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U.S. public vehicle records

Audi A8 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

249 owner complaints analyzed

31 distinct recall campaigns

62,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 130 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 93 of 249 complaints (37.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3714.9%
Engine operation3614.5%
Electrical and battery issues2510.0%
Steering behavior208.0%
Transmission and shifting166.4%
Fuel system concerns41.6%

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.

Engine
93
Electrical System
33
Unknown Or Other
22
Fuel/Propulsion System
18
Power Train
18
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Service Brakes
14
Suspension
11
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine93
Electrical System33
Unknown Or Other22
Fuel/Propulsion System18
Power Train18
Vehicle Speed Control17
Service Brakes14
Suspension11

Engine: 93; Electrical System: 33; Unknown Or Other: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 18; Power Train: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Service Brakes: 14; Suspension: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
26
25,000 to 49,999
19
50,000 to 74,999
39
75,000 to 99,999
22
100,000 to 149,999
18
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00026
25,000 to 49,99919
50,000 to 74,99939
75,000 to 99,99922
100,000 to 149,99918
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 6

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 119 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.

2000
4
2002
2
2003
7
2004
9
2005
7
2006
6
2007
4
2008
5
2009
4
2010
6
2011
2
2012
1
2013
4
2014
5
2015
6
2016
16
2017
8
2018
5
2019
23
2020
21
2021
33
2022
27
2023
13
2024
15
2025
12
2026
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20004
20022
20037
20049
20057
20066
20074
20085
20094
20106
20112
20121
20134
20145
20156
201616
20178
20185
201923
202021
202133
202227
202313
202415
202512
20264

2000: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 7; 2004: 9; 2005: 7; 2006: 6; 2007: 4; 2008: 5; 2009: 4; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 16; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 23; 2020: 21; 2021: 33; 2022: 27; 2023: 13; 2024: 15; 2025: 12; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 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 558574 · 2000-12-14 (December 14, 2000)

REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB OUT. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558574 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 875245 · 2000-11-20 (November 20, 2000)

BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP PUSHING BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER 4 TIMES, AND EVERYTIME DEALER SAID ROTORS WERE DAMAGED. CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 10000 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE MAKER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE A8 ROTORS WEAR QUICKLY. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 875245 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10094618 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094618 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 ↗

Owner report 10028551 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)

THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY 1997 AUDI A8 FAILED INTERNALLY AND WAS DISABLED IN IT'S ABILITY TO SPRING BACK FROM THE START POSITION. WITH THE SWITCH CONTACTS IN A POSITION BETWEEN START AND RUN, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT WILL OPERATE. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS / TAILLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS , WIPERS AND OTHER SYSTEMS. THIS CONDITION CAN ALSO ALLOW THE STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IN THIS INSTANCE, THIS OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME AT NIGHT WITH MY WIFE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSU…

Owner-reported narrative. 63,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028551 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11495139 · 2022-11-28 (November 28, 2022)

After water damage to the bottom level of the seat an electrical fire started. It burned through and melted the plastic facing on the right side of the seat near the seat adjustment mechanism releasing toxic fumes we have so far been unable to abate. The manufacturer has been unresponsive in addressing this hazard. The damage is available for inspection. The toxic fumes are a health hazard as was the fire. The dealer inspected the damage and refused to repair it. The Bureau of Auto Repairs in California also inspected the damage. There we…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11495139 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 10002547 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECT.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002547 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11222486 · 2019-06-25 (June 25, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER 25 MINUTES AND TOWED TO AUDI NASHVILLE (LOCATED AT 1576 MALLORY LN, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027, [phone removed]). THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A LOOSE CONNECTION WAS FOUND ON THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON A…

Owner-reported narrative. 83,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222486 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11338981 · 2020-07-13 (July 13, 2020)

I HAD A STRONG GAS SMELL. I CHECKED INTERNET AND READ, 2013 AUDI A8 (VOLKSWAGEN) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2013-2015 AUDI S8 AND A8 VEHICLES. THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FOR THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP MAY BECOME POROUS OVER TIME, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. IT COULD CAUSE FIRE. ACTION NEED TO FIX IT: AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE, FREE OF CHARGE. WHEN I NOTIFIED FLOW AUDI IN GREENSBORO, NC, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT AUDI AMERICA. WHAT DO I DO?

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11338981 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2013
6
2014
5
2015
5
2016
4
2017
3
2018
2
2019
3
2020
5
2021
10
2022
3
2023
2
2024
2
2025
1
2026
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20101
20111
20121
20136
20145
20155
20164
20173
20182
20193
20205
202110
20223
20232
20242
20251
20261

2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 6; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 10; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Year-by-year records

Audi A8 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
199501Not available
199602+1
1997920
199833+1
199994+1
200032-2
2001620
200211-1
2003310
20042010
2005610
200662+1
2007420
200881-1
2009510
2010110
20111510
20121110
2013496+5
2014185-1
20153150
2016114-1
201783-1
201802-1
2019143+1
202035+2
2021510+5
202203-7
202302-1
2024020
202501-1
2026010