1998 Audi A8 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A8 years
- Not enough data 18th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Audi A8. That ranks 18th out of 32 A8 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (2 complaints, 50%), typically at around 59,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 4owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Audi A8 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 | 50% | 59,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 25% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Audi A8 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
Power train:automatic transmission
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.
Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals may not seal properly.
Risk: If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tire jack supplied by audi usa for the audi a8 is very dangerous. It is manufactured out of cheap aluminum and is not rugged enough to lift the car even on flat pavement. The jack bent under the weight of the car and has the potential to hurt someone. *jb
Airbag warning light indicates airbag failure. Audi dealer cannot rectify.
Single occupant in vehicle (driver) vehicle was forced off the road and entered a ditch about three-four feet deep. Passenger's air bag, front, fired. The audi a8 clearly states in the sales literature that the passenger's airbag is interlocked out when no passenger in the vehicle. The driver was…
Blind spots, rear visibility: audi's refusal to replace outside mirrors. The passenger's outside mirror an drivers poorly designed and have tremendous blind spots. Driving a $70k with mirror assemblies that do not provide safe rear vision monitoring is outrageous and dangerous. Poor rear vision…
Other Audi A8 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 A8 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 A8 | 5 | 10 |
| 2020 A8 | 3 | 5 |
| 2019 A8 | 14 | 3 |
| 2018 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 A8 | 8 | 3 |
| 2016 A8 | 11 | 4 |
| 2015 A8 | 31 | 5 |
| 2014 A8 | 18 | 5 |
| 2013 A8 | 49 | 6 |
| 2012 A8 | 11 | 1 |
| 2011 A8 | 15 | 1 |
| 2010 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 A8 | 5 | 1 |
| 2008 A8 | 8 | 1 |
| 2007 A8 | 4 | 2 |
| 2006 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2005 A8 | 6 | 1 |
| 2004 A8 | 20 | 1 |
| 2003 A8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000 A8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1999 A8 | 9 | 4 |
| 1998 | 4 | 3 |
| 1997 A8 | 10 | 2 |
| 1996 A8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 A8 | 0 | 1 |
See all Audi A8 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Audi A8?
Owners most often report air bags, equipment, visibility problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Audi A8?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Audi A8 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A8 model years, the 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.