Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Audi A8
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Audi A8 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22V471000 Inflator May Explode or Underinflate Air Bag NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V397000 TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V248000 VW/TIE RODS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 2 complaints
- Equipment 1 complaint
- Visibility 1 complaint
Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 4 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Audi A8 faces significant reliability concerns, notably due to airbag recalls and transmission issues. The cost of ownership is amplified by a potential for tie rod failures and aging transmission systems, reflected in numerous recalls and complaints.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| automatic transmission | 80,000–120,000 miles | $3,000–$5,000 | common |
| airbag inflator | Any mileage | No reliable estimate | common |
| tie rods | 70,000–110,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake system check annually
- Fluid top-offs biannually
- Timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles
- Coolant system flush every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Shifter moves without key
- Steering feels loose
- ABS or airbag warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Audi A8 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.