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1996 Audi Cabriolet Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

14 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious97V175000

Air Bags:Frontal

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

Remedy & full details

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

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.

Moderate96V017000

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.

Complaint volume

14 this model-year 4 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

Complaints filed14
Reporting a crash0
Reporting a fire0
Injuries reported0
Deaths reported0
Severity Index0.00

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

  1. Electrical System:Ignition:Switch — 6 reports
  2. Electrical System:Starter Assembly — 2 reports
  3. Exterior Lighting:Headlights — 1 reports
  4. Electrical System:Horn — 1 reports
  5. Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer — 1 reports
  6. Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls — 1 reports
  7. Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal — 1 reports
  8. Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 2000 · 2003

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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