Total Complaints
11 filings
AUDI A8 · model year
2005 AUDI A8
11 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005AUDIA8 carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 A8 is vehicle speed control with 2 filings, followed by tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems (1) and latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:lock (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2005 A8. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recalls (1)
06V32400031/08/2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING PRODUCTION OF THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT UNFOLD PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND THEREFORE MAY NOT INFLATE AS DESIGNED.
Recent Complaints
20140626VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ADAPTIVE MODULE J428 FAILED AND BRAKES SEIZED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.. AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT SINCE THEY COULD NOT FIND A RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NINE YEARS OLD THEY THOUGHT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I THINK THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE E RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR BUT TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE. I FEEL THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESEARCHED AND I WOULD LIKE FEED BACK ON ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THE RESEARCH. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20140626EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
ADAPTIVE MODULE J428 FAILED AND BRAKES SEIZED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.. AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT SINCE THEY COULD NOT FIND A RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NINE YEARS OLD THEY THOUGHT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I THINK THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE E RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR BUT TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE. I FEEL THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESEARCHED AND I WOULD LIKE FEED BACK ON ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THE RESEARCH. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20140626SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ADAPTIVE MODULE J428 FAILED AND BRAKES SEIZED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.. AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT SINCE THEY COULD NOT FIND A RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NINE YEARS OLD THEY THOUGHT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I THINK THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE E RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR BUT TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A POSITIVE RESPONSE. I FEEL THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESEARCHED AND I WOULD LIKE FEED BACK ON ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THE RESEARCH. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20100122EQUIPMENT
MY 2005 AUDI A8L CONTAINS A DEFECT WHICH ALLOWS THE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT TO POP OFF IT'S RESTRAINING/LOCATING PEGS ENABLING THE MAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND PUSH AND HOLD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN, RESULTING RUNAWAY ACCELERATION, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AND FOR WHICH TOYOTA HAS INSTITUTED A LARGE RECALL. THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES TO THREE SEPARATE DRIVERS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE TO EACH ME AND MY WIFE, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE ACCELERATION WITH THE BRAKE TO BUY SUFFICIENT TIME TO GATHER OUR WITS AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THOUGH IT WAS SCARY. NOW WE KNOW TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND PULL THE MAT BACK, REPLACING IT ON ITS PEGS ONCE WE STOP. AFTER THE FIRST OCCASION, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER IN DANBURY, CONN. THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS, HAD IT INSPECTED BY "CORPORATE" PEOPLE, AND IN WRITING CONCLUDED THAT EVERYTHING WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND INTENDED." THE SERVICE WRI
Mileage: 27,813
20070416VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED THE CONTACT HEARD A BELL SOUND AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,800, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR
Mileage: 10,000
20070109FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OWNER WAS DRIVING THE AUDI HOME WHEN HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE BURNED WITH GREATEST INTENSITY IN LOWER LEFT REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FROM LOCATION OF LEFT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SPARK PLUGS REMOVED FROM ENGINE SHOWED OVERFUELING PROBLEM IN #6 AND #8 CYLINDERS ON LEFT BANK, CAUSING CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO OVERHEAT AND START THE FIRE. *NM
20060926STRUCTURE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND PREPARING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LIQUID WHICH SPILLED IN THE BACK SEAT, RAN DOWN INTO THE SEAT, AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING CONTROL MODULE, STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM
Mileage: 12,000
20060926ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND PREPARING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LIQUID WHICH SPILLED IN THE BACK SEAT, RAN DOWN INTO THE SEAT, AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING CONTROL MODULE, STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM
Mileage: 12,000
20060320TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. A SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 70 MPH THEN THE VEHICLE SPED UP AGAIN. THE CONTACT USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO 45 MPH, AND THEN APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPM'S RED LINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT IN PARK AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WOULD BE AN HOUR WAIT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS SENT A REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. UPDATED 4/11/2006 -
Mileage: 12,000
20060320LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. A SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 70 MPH THEN THE VEHICLE SPED UP AGAIN. THE CONTACT USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO 45 MPH, AND THEN APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPM'S RED LINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT IN PARK AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WOULD BE AN HOUR WAIT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS SENT A REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. UPDATED 4/11/2006 -
Mileage: 12,000
20060320VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. A SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 70 MPH THEN THE VEHICLE SPED UP AGAIN. THE CONTACT USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO 45 MPH, AND THEN APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPM'S RED LINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT IN PARK AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WOULD BE AN HOUR WAIT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS SENT A REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. UPDATED 4/11/2006 -
Mileage: 12,000
Compare 2005AUDIA8 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2005 AUDI A8 have?▼
The 2005 AUDI A8 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 AUDI A8?▼
Yes, the 2005 AUDI A8 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 AUDI A8?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 AUDI A8 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK.
Is the 2005 AUDI A8 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.