Model year record

1997 Audi A8 recalls & problems

The 1997 Audi A8 has 2 safety recalls and 10 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (4 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints10filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainAug 14, 2008

Automatic transmission

Recall 08V39700013,900 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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.

Air bagsOct 8, 1997

Frontal

Recall 97V17500039,300 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

A8

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

A8

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	4	0	—
Vehicle speed control	2	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor	1	0	—
Exterior lightingBrake lights	1	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch	1	0	—
StructureBody › Bumpers	1	0	—
Air bags	1	0	—
EquipmentMechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift
MY 1997 AUDI A8 IS EQUIPPED WITH A VEHICLE JACK THAT IS GROSSLY INADEQUATE FOR CHANGING A TIRE AND IS HAZARDOUS TO ANYONE USING IT-- IT IS PRONE TO COLLAPSE. MANY USERS OF THIS JACK HAVE EXPERIENCED COLLAPSE, AND AUDI DOES NOT CARE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
Jan 1, 2006 · 95,000 miles
Air bags
MY 1997 AUDI A8 HAS AIR BAG LIGHT DISPLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON A RECENT VISIT TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THEY HAVE RESET THE FAULT CODE. WHEREVER, SOON AFTER THAT THE WARNING LIGHT CAME UP AGAIN AND STAY ON NOW. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THERE WERE MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR OF THE A8. I READ THE OWNER'S MANUEL, AND IT SAYS IF THE AIR BAG WARNING IS ON, WHEN COLLISION OCCURS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL BECOME DEACTIVATED (I.E. FRONTAL AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF A FRONTAL CRASH.) SINCE THE AIR BAG IS A VITAL SAFETY SYSTEM, I'D STRONGLY SUGGEST TO YOU…
Dec 5, 2006 · 135,700 miles
Structure › Body › Bumpers
VEHICLE WAS PULLING OUT IN REVERSE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BUMPER GOT CAUGHT ON SOMETHING AND RIPPED OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER ANTICIPATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TOO LOW, AND HAD INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
Feb 23, 2005
Vehicle speed control
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER'S 1997 AUDI A8 QUATTRO ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. *NM *NM
Jan 27, 2005 · 69,000 miles
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY 1997 AUDI A8 FAILED INTERNALLY AND WAS DISABLED IN IT'S ABILITY TO SPRING BACK FROM THE START POSITION. WITH THE SWITCH CONTACTS IN A POSITION BETWEEN START AND RUN, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT WILL OPERATE. THIS INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHTS / TAILLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS , WIPERS AND OTHER SYSTEMS. THIS CONDITION CAN ALSO ALLOW THE STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IN THIS INSTANCE, THIS OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME AT NIGHT WITH MY WIFE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVILED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED ON OTHER AUDI MODELS. THE NHTSA HAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED RECALLS ON THE…
Jul 13, 2003 · 63,700 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECT.*JB
Jan 10, 2003 · 57,000 miles
Power train › Manual transmission
TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING LOUD HUMMING NOISE FROM ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. NLM
Oct 24, 2000
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP PUSHING BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER 4 TIMES, AND EVERYTIME DEALER SAID ROTORS WERE DAMAGED. CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 10000 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE MAKER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE A8 ROTORS WEAR QUICKLY. *YH
Nov 20, 2000

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.