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2004 Audi A8 Recalls & Complaints

1

open safety recall on record

Serious

31 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.29 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious06V324000

Air Bags:Frontal

LOSS OF FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR WHICH CAN raises the risk of INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Complaint volume

31 this model-year 6 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

Complaints filed31
Reporting a crash0
Reporting a fire3
Injuries reported0
Deaths reported0
Severity Index0.29

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

  1. Electrical System — 4 reports
  2. Vehicle Speed Control — 4 reports
  3. Service Brakes — 2 reports
  4. Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint — 1 reports
  5. Service Brakes, Hydraulic — 1 reports
  6. Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls — 1 reports
  7. Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal — 1 reports
  8. Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 1 reports
  9. Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems — 1 reports
  10. Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.