Skip to main content

Audi A4 - 1997

390.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A4, model year 1997. Sample size: 263 cars, 520 tests and 2,028 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 263 cars

The 1997 Audi A4 has an overall defect rate of 390 per 100 vehicles, which is 16.6% higher than the average for cars of the same year, sitting at 335 per 100. Notably, the model shows a significant increase in defects with mileage, particularly in the 93,000 to 124,000-mile range. While it excels in the equipment category with fewer issues than average, it performs poorly in brakes, wheels, and suspension, showing considerably higher defect rates compared to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 263 cars

More model years for Audi A4

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Audi

Audi A1 Audi A2 Audi A3 Audi A4 Audi A5 Audi A6 Audi A7 Audi A8 Audi ALLROAD Audi E-TRON Audi Q2 Audi Q3 Audi Q4 Audi Q5 Audi Q7 Audi Q8 Audi R8 Audi RS4 Audi S3 Audi S4 Audi TT

Categories

Brakes
▼ 20.2% worse
169.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 3.3% better
26.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 14.7% better
21.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 0.5% worse
65.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
  • Stop lamp(s): with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 39.0% worse
348.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
Body/Structure
▲ 24.2% better
63.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 54.8% better
10.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • Steering lock missing or not functioning
Other
▼ 22.3% worse
74.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 535 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 208
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 142
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 115
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 113
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 107
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 97
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 90
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 87
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 69
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 57

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 53
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 27
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
FAIL
Occurrences: 11