2001 Audi A8: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
86,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1; Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 3 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2004: 2; 2007: 1; 2015: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10097168 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN INCONSISTENCY WITH ACCELERATION WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE DRIVES THE VEHICLE IT FEELS LIKE HE IS STARTING OFF IN THIRD GEAR. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178542 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
2001 AUDI A8L GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS**CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE, THE TEMPERATURE OR THE VEHICLE SPEED, BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10735990 · 2015-07-23 (July 23, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A8. UPON TRYING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, BUT NOT INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V397000 (POWER TRAIN) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V259000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11187242 · 2019-03-16 (March 16, 2019)
A8L [QUATTRO, ALL WHEEL DRIVE] IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2018, I ORDERED 4 TIRES FROM WALMART ONLINE FOR MY 2001 AUDI . THEY WERE 245/45/18 SUPERMAX 100V TM-1. THE TIRE SIZE WAS EXACTLY AS RECOMMENDED ON THE B-PILLAR AND EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE TIRES THAT WERE ON THE CAR WHEN THESE NEW TIRES WERE ORDERED. THE ONLINE AD FOR THE TIRES SPECIFICALLY STATED "ASK US TO INSTALL" [THE TIRES]. I HAD THEM SHIPPED TO THE WALMART ON QUEBEC AND E-470 IN ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, "TED" THE ASSISTANT TIRE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, REFUSED TO MOUNT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 172,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11187242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8014692 · 2002-07-25 (July 25, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE SPEED TO 100MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP DUE TO NO BRAKE RESPONSE. VEHICLE IS A 2001 AUDI A8 QUATTRO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8014692 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V259000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Reported: 2001-08-15 (August 15, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL AND VAPOR LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM. A "BLIND COVER" AT THE FILLER NECK OF THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY ALLOWING FUEL VAPOR TO ESCAPE.
Consequence: SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE WILL BE REDUCED, WHICH WILL ACTIVATE THE LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM AND ALERT THE DRIVER OF A SYSTEM'S FAULT INDICATED BY AN INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER NECK/EXPANSION TANK ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 21, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-866-892-2834.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V397000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)
VOLKSWAGEN 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 BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION EVEN IF THE IGNITION KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION LOCK.
Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE BY INSTALLING AN ADJUSTING PIECE THAT WILL SECURE THE LOCKING CABLE IN PLACE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
NHTSA campaign record ↗