arms, electronics, catalytic converter etc... They checked the timing belt and assured me it was okay. It's amazing how many Audi's of this vintage I see in the dead of summer driving around with their windows down. Anyway the conundrum is this - sell for next to nothing - gamble that it has one more winter in it - or hedge one's bets and keep it, but purchase a back up vehicle just in case... I'll let you know in the spring - but an Audi never again not because of deficiencies in newer models, but because of a company that engineered a piece of junk and didn't do the right thing... Lexus here we come.

Bought a '97 A4 1.8T Quattro a couple years ago 'cuz it had low miles. Beginning to suspect the miles were low due to so much time spent in the dang shop. So far, replaced control arms, engine oil cooler, repaired a major oil leak, about to repair a major coolant leak, the sunroof is possessed (oh so much fun when it's raining!) and as a previous poster mentioned, the climate control seems to have a mind of it's own also. Oh, and now the transmission seems to be acting up. It's a beautiful car and I love the heated seats in Utah winters, but I'm either gonna have to sell at a loss or pour even more money into it. Ugh.

I bought a 1997 Audi A4 1.8L Turbo (automatic) in 2002 with fewer than 50K miles on it. Within a year, the timing belt blew the engine. It has been a grocery list of horrors ever since. After getting it out of the shop with a fixed drive shaft, tranny service, heater core, thermostat and water pump (over $3k)...the engine blew again going up a mountain. I love driving this car and that pleasure keeps me paying for painful repairs. You have to REALLY love this car to keep it. (And have a backup vehicle!)