Model year guide

2003 Audi A8

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2003 Audi A8 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 98 on record.

2003 Audi A8 — representative photo
Representative photo

2003 Audi A8 at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints8
Combined18 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2003 Audi A8 recalls 1

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #08V397000 · manufacturer #37D5/J2 · 14/08/2008

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.

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.

2003 Audi A8 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

2003 Audi A8 safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2003 Audi A8 4-DR. w/SAB. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2003 Audi A8 MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City15 mpg
Highway23 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,550
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (S5)
Passenger volume100 cu ft
Cargo volume18 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$10,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2003 Audi A8 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$22,750
Fuel only$22,750
Per mile$0.30

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

Length
198.0 in
Width
74.0 in
Height
56.7 in
Wheelbase
113.4 in
Curb weight
4,068 lb
Front track
62.6 in
Rear track
62.2 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2003 Audi A8. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2003 Audi A8. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Other

On certain vehicles equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission, a 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 key is not in the ignition. This could allow the vehicle to roll and strike a person , object or vehicle without warning, causing personal injury. Correction: Dea…

Transport Canada #2008274 · Aug 2008

Source: 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.

2003 Audi A8 vehicles on record

2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E44N008339 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E53N005898 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E93N003099 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E53N009689 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E44N004209 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E34N013936 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E93N008769 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E63N006882 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E04N008287 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4EX4N011603 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E04N005941 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E83N008858 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E34N003911 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E83N004826 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E64N016765 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E24N008291 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E63N004615 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E13N004103 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E44N003349 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E94N005002 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4EX3N002477 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E63N001598 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E63N001441 2003 Audi A8 2003 Audi A8WAUZZZ4E73N006535

Other Audi A8 model years

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994

2003 Audi A8 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Audi A8 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Audi A8. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Audi A8?

Across all 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, exterior lighting, suspension.

What is the 2003 Audi A8 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2003 Audi A8 crash-test ratings of frontal 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2003 Audi A8 get?

The 2003 Audi A8 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (15 city / 23 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.