Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Audi A8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control3
- Equipment1
- Equipment adaptive/mobility1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Electrical system1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Tires1
- Structure1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2005 Audi A8 failed the safety check 1.54% of the time — 33% less often than the average 2005 passenger car (2.30%). Median odometer at inspection: 148,568 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2005 Audi A8 cars on Dutch roads are the 4.2 petrol (246 kW, 330 hp) and 6.0 petrol (331 kW, 444 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2 petrol | 246 kW 330 hp | 63 |
| 6.0 petrol | 331 kW 444 hp | 24 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
142 first registered in 2005 are on Dutch roads; 47% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €129,778.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde44
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen29
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld27
- Band onvoldoende profiel26
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm23
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect23
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage20
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af18
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
227 cars built in 2005 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 308 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 400 of these cars first registered in 2005 took their annual MOT test. 76% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2005 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.0% | 21.5% |
| Tyres | 6.0% | 7.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.5% | 6.8% |
| Suspension | 5.3% | 17.3% |
| Visibility | 5.0% | 7.5% |
| Brakes | 4.5% | 13.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
37 of these cars first registered in 2005 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 307,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
24 2005 cars are on the New Zealand register; 75% arrived as used imports, 21% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.0 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 299 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.0 | 10.5 | 13.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2005 Audi A8.
| 2006203 28 Aug 2006 | Airbag On certain vehicles the drivers frontal airbag may not inflate as designed, which could cause driver injuries in a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the d… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2005 Audi A8: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10251038 | Brakes squeel |
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10251016 | Self-leveling compressor inoperative |
| 10251012 | Vehicle lowers itself, air suspension warning light on, level sensor error (PR-2MB or 1BK) |
| 10250995 | Clicking noise from wheel bearing |
| 10250968 | Electric steering column adjustment is inoperative |
| 10250952 | Electric steering column adjustment is inoperative |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250949 | Steering wheel leather damage, all vehicles |
| 10250679 | Vehicle lowers itself, air suspension warning light on, level sensor error (PR-2MB or 1BK) |
| 10250676 | Self-leveling compressor inoperative |
| 10250654 | Clicking noise from wheel bearing |
| 10250473 | Self-leveling compressor inoperative |
| 10250468 | Clicking noise from wheel bearing |
| 10250430 | Oil consumption measurement - Repair Authorization (CA) |
| 10249085 | Google Maps Street View (NVLW)) |
| 10249054 | Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota. |
| 10243930 | This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries. |
| 10243791 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243790 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243787 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243780 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243775 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243772 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243766 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)