The 1997 Audi A8 has 11 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and vehicle speed control. Owners most often flag high maintenance and repair costs: very expensive parts (e.g., air struts ~$2,200 each, headlights ~$3,000) and labor, leading to high annual ownership costs. frequency: very frequent.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1997 Audi A8 vehicles (US, public record).
Across the 22 A8 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2010) to 96 (2013). With 11 complaints, the 1997 A8 sits about the same asthe model's median of 8.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 08V397000VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 13,900 MY 1996-2003 AUDI A8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE LOCKING CABLE MAY MOVE OUT OF POSITION OVER TIME. WITH THE LOCKING CABLE OUT OF POSITION, THE SHIFTER CAN B…
air bags:frontal
Campaign 97V175000VEHICLE 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 …
Sentiment is generally positive among long-term owners, particularly for the D5 generation (2018+), which is praised for its exceptional ride comfort, quiet cabin, advanced technology, and strong value proposition on the used market.
Owner insights cover all generations of the A8. See the full A8 owner picture and every model year.
Used A8 listings typically run $85,599–$95,190 across 2012 to 2026 model years.
Compare every A8 year side by side to see how 1997 ranks against the rest.