2003 Audi A8

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the exterior lighting. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Exterior Lighting1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension
Filed Jan 23, 2012130,000 milesIL

REAR DRIVERS COIL SPRING FAILED, BROKE IN HALF CAUSING SUSPENSION TO FAIL AND DAMAGE RIM/TIRE. SERIOUS CONDITION IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO WARNING OF THE FAILURE PRIOR. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 16, 200877,690 milesMA

THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH: CV JOINTS, CONTROL ARMS AND NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION CABLE. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 16, 2003CO

PLEASE ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF DRIVERS THAT ARE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THE NEW BLUE/PURPLE HEADLIGHTS MANY OF THE NEW LUXURY CARS ARE FEATURING. THE LIGHT IS PIERCING AND A DANGER TO NIGHT TIME TRAFFIC. THESE NEW LIGHTS ARE EVEN DISTRACTING DURING DAYLIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT CARS EQUIPPED WITH THESE BLUE/PURPLE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED. THEY ARE A DEFINITE HAZARD TO OTHER VEHICLES. *NLM

3 of 3 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
2003 — this page3100Routine
20021100Routine
20016200Routine
20003210Routine
19999410Routine
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: Aug 14, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.