"How reliable is the 1998 Unknown Unknown?"

"Based on 62 NHTSA complaints, the 1998 Unknown Unknown has a median complaint mileage of 0 miles. The most common issue is TIRES."

"What are common problems with the 1998 Unknown Unknown?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Unknown Unknown is TIRES, accounting for a significant portion of the 62 total complaints filed."

1998 Unknown Unknown: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 62 complaints

Total Complaints

TIRES

Top Issue

Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

TIRES

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

SUSPENSION:REAR

STRUCTURE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEELS

CHILD SEAT

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

404

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE TRAILER WE WERE TOWING FISH-TAILED EVEN WITH THE SWAY BAR. IT HAS A TOO LOW OF A TOUNG WEIGHT AND IS TOP HEAVY. IT FLIPPED AFTER IT CAUSED US TO GO OUT OF CONTROL."

"REAR VISION IMPAIRMENT: THE 1998 AUDI A8 HAS TWO LARGE HEAD RESTS FOR THE REAR SEAT. THESE HEADRESTS OBSCURE VISION SIGNIFICANTLY TO BLOCK SEEING A CHILD, PET, ADULT OR OTHER OBJECT LESS SUBSTANTIAL THAN ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REQUESTED AUDI MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THEIR REMOVAL SINCE MY ONLY REAR PASSENGER..."

"TRANSMISSION - OCCASIONALLY POPPED OUT OF 1ST OR 2ND GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING UP INCLINE. THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. DEALER IS REPLACING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH WOULD STICK WHILE TRYING TO RAISE WINDOW. WINDOW WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. HAND TO MANUALLY HOLD ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 18 NC: 4 MD: 4 MI: 4 FL: 3 NJ: 3 GA: 2 LA: 2 VA: 2 TX: 2

Who Files Complaints?

72.6%

Original Owners

27.400000000000006%

Second+ Owners

Unknown Unknown — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1994	23	-	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	0
1995	37	85,000	TIRES	2
1996	27	-	TIRES	2
1997	54	5,800	TIRES	8
1999	137	78,500	TIRES	10
2000	129	27,250	TIRES	14
2001	64	30,000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS	9
2002	65	5,950	EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS	6
2003	85	4,166	LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	7

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28