The 1998 Audi A8 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 94,424 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS22V4710002022-07-0128,624 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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…
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.
STEERING99V2480001999-09-1351,900 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Audi A8 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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