1998 Audi A8 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Audi A8.

19971999
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 1998 Audi A8 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#12 complaints

Airbags

Crash-related:1
#21 complaints

Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift

#31 complaints

Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Audi A8.

Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Audi A8. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1998 Audi A8

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~28,624 vehicles.

22V471000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~28,624 affected

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 inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Other Audi A8 Years

1996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201920202021

1998 Audi A8 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1998 Audi A8 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Audi A8 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Airbags with 2 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Audi A8?
Top reported problems: Airbags (2 complaints); Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift (1 complaints); Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1998 Audi A8?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Audi A8 include 1 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Audi A8 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 28,624 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 Audi A8?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Audi A8 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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