Recall Register

Vehicles › Audi

Audi A8

Model years 1995–2026 · 31 recall campaigns · 115 complaints · 2 investigations · filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

The Audi A8 appears on NHTSA's register for model years 1995 to 2026: 31 recall campaigns (81 model-year entries) and 115 consumer complaints.

The component named most often in complaints is vehicle speed control (122 per 1,000 component mentions), followed by electrical system (85.4).

The 2004 model year has the most complaints (20). Recall campaigns peaked in 2022 with 5; complaints were received in the largest number in 2016 (16). Within Audi, this line ranks 9 of 61 by total complaints.

Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Model years

Model yearRecallsComplaintsvs line averageUnits in campaigns
1995 Audi A8 NHTSA record100%39,300
1996 Audi A82128%53,200
1997 Audi A8210278%53,200
1998 Audi A834111%94,424
1999 Audi A847195%255,657
2000 Audi A82383%14,500
2001 Audi A826167%14,500
2002 Audi A8 NHTSA record1128%13,900
2003 Audi A8 NHTSA record1383%13,900
2004 Audi A8 NHTSA record120557%7,674
2005 Audi A8 NHTSA record16167%7,674
2006 Audi A825139%7,432
2007 Audi A82256%6,438
2008 Audi A8 NHTSA record17195%536
2009 Audi A8 NHTSA record1383%536
2010 Audi A8 NHTSA record1128%9,067
2011 Audi A8 NHTSA record110278%9,067
2012 Audi A8 NHTSA record16167%9,067
2013 Audi A868223%64,862
2014 Audi A85128%55,795
2015 Audi A859250%129,556
2016 Audi A84256%122,923
2017 Audi A8300%113,938
2018 Audi A8200%87,845
2019 Audi A8300%357,198
2020 Audi A8500%522,379
2021 Audi A81000%791,491
2022 Audi A8300%364,017
2023 Audi A8200%357,941
2024 Audi A8200%356,985
2025 Audi A8 NHTSA record100%356,894
2026 Audi A8 NHTSA record100%356,894

"vs line average" is the model year's complaints as a share of the line's average per model year (100% = average). A campaign covering several model years counts once per year. Model years with one campaign and fewer than 25 complaints are listed but have no page of their own; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record.

Components most reported

Vehicle Speed Control122
Electrical System85.4
Engine79.3
Power Train73.2
Fuel/Propulsion System61
Visibility54.9
Suspension54.9
Structure48.8
Air Bags48.8
Service Brakes48.8

Per 1,000 component mentions across all Audi A8 complaints (164 mentions).

Campaigns by year reported

97
01
05
09
13
17
21
25
Distinct NHTSA campaigns naming the Audi A8, by the year the Part 573 report was received.

Complaints by year received

99
03
07
11
15
19
23
Complaints about any Audi A8 model year, by year received.

Other Audi model lines

All 61 Audi model lines

Questions and answers

Which Audi A8 model years have the most recalls?

2021 (10), 2013 (6), 2014 (5). Across model years 1995–2026 there are 31 distinct campaigns.

Which Audi A8 model year has the most complaints?

2004, with 20 of the line's 115 complaints. Newer model years have had less time to accumulate reports.

What do owners of the Audi A8 complain about?

vehicle speed control (122 per 1,000 mentions), electrical system (85.4 per 1,000 mentions), engine (79.3 per 1,000 mentions). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint flat files, public domain, dated 29 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, dated 29 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019. Model names are as NHTSA records them; variants such as "Accord" and "Accord Hybrid" are separate lines. See the methodology.