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2004 Audi A8 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

28,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 20 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior630.0%
Electrical and battery issues420.0%
Steering behavior210.0%
Transmission and shifting15.0%
Engine operation15.0%

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.

Electrical System
4
Vehicle Speed Control
4
Service Brakes
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Equipment
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Service Brakes2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Equipment1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Fuel/Propulsion System1

Electrical System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Service Brakes: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Equipment: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 9 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.

2004
4
2005
5
2006
1
2007
1
2008
2
2009
1
2010
2
2011
1
2015
1
2016
1
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20044
20055
20061
20071
20082
20091
20102
20111
20151
20161
20181

2004: 4; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.

Complaint evidence

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

Owner report 10105053 · 2004-12-20 (December 20, 2004)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM 30 TO 80 MILES PMH. CONSUMER HAD TO STOMP ON BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TAKEN TO DEALER TO RESET THE COMPUTER, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105053 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10142377 · 2005-11-10 (November 10, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT TOOK OFF HE HAD TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE AND MOVED OUT OF THE MAIN PART OF THE PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS LATER. HE DROVE IN DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO PICK UP THE PAPER. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HE TURNED IT AROUND. THE CONTACT…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142377 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10105799 · 2005-01-05 (January 5, 2005)

MY AUDI A8 2004 MODEL [XXX] COP DEVICE BURNED WITH A WIRE FIRE ON DEC 28, 2OO4 - I COULD ONLY STOP A FURTHER FIRE BY USING A FIRE EXT. AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUDI SHOP DCH MAPLEWOOD N.J. AND MY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP LANGAN MOTORS, SCHENECTADY. N.Y. THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD SEEN SUCH A PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105799 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10144136 · 2005-12-01 (December 1, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT STATED A GALLON OF MILK SPILLED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE MILK SPILLED UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRICAL MODULE THAT OPERATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS. AS A RESULT THE LIGHTS WERE BLINKING IN AND OUT. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS AT A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS.*AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 14,433 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144136 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10379393 · 2011-01-28 (January 28, 2011)

I OWN A 2004 AUDI A8 QUATRO, THIS MORNING THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, AND THE CAR SUSPENSION ADJUSTED AUTOMATICALLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND IT WENT FROM 40MPH TO 150+ WITHOUT ME HAVING MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. FOR A MINUTE I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. I SLOWLY STARTING PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HOPING THE CAR WOULD NOT FLIP. IT TOOK ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES FOR ME TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR. I PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED IT OFF. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATED, IT SOUNDED IT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10379393 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11064890 · 2018-01-25 (January 25, 2018)

WHILE DRIVING AND/OR PARKING AND/OR PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION TO START MY VEHICLE ABS LIGHT; STABILIZATION; AND SPEEDOMETER SEEMS AS THOUGH BEING HACKED...SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER WHEN TEMPERATURES REACH 100 DEGREES + MY HEATER IS HACKED ON AND MY INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS LIFE THREATENING HOT!!! HAVE TO OPEN WINDOWS TO 100 DEGREES TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE...MY INTERIOR LIGHTS JUST COME ON AND DRAIN MY BATTERY....AND MY SOUND SYSTEM FLIPS OPEN AND MUSIC PLAYS WHEN IM IN MY HOUSE AND HAS SHUT OFF MY CAR AND WHILE DRIVING MY SOUND SYSTEM COM…

Owner-reported narrative. 183,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064890 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10273916 · 2009-06-15 (June 15, 2009)

2004 AUDI A 8 L GAS PEDAL STICKS IN ACCELERATION MODE. HAS HAPPENED 4-5 TIMES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT RESPOND OR TAKE ACTION. I HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND PUMP PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR HARD. LAST INCIDENT DATE BELOW TIM WALKER *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10273916 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10343470 · 2010-07-15 (July 15, 2010)

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. RESTARTED CAR AND HAD IT STALL SEVERAL TIMES. CAR HAS BEEN SENT TO BE EVALUATED BY A MECHANIC. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10343470 at NHTSA ↗