NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Audi A8 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2001 Audi A8 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Audi A8, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2001 Audi A8 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Audi A8, describing incidents dated July 19, 2002 to December 1, 2018.

Most-cited components

Power Train 2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Wheels 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11187242 · Filed March 16, 2019
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…
ODI #10735990 · Filed July 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…
ODI #10178542 · Filed January 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

Read all 6 complaints

TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE

NHTSA #08V397000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported August 14, 2008 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 13,900 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 37D5/J2 · Owners notified September 12, 2008 · Vehicles built July 19, 1995 – August 14, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI RECALL NO.37D5/J2. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

VW/FUEL FILLER NECK

NHTSA #01V259000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly — Filler Pipe and Cap · NHTSA notice

Reported August 15, 2001 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

Potentially affected: 600 vehicles

Owners notified March 21, 2002 · Vehicles built February 1, 2000 – July 31, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2001 Audi A8 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Audi A8.

Wheels

ODI #11187242

Crash

Incident: December 1, 2018 · Filed: March 16, 2019

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.

Power Train; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10735990

Incident: June 15, 2015 · Filed: July 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

Electrical System

ODI #10178542

Filed: January 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

Power Train; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10097168

Incident: September 23, 2004 · Filed: November 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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10094618

Incident: September 21, 2004 · Filed: September 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

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #8014692

Incident: July 19, 2002 · Filed: July 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

Other Audi A8 model years

Check your 2001 Audi A8 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi A8 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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