1999 Audi A8

Routine

Owners filed 9 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System2
010
Tires1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Structure › Body › Bumpers1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Power Train1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline1
000
Air Bags1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module20V056000
Filed Jan 31, 2020106,857 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission08V397000
Filed Aug 14, 200813,900 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America, Inc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting00V414000
Filed Dec 6, 200083,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.

Risk. IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.

Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting99V248000
Filed Sep 13, 199951,900 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.

Risk. IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 28, 2022CA

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 were no warning lights activated.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 10, 2022CA

1999 AUDI A8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING A RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WAS FLOODED DUE TO A RAINSTORM. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY RESPONSIBLITY, OTHER THAN THE INSURRANCE DEDUCTIBLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT TAKE ANY PREVENTIVE EFFORTS TO SAVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.

Tires
Filed Aug 10, 2015206,228 milesGA

AFTER INSPECTING MY MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TIRES ON MY AUDI A8 I BECAME ALARMED ABOUT EXCESIVE SIDEWALL CRACKING AND SEARCHED FOR RECALLS...NONE? BEGAN READING COMPLAINTS AND NOTICED MANY OTHER SIDEWALL "DRYROT" ISSUES. WILL TAKE BACK TO RETAILER TO SEEK HELP!? HOPE TO PREVENT A BLOWOUT!

Power Train
Filed Feb 18, 201350,546 milesVT

MINE IS A WELL-MAINTAINED, NEAR-PRISTINE, LOW-MILEAGE CAR. WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY CEASED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY, FOUR-LANE URBAN HIGHWAY. IT RESULTED IN THE CAR HAVING LIMITED FORWARD MOTION, POOR CONTROL, AND VASTLY DIMINISHED POWER, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION WITH OTHER CARS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK ABOUT 20 MILES TO MY RESIDENCE IN THE LIMP-HOME MODE--ONE FORWARD GEAR, THE ENGINE REVVING BETWEEN 3000 TO 5000 RPM'S WITH THE FORWARD SPEED NO MORE THAN 35 MPH. I PARKED THE CAR AND LEFT IT FOR A WEEK WHILE TRAVELING. WHEN I RETURNED IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I HAD IT TOWED ON A FLAT-BED TRUCK TO AN AUDI DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INOPERABLE, UNREPAIRABLE TRANSMISSION BROUGHT ABOUT WHEN "A BOLT SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING CAUSING A HOSE TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN BURNT PARTS AND GEARS. THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS $6,800--ON A CAR WITH ONLY 50,546 MILES! AFTER REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO AUDI CORPORATE, I WAS INFORMED THAT AUDI COULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EVENT BECAUSE THERE WERE "NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS OR SERVICE ACTIONS" RELATIVE TO THIS MODEL. I WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS RESPONSE SINCE I HAVE BEEN A LONG-TIME AUDI OWNER/DRIVER OF THE A8 AND OTHER MODELS. MY INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION OF THE A8-D2 MODELS (1997-99) HAS BEEN A VERY WEAK COMPONENT PART

Electrical System
Filed Nov 24, 2004CA

VEHICLE'S REAR PASSENGER DOORS OPEN AUTOMATICALLY WHENEVER POWER WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN. DOORS WILL NOT SHUT UNLESS OWNER PULLS OVER AND SHUTS DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *NM

Suspension › Rear
Filed Feb 17, 200471,534 milesPA

1999 AUDI A8 CONTINUES TO ERODE THE INSIDE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE REAR TIRES, APPROX 1/32ND PER 20 DAYS, HAVE PLACED 4 TIRES ON IT AND THE DEALER HAS PLAYED WITH THE ALIGNMENT TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT. THIS HAS NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Dec 31, 200351,275 milesNJ

THE FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF TWICE WITHOUT HITTING ANY OBJECTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 10, 2003FL

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STOPS. AUDI ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR TWICE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED STOPPING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2002NY

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE NEW TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE CLEARLY FLAWED, THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION ALSO CAUSED THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. *SLC. CONSUMER STATES A FRONT AND REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED.*JB

9 of 9 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260100Routine
20250100Routine
20240200Routine
20230200Routine
20220300Routine
202151000Routine
20203510Routine
201914300Routine
20180200Routine
20178300Routine
201611400Routine
201531500Routine
201418500Routine
201349600Routine
201211100Routine
201115100Routine
20101100Routine
20095100Routine
20088100Routine
20074200Routine
20066200Routine
20056110Routine
200420120Routine
20033100Routine
20021100Routine
20016200Routine
20003210Routine
1999 — this page9410Routine
19984300Routine
199710200Routine
19961200Routine
19950100Routine

Compare every A8 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 31, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.