1999 Audi A8
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1999 Audi A8 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 104 on record.
1999 Audi A8 at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1999 Audi A8 recalls 4
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 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 inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the e…
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.
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 TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
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.
1999 Audi A8 common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1999 Audi A8 safety ratings
Frontal crash testSource: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1999 Audi A8 4-DR. w/SAB. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
1999 Audi A8 MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1999 Audi A8 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1999 Audi A8. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 1
STEERING WHEEL HEATER OVERHEATS Closed
THIS PE WAS OPENED BASED ON FOUR ODI COMPLAINTS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL OVERHEATS. VW HAS SHOWN THAT MOISTURE AND PRESPIRATION PERMEATE THE STEERING WHEEL COVER CAUSING THE HEATING ELEMENT TO CORRODE. THIS CORROSION MAY CAUSE A SMALL, LOCALIZED AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO EXPERIENCE A BRIEF DURATION OF OVERHEATING. THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL SUSTAINING COMBUSTION. THE INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND NO OCCU…
NHTSA #PE03019 · Steering · opened May 2003 · closed Sep 2003An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 59
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 59.
This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
Bulletin A0023742052680_4 · Equipment · Oct 2023This communication is issued to inform dealers of updated shipping regulations related to lithium ion batteries.
Bulletin AWC 19-05 · Electrical System, Equipment · Aug 2019This communication is issued to remind dealers of the repair validation process for repair group 19. 2005-2019 A3, 1996-2019 A4, 2008-2019 A5, 1992-2019 A6, 2012-2019 A7, 1997-2019 A8, 2019 E-Tron, 2015-2019 Q3, 2010-2019 Q5, 2007-2019 Q7, 2019 Q8, 2000-2019 T…
Bulletin AWC 19-04 · Equipment · Jul 2019This bulletin contains instructions for additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries (airbag/seatbelts, accidents, fire and overheat damage). 2008-2021 A3, 2015-2021 A3 Cabrio, 2005-2016 A3 Sportback, 1999-2021 A4, 2010-2021 A4 allroad, 1999-…
Bulletin A0019212052680_1 · Equipment, Air Bags, Seat Belts · Jun 2019This 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 2017This informational bulletin contains all the the Audi Oil Quality Standards that should be used when doing an oil change.
Bulletin A171782 2010043- · Engine · May 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 2016Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 20 number 13-29 dated November 15, 2013. The fuel tank has been removed from the vehicle and must be neutralized before shipment or disposal. When the fuel tank in a vehicle is replaced, the original tank must be pro…
Bulletin A201559 2011703- · Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline · Dec 2015Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the A8. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
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.
1999 Audi A8 vehicles on record
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZYN004758
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZYN003220
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN005502
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN009177
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZYN001987
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZYN008709
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN008288
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN003758
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZYN000489
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN006279
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN003407
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN006524
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN006508
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZYN009161
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN005330
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN008429
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN003626
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN009183
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN009247
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN003910
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZYN000626
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN003799
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN008441
1999 Audi A8WAUZZZ4DZXN003555