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Audi A8Model year report

2004 Audi A8 Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
28,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 16 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Audi A8 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2004 Audi A8. The part named most often is visibility, with 6 complaints (30% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (5) and brakes (4). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 55% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 28,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 203 technical service bulletins for this model year. Visibility complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Seats (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The windshield wipers will stop intermittently. They have stopped during heavy rain on an expressway several times resulting in a loss of vision. The dealers could not get the problem to repeat so they said that they couldn't do anything. I called the Audi advocate phone line and was told that Audi would not address the issue. Then I wrote Audi and ask for a refund and the Audi advocate returned the call and maintained the same response.”

NHTSA complaint #10236405, filed 2008-07, 9,520 miles

Vehicle speed control: “While driving and/or parking and/or putting key in ignition to start my vehicle ABS light; stabilization; and speedometer seems as though being hacked...sometimes especially in the summer when temperatures reach 100 degrees + my heater is hacked on and my interior of the vehicle is life threatening hot!!! …”

NHTSA complaint #11064890, filed 2018-01, 183,000 miles

Brakes: “Emergency brake control module failed. Factory had a recall on car to reprogram this module, dealer said module couldn't be reprogrammed because it had failed. Parts and labor was $509.00 failure of this component I considered a safety related item as this also acts as emergency brake for vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10179146, filed 2007-01, 82,000 miles

Electrical system: “Driver smelled smoke shortly after starting his vehicle and driving away from his home. The smell was of plastic, and it was assumed from an electrical short/fire. The driver stopped the car and inspected the engine area. No evidence of fire, however the driver turned back and drove the vehicle home. Strong burning plastic smell again as the vehicle was stopped. The cabin was filling with smoke. Driver opened the trunk as the battery was located in the right rear section of the trunk. Smoke was emanating from the battery compartment. A plastic panel was removed for inspection. …”

NHTSA complaint #10693097, filed 2015-03, 120,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

55% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,520 and 120,000 miles.

27%0–1018%10–259%25–509%50–759%75–1009%100–15018%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 28,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2004520062008201020152018
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2004 Audi A8 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
A8 L 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic162218$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2004 Audi A8 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 203 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 203 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi A8

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20215—10—21—Not enough data
20191424,5263—22—Not enough data
2017851,0003—22—Not enough data
20161143,5004—22—Not enough data
20153148,0005—22Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20141857,5345—21—Falling
20135062,5006—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20121179,6281—21—Not enough data
20111581,5001—21—Falling
200957,2121—18—Not enough data
2008855,1181—18—Not enough data
2006644,0002—18—Not enough data
2005612,0001—18—Not enough data
20042028,0001—18—Stable
2001686,0002—18—Not enough data
1999961,4044—18—Not enough data
19971069,0002—18—Not enough data

All Audi A8 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Audi A8 have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2004 Audi A8 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Audi A8 is reported most often?

Visibility is named most often, in 6 complaints (30% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 5.

Has the 2004 Audi A8 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Audi A8 get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Audi A8 (A8 L, 4.2L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Audi A8 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 28,000 miles and the middle half falls between 9,520 and 120,000 miles; 55% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.