1996 Audi A8
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Audi A8 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 78 on record.
1996 Audi A8 at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1996 Audi A8 recalls 2
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 13,900 MY 1996-2003 AUDI A8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE LOCKING CABLE MAY MOVE OUT OF POSITION OVER TIME. WITH THE LOCKING CABLE OUT OF POSITION, THE SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION EVEN IF THE IGNITION KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION LOCK.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE BY INSTALLING AN ADJUSTING PIECE THAT WILL SECURE THE LOCKING CABLE IN PLACE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1996 Audi A8 common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
Investigations & service bulletins
Manufacturer service bulletins 23
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 23.
This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, and/or third brake light lens.
Bulletin A941791 2012749- · Exterior Lighting · Jul 2017This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
Bulletin SM 44-2017 EN · Equipment · Jun 2017Due to increasing requests for high voltage personal protective equipment (HVE PPE) for dealer technicians working with high voltage vehicles (Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid, Electric Vehicle), the Volkswagen Tools and Equipment Team has identified two US based supplie…
Bulletin ATE-17-05 · Equipment · Mar 2017This information TSB provides information regarding the correct way to torque adjust a wheel bolt.
Bulletin A441662 2010334- · Wheels · Oct 2016AUDI: ENGINE, ON SOME VEHICLES, WOULD RUN IRREGULARLY OR HAVE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON OR POSSIBLE FILTER ELEMENT FOR CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT VALVE CAN LOOSEN AND IN OIL CIRCUIT, THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM LOOSENED PARTICLES. MODEL ALL. ALL YEARS. *PE
Bulletin SB-01-15-29 · Engine · Jul 2015Tightening wheel bolts
Bulletin 44145520103346 · Wheels · Oct 2014Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota.
Bulletin AUD4927ENG · Jul 2014Idenifying and mixing factory fill engine coolants
Bulletin Edition92 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2014Google Maps Street View (NVLW))
Bulletin Update91i8 · May 2014AUDI: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, USE CALIBRATED TORQUE WRENCH AND NOT TORQUE STICKS, TORQUE EXTENSION BARS AND IMPACT GUNS/WRENCHES NOT APPROVED FOR USAGE ON WHEEL BOLTS BY MANUFACTURER, THAT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO BRAKE, STEERING WHEEL, HUB. MODEL 1995-2014 ALL. *PE
Bulletin TSB-44-13-46 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Dec 2013Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the A8. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 1
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1996 Audi A8. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Seats And Restraints
THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS COULD ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE INJURY. CORRECTION: A GROUND WIRE WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Transport Canada #1997176 · Oct 1997Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Audi A8
The Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, and currently in its fourth generation, the A8 has been offered with either front- or permanent all-wheel drive and in short- and long-wheelbase variants. The first two generations employed the Volkswagen Group D platform, with the current generation deriving from the MLB platform. After the original model's 1994 release, Audi released the second generation in late 2002, the third in late 2009, and the fourth and current iteration in 2017. Noted as the first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, all A8 models have used this construction method co-developed w…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
1996 Audi A8 vehicles on record
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN004032
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN003347
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN004527
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN010494
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN003964
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN009178
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN005727
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN004508
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN004744
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN005254
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN001692
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN000661
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN001913
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN005028
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN004659
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN000563
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN002746
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN000274
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN002236
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZVN002253
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN007164
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN005550
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN000774
1996 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZTN003065