The 2001 Audi A8 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 14,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN08V3970002008-08-1413,900 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
POWER TRAIN
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1
WHEELS
1
1crashes
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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 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”
“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”
“While driving 40 mph vehicle stalled. Consumer was able to restart the vehicle. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak”
“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”
“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”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Audi A8 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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