RoadVitals

2005 Audi A8

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.
6
Latest Jun 26, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Aug 31, 2006
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 2005 Audi A8, most frequently naming the driver assistance, other / unspecified and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 245 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance327.3%
  • Other / unspecified218.2%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Engine19.1%
  • Interior & seats19.1%
  • Body & structure19.1%
  • Tires & wheels19.1%
  • Brakes19.1%

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

1 campaign 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.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Aug 31, 2006
7,674 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING PRODUCTION OF THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT UNFOLD PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND THEREFORE MAY NOT INFLATE AS DESIGNED.
The risk: LOSS OF FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INCManufacturer number JQView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 26, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10606131
Incident
May 21, 2014
Mileage
73,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 22, 2010

MY 2005 AUDI A8L CONTAINS A DEFECT WHICH ALLOWS THE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT TO POP OFF IT'S RESTRAINING/LOCATING PEGS ENABLING THE MAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND PUSH AND HOLD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN, RESULTING RUNAWAY ACCELERATION, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AND FOR WHICH TOYOTA HAS INSTITUTED A LARGE RECALL. THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES TO THREE SEPARATE DRIVERS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE TO EACH ME AND MY WIFE, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE ACCELERATION WITH THE BRAKE TO BUY SUFFICIENT TIME TO GATHER OUR WITS AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THOUGH IT WAS SCARY. NOW WE KNOW TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND PULL THE MAT BACK, REPLACING IT ON ITS PEGS ONCE WE STOP. AFTER THE FIRST OCCASION, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER IN DANBURY, CONN. THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS, HAD IT INSPECTED BY "CORPORATE" PEOPLE, AND IN WRITING CONCLUDED THAT EVERYTHING WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND INTENDED." THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DANBURY AUDI DEALER TOLD ME THAT AUDI FELT THE PROBLEM WAS THE FLOOR MAT, AND SUGGESTED I PURCHASE HEAVY WINTER-TYPE MATS. I RENEWED MY COMPLAINT TO AUDI IN THE FALL OF 2009 IN LIGHT OF THE TOYOTA ISSUE, BUT THEY AGAIN DENIED THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND COMPLAINT, WE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST FIVE MORE EPISODES OF RUNAWAY ACCELERATION CAUSED BY THE FLOOR MAT PUSHING AGAINST THE ACCELERATOR. I TRY TO BE VIGILANT NOW EACH TIME I DRIVE THE CAR TO LOOK AT THE POSITION OF THE FLOOR MAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10301865
Incident
Jul 28, 2007
Mileage
27,813 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 16, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED THE CONTACT HEARD A BELL SOUND AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,800, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

NHTSA ID
10188022
Incident
Nov 15, 2005
Mileage
10,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2007
Fire reported

OWNER WAS DRIVING THE AUDI HOME WHEN HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE BURNED WITH GREATEST INTENSITY IN LOWER LEFT REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FROM LOCATION OF LEFT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SPARK PLUGS REMOVED FROM ENGINE SHOWED OVERFUELING PROBLEM IN #6 AND #8 CYLINDERS ON LEFT BANK, CAUSING CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO OVERHEAT AND START THE FIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10178167
Incident
Oct 7, 2006
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Sep 26, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND PREPARING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LIQUID WHICH SPILLED IN THE BACK SEAT, RAN DOWN INTO THE SEAT, AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING CONTROL MODULE, STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10169319
Incident
Sep 9, 2006
Mileage
12,000 mi
Driver assistanceInterior & seatsTires & wheels
Filed Mar 20, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. A SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 70 MPH THEN THE VEHICLE SPED UP AGAIN. THE CONTACT USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO 45 MPH, AND THEN APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPM'S RED LINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT IN PARK AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WOULD BE AN HOUR WAIT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS SENT A REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. THE TRUNK FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10153215
Incident
Mar 20, 2006
Mileage
12,000 mi

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.

A9122752024323_9

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:SENSORS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:SOFTWARE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:WARNING

This bulletin contains technical information regarding when the parking aid sporadically warns of obstacles that don't exist or it is inoperative/constant warning.

A4021312024318_1

WHEELS

This technical service bulletin provides instructions for correcting a clicking sound from the wheel bearing(s).

A0021482021205_6

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; STRUCTURE

This informational bulletin explains how to order replacement VIN plates, Safety Certification Labels, etc.

A9121642024323_7

PARKING BRAKE:ELECTRICAL:CONTROL MODULE

This bulletin contains technical information regarding when the parking aid sporadically warns of obstacles that don't exist or it is inoperative/constant warning.

SM C-2020

EQUIPMENT

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the part numbers listed (State of California only).

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

Audi A8 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010
2025010
2024020
2023020
2022030
20215100
2020350
2019143054.2
2018020
2017830
2016114255.5
2015315254.5
2014185249.2
2013496255.9
2012111030.2
2011151039.6
2010110
2009510
2008810
2007420
2006620
2005Viewing610
2004201038.9
2003310
2002110
2001620
2000320
1999940
1998430
1997102046.1
1996120
1995010

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.