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1996 Audi A8

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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19951
199610
19974
19989
1999
Compare all A8 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE FRONT ROTORS ON THE 1998 AUDI A8 WARP AFTER VERY SHORT USAGE. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE RESURFACED THE ROTORS, AND THE PROBLEM QUICKLY RE-OCCURS. THIS CAUSES MILD TO SEVERE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION UNDER MODERATE BRAKING, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LIFT UP ON BRAKES. AUDI DEALER, AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD …

Read full complaint

THE FRONT ROTORS ON THE 1998 AUDI A8 WARP AFTER VERY SHORT USAGE. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE RESURFACED THE ROTORS, AND THE PROBLEM QUICKLY RE-OCCURS. THIS CAUSES MILD TO SEVERE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION UNDER MODERATE BRAKING, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LIFT UP ON BRAKES. AUDI DEALER, AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE COMPONENTS WITH ADEQUATE DISC SUCH THAT THERE IS NO REOCCURRENCE. CAN CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND STEERING ERRORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #714891

Official recalls

2

08V397000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 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 & remedy

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.

97V175000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 8, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.