The 2002 Audi A8 has 8 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are tires and vehicle speed control. Owners most often flag high maintenance and repair costs — very expensive parts (e.g., air struts ~$2,200 each, headlights ~$3,000) and labor, leading to high annual ownership costs. frequency: very frequent.
Safety record for the 2002 model year
8
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2002 Audi A8 vehicles (US, public record).
Where owners report problems
tires
3
vehicle speed control
2
visibility
1
engine and engine cooling
1
power train
1
Recalls affecting the 2002 A8
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 08V397000
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 B…
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is generally positive among long-term owners, particularly for the D5 generation (2018+), which is praised for its exceptional ride comfort, quiet cabin, advanced technology, and strong value proposition on the used market. The D5 is frequently descr
High maintenance and repair costs — very expensive parts (e.g., air struts ~$2,200 each, headlights ~$3,000) and labor, leading to high annual ownership costs. Frequency: very frequent.
Mild Hybrid System (Belt Starter Generator/BSG) failures — a known issue on D5 (2018+) models with the 48V system, potentially leading to expensive repairs; subject to a technical service campaign (27BQ). Frequency: recurrent.
Electronic gremlins — concerns over long-term reliability of complex infotainment, driver aids, and other electronic systems; some isolated reports of issues requiring multiple resets. Frequency: recurrent.
Air suspension failures — a noted point of potential failure and high repair cost, particularly on higher-mileage examples of all generations. Frequency: recurrent.
Rapid depreciation — significant loss in value, especially in the first few years, though this makes the car a strong used value. Frequency: very frequent.
Owner insights cover all generations of the A8.
Typical used price
Used A8 listings typically run $85,599–$95,190 across 2012 to 2026 model years.