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2004 Audi A8 problems

The most common problem on the 2004 Audi A8 is windows, wipers and visibility. It has 2.5 times the complaints of a typical A8 model year.

Typical year2.5x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
20
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
209
Worst area
Visibility
Fuel economy
18mpg

The worst 2004 Audi A8 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Visibility
    6
  • Acceleration
    5
  • Brakes
    4
  • Electrical
    4
  • Driver assistance
    2

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Visibility
    6
  • Acceleration
    5
  • Brakes
    4
  • Electrical
    4
  • Driver assistance
    2
  • Fuel system
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Engine
    1
  • Locks
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Tires
    1

Recalls 1

Air bags: frontalReported August 31, 2006 · 7,674 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
Loss of frontal air bag deployment could occur which can increase the risk of injury in a frontal crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install a new driver's frontal air bag free of charge. The recall began on october 6, 2006. Owners may contact audi at 1‑800‑822‑2834.

Recall number 06V324000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 2004 Audi A8

Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Audi A8 209

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 209 bulletins for the 2004 Audi A8

2004 Audi A8 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
4.2L 8‑cyl4WD162218

What 2004 Audi A8 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 25, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 183,000 miles · OK

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!!! Have to open windows to 100 degrees temperature outside...my interior lights just come on and drain my battery....and my sound system flips open and music plays when im in my house and has shut off my car and while driving my sound system comes on and my radio is remotely controlled---hacked because my stations are switched ie. Tuned to different stations and my cds are scrolled through the tracks without my doing so....and my vehicle was hacked for it to speed up when I wasnt accelorating in a walmart parking lot....that could have injured myself or others..but I hit the brakes and cut my car off in a parking space...my speedometer is always being hacked that when I driving at no matter what speed....its being hacked to read 0 miles and threatens my ability to know my speed and it slows my engine performance...my park brake engages and I have to cut car off and this is highly dangerous while im driving....my steering once jerked but I miraculously wasnt in heavy traffic..I dont know who what or why but when I purchased my vehicle even the dealer boomer did alot of shady things in the service department to my vehicle.........please help...all the vehicles I buy are being hacked and eventually either recalled or crashed or [xxx] near! Or put out of order... And every insurance company I get.....my premiums go up without any reason except "its the state insurance commission" where I live changing state rules? Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 5, 2016 · Fuel system · 170,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 audi a8. While the vehicle was parked, a strong fuel odor emitted from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was aware of the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v267000 (fuel system, other), but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Mar 9, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 120,000 miles · NJ · fire

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. Located directly under the battery was a plastic module identified as trw *334 gnoacdobnc28u* and stamped made in malaysia??. The dealer stated that the module controls the electric parking brake for the car. Inspecting the unit, multiple wire leads that feed the e-brake control unit had burned through, as did a portion of the e-brake control unit. The body area of the car near the unit was covered in soot from the electrical fire. Years prior, the driver had issues with the e-brake, the e-brakes failing to release prompting the vehicle to be towed to the dealer. At that time the service representative walked the driver into the service area to show the driver corrosion on the electric contact leads from the control unit. The representative suggested that perhaps battery acid/gases may have run down the battery into the control unit causing the corrosion. The unit may have been replaced at that time along with the battery. Photos are available of the control unit upon request.

Filed Jan 28, 2011 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA

I own a 2004 audi a8 quatro, this morning the car accelerated on it's own. The driver seat, steering wheel, and the car suspension adjusted automatically while I was driving it and it went from 40mph to 150+ without me having my foot on the accelerator. For a minute I thought I was going to die. I slowly starting pressing on the brake pedal hoping the car would not flip. It took about 2 to 3 minutes for me to slow down the car. I put the emergency brake and turned it off. I turned it back on and the engine was still accelerated, it sounded it like the accelerator was stuck even though the car was on park.

Filed Sep 21, 2010 · Suspension · 64,000 miles · TX

Two air suspension systems went out for no reason in my car. My car is a 2004 a8l with 64,000 miles. They were leaking. This was $5,000 expense. I think they are defective.

Filed Jul 15, 2010 · Engine · NY

While driving down the highway car suddenly stalled without warning. Restarted car and had it stall several times. Car has been sent to be evaluated by a mechanic.

Filed Jun 15, 2009 · Fuel system · OH

2004 audi a 8 l gas pedal sticks in acceleration mode. Has happened 4-5 times. Dealer was notified but did not respond or take action. I had to shift into neutral gear and pump pedal. This has happened several times when stepping on the accelerator hard. Last incident date below tim walker

Filed Jul 30, 2008 · Visibility · 9,520 miles · OH

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.

Filed Jan 25, 2008 · Visibility · 4,000 miles · IL

2004 audi a8l, purchased in 07/2004. Front wipers "hesitated" in the rain a couple of times. Local dealer said could not reproduce. A few months later, wipers completely stopped, while driving at highway speeds, leaving me without visibility for several minutes. Pulled over and removed/replaced fused. Wipers started up again. Local dealer said couldn't reproduce. Wipers failed two more times, and hesitated numerous other times, when I finally decided to not drive the car. Throughout all, dealer claims he's unable to reproduce the problem, audi america disclaims all liability for accidents from wiper-failure. Car was garaged as unsafe to drive for the remaining 17 months of the lease. Just this week I found out that audi germany knows about this problem, and has redesigned the wiper-motor before 02/2004. Numerous reports of this failure have surfaced on the internet, and exchanging the wiper-motor alleviated the problem. Audi should recall all affected vehicles and replace the wiper before someone gets hurt or killed. Furthermore, I request audi refund my last 17 lease-payments as well as insurance and registration cost for the vehicle while it was garaged.

Filed Jan 19, 2007 · Brakes · 82,000 miles · UT

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.

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Questions about the 2004 Audi A8

Is the 2004 Audi A8 reliable?

Owners have filed 20 complaints about the 2004 Audi A8, 2.5 times a typical A8 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Audi A8?

Windows, wipers and visibility, with 6 complaints. Next is acceleration (5).

How many recalls does the 2004 Audi A8 have?

1 recall, covering air bags.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Audi A8 get?

Official estimates for the 2004 Audi A8 range from 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.2L 8-cyl, 4WD) gets 16 city and 22 highway.

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