Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Overview
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Audi A8, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 94 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 1 in Jul 2002. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 2001 Audi A8
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Jul 2002
1
1
Sep 2004
1
2
Nov 2004
1
3
Jan 2007
1
4
Jul 2015
1
5
Mar 2019
1
6
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Driver assistance225.0%
Electrical112.5%
Engine112.5%
Fuel system112.5%
Other / unspecified112.5%
Powertrain (other)112.5%
Transmission112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
The 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.
The risk: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The 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.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number 37D5/J2View on NHTSA.gov
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Aug 15, 2001
600 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL AND VAPOR LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM. A "BLIND COVER" AT THE FILLER NECK OF THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY ALLOWING FUEL VAPOR TO ESCAPE.
The risk: SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE WILL BE REDUCED, WHICH WILL ACTIVATE THE LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM AND ALERT THE DRIVER OF A SYSTEM'S FAULT INDICATED BY AN INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER NECK/EXPANSION TANK ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 21, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-866-892-2834.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 16, 2019
Crash reported
A8L [QUATTRO, ALL WHEEL DRIVE] IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2018, I ORDERED 4 TIRES FROM WALMART ONLINE FOR MY 2001 AUDI . THEY WERE 245/45/18 SUPERMAX 100V TM-1. THE TIRE SIZE WAS EXACTLY AS RECOMMENDED ON THE B-PILLAR AND EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE TIRES THAT WERE ON THE CAR WHEN THESE NEW TIRES WERE ORDERED. THE ONLINE AD FOR THE TIRES SPECIFICALLY STATED "ASK US TO INSTALL" [THE TIRES]. I HAD THEM SHIPPED TO THE WALMART ON QUEBEC AND E-470 IN ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, "TED" THE ASSISTANT TIRE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, REFUSED TO MOUNT THEM AND REFUSED TO SELL ME ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE. I WENT TO THE MANAGER "SAMANTHA" TO COMPLAIN, BUT SHE BACK UP TED SAYING THE COMPANY HAD A WRITTEN POLICY NOT TO INSTALL THE TIRES OR SELL ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE FOR THEM. WHEN I ASKED TO SEE THE POLICY SHE SAID THAT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WRITTEN POLICY WAS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT IT WAS NOT FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW. I HAD TWO OF THE TIRES PUT ON BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE COMPANY AND THE OTHER TWO BY ANOTHER WALMART WHO INDICATED THEY WOULD INSTALL THEM BUT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE. ALMOST IMMEDIATLY, ONE OF THE TIRES WENT FLAT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CURVY ROAD [HWY 74 BETWEEN MORRISON AND EVERGREEN] AND RUINED THE TIRE. I DIDN'T SEE ANY NAILS OR PUNCTURES IN THE TIRE. PRETTY SOON TWO MORE OF THE TIRES DID THE SAME THING WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER. FINALLY, I WAS DRIVING ON I-70 AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR BY THE CHIEF HOSA EXIT DRIVING WESTBOUND. THE ROADS WERE NOT SNOW PACKED BUT WERE ICY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE LOST AIR, THE CAR DID A 360 AND ENDED UP IN A SLIGHT DITCH ON THE EXIT. IT DID $7000 PLUS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. I BELIEVE EITHER THE SIDEWALLS OR THE BEAD ARE FAULTY AND WHEN GOING ON A CURVE, THE BEAD SEPARATES FROM THE WHEEL CAUSING IT TO LEAK AND THEN QUICKLY DEFLATE.
NHTSA ID
11187242
Incident
Dec 1, 2018
Mileage
172,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 23, 2015
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
NHTSA ID
10735990
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
86,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 10, 2007
2001 AUDI A8L GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS**CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE, THE TEMPERATURE OR THE VEHICLE SPEED, BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *JB
NHTSA ID
10178542
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 9, 2004
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN INCONSISTENCY WITH ACCELERATION WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE DRIVES THE VEHICLE IT FEELS LIKE HE IS STARTING OFF IN THIRD GEAR. *TC
NHTSA ID
10097168
Incident
Sep 23, 2004
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
10094618
Incident
Sep 21, 2004
Mileage
8,600 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 25, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE SPEED TO 100MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP DUE TO NO BRAKE RESPONSE. VEHICLE IS A 2001 AUDI A8 QUATTRO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*JB
NHTSA ID
8014692
Incident
Jul 19, 2002
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
A0023742052680_4
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
This communication is issued to inform dealers of updated shipping regulations related to lithium ion batteries.
AWC 19-04
EQUIPMENT
This communication is issued to remind dealers of the repair validation process for repair group 19. 2005-2019 A3, 1996-2019 A4, 2008-2019 A5, 1992-2019 A6, 2012-2019 A7, 1997-2019 A8, 2019 E-Tron, 2015-2019 Q3, 2010-2019 Q5, 2007-2019 Q7, 2019 Q8, 2000-2019 TT, 2008-2018 R8
This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, and/or third brake light lens.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.