U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Audi CABRIOLET: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

37,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering:Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	1	50.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering:Linkages

Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal

Steering:Linkages: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003

2003: 2

Pattern summary

Steering:Linkages leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10000879 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)

STEERING LINKAGE FAILED. WHILE PULLING OUT ODF A DRIVEWAY, THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND RACK BROKE RENDERING THE CAR UNSTEERABLE. THE STEERING WHEELL SIMPLE SPUN. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGH SPEED. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAID IT WAS " NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE HIGH MILEAGE AND IS MAINTAINED BY AUDI. I HAVE THE BROKEN PART FOR YOUR INSPECTION. IT IS BROKEN IN TWO.

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10020012 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND FAILED TO RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, WHICH CREATED EXCESSIVE SPEED. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020012 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

97V175000 · Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 1997-10-08 (October 8, 1997)

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.

Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

50.0%Usable mileage1 / 2 records

100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records

100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	2000	2003
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 753717 THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 1997 UNDER NHTSA RECALL 96V017000 BY A DEALER IN WISCONSIN, BEHM MOTORS, APPLETON, WI. THERE WAS NO APPARENT PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACED SWITCH IS NOW MALFUNCTIONING EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN. ALSO, THE 1997 AUDI A4 WAS SUBJECT TO NHTSA RECALL #00V31700 FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE 1994 AUDI SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO ANOTHER RECALL. THE DEALER ESTMATED COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $186. A. *AK Look up ODI 753717 at NHTSA ↗	133.3% ODI 896202 WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ HEADLIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER, AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. ONLY THING WORKING WAS THE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL # 96 V 017 000. AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS QUIT WORKING. SLC Look up ODI 896202 at NHTSA ↗	675.0% ODI 10022830 · 80,317 mi THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 96 V 017 000; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. AK WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS, IT AFFECTS THE WIPERS, RADIO, LIGHTS AND WINDOWS. PH Look up ODI 10022830 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Starter Assembly	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	225.0% ODI 10027122 · 90,000 mi IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE STARTER TO "BURN" OUT.*AK Look up ODI 10027122 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Structure	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	240.0% ODI 10343659 · 29,000 mi 2003 AUDI A4 CABRIO. VERY LOW MILEAGE, LOW USE. REAR WINDOW DELAMINATES FROM CANVAS ROOF, RAIN WATER COMES IN & SHORTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR Look up ODI 10343659 at NHTSA ↗
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 896202 WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ HEADLIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER, AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. ONLY THING WORKING WAS THE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL # 96 V 017 000. AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS QUIT WORKING. SLC Look up ODI 896202 at NHTSA ↗	112.5% ODI 862963 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS/ LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS/HORN/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. *AK Look up ODI 862963 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 896202 WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ HEADLIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER, AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. ONLY THING WORKING WAS THE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL # 96 V 017 000. AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS QUIT WORKING. SLC Look up ODI 896202 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 728263 IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM WAS CAUSE FOR A RECALL IN 1996 (96V017000) AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. KEY ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES DO NOT FUNCTION SUCH AS TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLAMPS. Look up ODI 728263 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 728263 IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM WAS CAUSE FOR A RECALL IN 1996 (96V017000) AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. KEY ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES DO NOT FUNCTION SUCH AS TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLAMPS. Look up ODI 728263 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Horn	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 862963 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS/ LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS/HORN/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND POWER WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. *AK Look up ODI 862963 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Steering:Linkages	Too few reports for a range	37,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10000879 · 37,000 mi STEERING LINKAGE FAILED. WHILE PULLING OUT ODF A DRIVEWAY, THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND RACK BROKE RENDERING THE CAR UNSTEERABLE. THE STEERING WHEELL SIMPLE SPUN. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGH SPEED. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAID IT WAS " NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE HIGH MILEAGE AND IS MAINTAINED BY AUDI. I HAVE THE BROKEN PART FOR YOUR INSPECTION. IT IS BROKEN IN TWO. Look up ODI 10000879 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2000: 1 complaints · 2003: 2 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2000	1	1	1
2003	2	2	2

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2000	1	0	0
2003	5	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Steering:Linkages	Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Steering:Linkages	—	0
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.