Total Complaints
10 filings
AUDI QUATTRO · model year
1996 AUDI QUATTRO
10 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996AUDIQUATTRO carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 QUATTRO is electrical system:ignition:switch with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (1) and steering (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 1996 QUATTRO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070306EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI QUATTRO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS FADED ON AND OFF AND OCCASIONALLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THE RADIO SHUT OFF AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AFTER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.*AK
Mileage: 106,000
20070306ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI QUATTRO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS FADED ON AND OFF AND OCCASIONALLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THE RADIO SHUT OFF AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AFTER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.*AK
Mileage: 106,000
20070306VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI QUATTRO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS FADED ON AND OFF AND OCCASIONALLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THE RADIO SHUT OFF AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AFTER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.*AK
Mileage: 106,000
20051102TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILURE: BROKEN BELTS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. HAKKAPELIITTA-1 195/65R15. *NM
20040628POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE.*AK
Mileage: 170,000
20020514FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS DASHBOARD INDICATORS, THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL OPERATION, UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE HIS KEY FROM THE IGNITION, CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, BUT WOULD STALL AS SOON AS HE RELEASED THE IGNITION FROM THE START POSITIION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE, HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSIVE NOISE, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY FIRE AND VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY DESTROYED, THEN ONE MONTH LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*JB
20011116FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS DASHBOARD INDICATORS, THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL OPERATION, UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE HIS KEY FROM THE IGNITION, CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, BUT WOULD STALL AS SOON AS HE RELEASED THE IGNITION FROM THE START POSITIION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE, HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSIVE NOISE, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY FIRE AND VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY DESTROYED, THEN ONE MONTH LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*JB
20011024FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS DASHBOARD INDICATORS, THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL OPERATION, UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE HIS KEY FROM THE IGNITION, CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, BUT WOULD STALL AS SOON AS HE RELEASED THE IGNITION FROM THE START POSITIION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE, HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSIVE NOISE, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY FIRE AND VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY DESTROYED, THEN ONE MONTH LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*JB
20001121STEERING
IN PARKING LOT AT SLOW SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SNAP AND STEERING WENT OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, OUT OF WARRANTY. (RACK/PINION) PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
19980825SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES SQUEAK AND LOTS OF BRAKE DUST.
Compare 1996AUDIQUATTRO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 AUDI QUATTRO have?▼
The 1996 AUDI QUATTRO has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 AUDI QUATTRO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 AUDI QUATTRO is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and STEERING.
Is the 1996 AUDI QUATTRO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.