Audi A8 Complaints
254 consumer complaints on file.
- #10750197August 20, 2015SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE. I CONSISTENTLY HIT THE BRAKE WHILE ACCELERATING. THEY NEED TO BE SPACED FARTHER APART, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVED TO THE LEFT. THERE ARE COMMENTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND AUDI SERVICE SAYS THERE IS NO FIX. I HAVE LARGE FEET AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR MANUFACTURER. I NEED THE NHTSA TO GET INVOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THIS IS A VERY BIG DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10747646August 10, 2015TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
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!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10735990July 23, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
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 VEHICLE WAS TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. MA 10/1 UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10726768June 23, 2015WHEELS
CAR VIBRATES ABOVE 35 MILES PER HOUR. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO GIVE WAY OR FALL APART. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES BY THIS MANUFACTURER AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY LIKE IT BEFORE. I FEELS LIKE A BAD WHEEL BALANCING PROBLEM. WHEELS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH THOSE OF ANOTHER CAR AND TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10693097March 9, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE SHORTLY AFTER STARTING HIS VEHICLE AND DRIVING AWAY FROM HIS HOME. THE SMELL WAS OF PLASTIC, AND IT WAS ASSUMED FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/FIRE. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE CAR AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE AREA. NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE, HOWEVER THE DRIVER TURNED BACK AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. STRONG BURNING PLASTIC SMELL AGAIN AS THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE CABIN WAS FILLING WITH SMOKE. DRIVER OPENED THE TRUNK AS THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED IN THE RIGHT REAR SECTION OF THE TRUNK. SMOKE WAS EMANATING FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. A PLASTIC PANEL WAS REMOVED FOR INSPECTION. LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE BATTERY WAS A PLASTIC MODULE IDENTIFIED AS TRW *334 GNOACDOBNC28U* AND STAMPED MADE IN MALAYSIA??. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MODULE CONTROLS THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE FOR THE CAR. INSPECTING THE UNIT, MULTIPLE WIRE LEADS THAT FEED THE E-BRAKE CONTROL UNIT HAD BURNED THROUGH, AS DID A PORTION OF THE E-BRAKE CONTROL UNIT. THE BODY AREA OF THE CAR NEAR THE UNIT WAS COVERED IN SOOT FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. YEARS PRIOR, THE DRIVER HAD ISSUES WITH THE E-BRAKE, THE E-BRAKES FAILING TO RELEASE PROMPTING THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AT THAT TIME THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WALKED THE DRIVER INTO THE SERVICE AREA TO SHOW THE DRIVER CORROSION ON THE ELECTRIC CONTACT LEADS FROM THE CONTROL UNIT. THE REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS BATTERY ACID/GASES MAY HAVE RUN DOWN THE BATTERY INTO THE CONTROL UNIT CAUSING THE CORROSION. THE UNIT MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THAT TIME ALONG WITH THE BATTERY. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE OF THE CONTROL UNIT UPON REQUEST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10606131June 26, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ADAPTIVE MODULE J428 FAILED AND BRAKES SEIZED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.. AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT SINCE THEY COULD NOT FIND A RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NINE YEARS OLD THEY THOUGHT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I THINK THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE E RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR BUT TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE. I FEEL THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESEARCHED AND I WOULD LIKE FEED BACK ON ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THE RESEARCH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10604770June 20, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR AT FIRST FAILED TO MOVE THE CAR; THEN IT SURGED UNTIL BRAKED; THEN IT FAILED TO MOVE THE CAR ON THE NEXT DEPRESSION; AGAIN FOLLOWED BY A SURGE. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING INTO A LANE OF ONCOMING CARS WHERE I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE THE TURN SAFELY BUT THAT TIME WAS CHEWED UP TRYING TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN EXCEPT THIS TIME I EXPECTED NON-PERFORMANCE AND WAITED 2 OR 3 MINUTES FOR ALL TRAFFIC TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THERE IS NO DOUBT THIS COULD LEAD TO A FATAL CRASH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10592058May 16, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE DUE TO WATER IN FOOTWELLS OF THE CAR. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM I WAS NOT AWARE OF BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10578903April 10, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MULTIPLE COMPONENT FAILURES RELATIVE TO TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. BOTH TRUNK MOUNTED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACE IN 12/11 UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. SEALED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT WATER TIGHT WHICH CAUSED FAILURE OF CIRCUIT BOARDS AND LED LIGHTS. ONE OF THE TWO REPLACEMENT UNITS HAS ALSO FAILED AGAIN (18 MO. IN SERVICE AND 6000 MILES) LIGHTS HAVE FAILED IN THIS UNIT AS WELL, CAUSING POTENTIAL HAZARD DUE TO LACK OF ILLUMINATION EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL FAILURE ON MY 2007 AUDI S8 WHICH IS THE SAME CHASSIS PLATFORM AS THE VEHICLE ABOVE. A TOTAL OF FOUR OF THESE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED ON THESE TWO VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO COLLISIONS OR EVENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE OR AFFECTED THE INTEGRITY OF THE LIGHTING UNIT . APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IN REVIEWING SOME OF THE AUDI CHAT BOARDS, THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS D3 PLATFORM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10573657March 20, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE PARKWAY MY CAR LOCKED AT 7000 RPM'S AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS FORCED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, IF I WERE NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY IN THE CAR WAS AT 80 MPH AND QUICKLY RISING. THE TACHOMETER CONTINUED AT 7000 RPM FOR ROUGHLY 20 SECONDS, ONLY AFTER CONTINUALLY TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR IT FINALLY BEGAN TO DECLINE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. ADDITIONALLY MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN ALL TIRES ARE AT THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED SETTINGS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10513552May 25, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
THE 2008 AUDI A8L WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLING REAR-END COLLISION WHILE STARTING TO MOVE AT A STOP SIGN. VELOCITY WAS LESS THAN 5 MPH. MINOR COLLISION WITH NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS AND NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR AHEAD. THE A8L DROVE NORMALLY AFTER THE COLLISION. INSPECTION AT THE BODY SHOP REVEALED STRESS FRACTURE AND BENDING OF THE FRAME. CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A FULL SIZE PREMIUM SEDAN SHOULD SUFFER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRAME AT A LOW SPEED COLLISION. A HIGH SPEED COLLISION WOULD HAVE PROVIDED NO PROTECTION TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. MULTIPLE CONTACTS MADE WITH AUDI USA VIA UPS LETTER, EMAIL, TELEPHONE, TWITTER AND FACEBOOK. AUDI USA REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY CRASH TEST DATA ON THE A8 WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING. I REQUEST THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE IF THIS CAR IS SAFE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10507526April 8, 2013SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A8L. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE SIDE WALL ON THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL INSTALLATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300....UPDATED 05/08/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPACING BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FOOTWELL SIDE WALL WAS DIFFERENT BETWEEN 2011 AND 2013 MODEL YEARS. THE LOSS OF 3/4 OF AN INCH IS WAT IS CAUSING THE FAILURE. UPDATED 05/30/2013 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10504480March 25, 2013AIR BAGS, SEATS
FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG REPEATEDLY DEACTIVATES REGARDLESS OF 115 POUND ADULT SITTING PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. SAME ISSUE HAPPENED WITH THE A8 LOANER VEHICLE PROVIDED WHILE THIS CAR WAS BEING SERVICED. AUDI TRIES TO EXPLAIN IT "AS DESIGNED" SUGGESTING THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD HARM THE PASSENGER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10498549February 18, 2013POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 ON THESE CARS. PLEASE HELP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444891January 23, 2012SUSPENSION
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432367October 21, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM COVERED UNDER RECALL 01V259000 FOR YEAR 2000 AUDI A8S, BUT I'M TOLD MY CAR IS "OUTSIDE THE BUILD DATE" COVERED. I HAVE A LARGE FUEL VAPOR LEAK AT THE FUEL FILLER NECK / EXPANSION TANK, WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE RECALL, BUT I CALLED AUDI AND THEY ARE DENYING COVERAGE OF MY CAR. I CANNOT SMOG THE CAR WITHOUT THIS BEING FIXED, AND THE CAR IS LEAKING FUEL VAPORS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, CAUSING POLLUTION, AND RISKING A POSSIBLE FIRE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10379393January 28, 2011SUSPENSION, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT
I OWN A 2004 AUDI A8 QUATRO, THIS MORNING THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, AND THE CAR SUSPENSION ADJUSTED AUTOMATICALLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND IT WENT FROM 40MPH TO 150+ WITHOUT ME HAVING MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. FOR A MINUTE I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. I SLOWLY STARTING PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HOPING THE CAR WOULD NOT FLIP. IT TOOK ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES FOR ME TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR. I PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED IT OFF. I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATED, IT SOUNDED IT LIKE THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS ON PARK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367011November 21, 2010AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY VEHICLE A 2007 AUDI A8 HAS AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND PASSENGER AIRBAG AS WELL,THERE ARE 2 RECALLS FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE, BUT DEALER SAYS MY VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER RECALL, BUT IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM LISTED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10358339September 29, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL. HI, THIS MORNING I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY 2008 AUDI A8L SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AS I WAS ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE. THANKFULLY IT APPEARS NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM EXTREMELY DISTURBED BY THIS INCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED AUDI USA. IS THUS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR? PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE AND I DO NOT KNOW IF I SHOULD ESCALATE THIS ISSUE SOMEWHERE ELSE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT AGAIN AFTER IT IS REPAIRED. I ALWAYS LIKED THE CAR AND IF I DON'T DRIVE IT AGAIN I COULD NOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANYTHING THAT COULD HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANKS BOB (CONTACT WANTED THIS COMPLAINTED COPY AND PASTED INTO THE COMPLAINT FORM)
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10356758September 21, 2010SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:REAR
TWO AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WENT OUT FOR NO REASON IN MY CAR. MY CAR IS A 2004 A8L WITH 64,000 MILES. THEY WERE LEAKING. THIS WAS $5,000 EXPENSE. I THINK THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0