The defect
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.
The risk
THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi A8 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A8 | 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| Audi A8 | 1997 | 10 | 2 |
| Audi A8 | 1998 | 4 | 3 |
| Audi A8 | 1999 | 9 | 4 |
| Audi A8 | 2000 | 3 | 2 |
| Audi A8 | 2001 | 6 | 2 |
| Audi A8 | 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| Audi A8 | 2003 | 3 | 1 |
Other power train recalls in 2008
32 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the power train; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 08V665000 16 Dec 2008 | MANAC |
| 08V660000 15 Dec 2008 | TRAILMOBILE CANADA LIMITED |
| 08V635000 3 Dec 2008 | LAND ROVER |
| 08V621000 24 Nov 2008 | M H EBY, INC. |
| 08V605000 14 Nov 2008 | SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS, LLC |
| 08V591000 14 Nov 2008 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
| 08V595000 14 Nov 2008 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 08V583000 6 Nov 2008 | CHRYSLER LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008