What's Wrong with the 3rd Generation (2011–2018) A8?

A8 owners have made 16 complaints about the 2011–2018 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 18th out of 39 Audi generations in overall reliability, with some interior and suspension concerns.

Compare With Other A8 Generations

Common 2011-2018 Audi A8 Problems

Some of the worst issues 3rd generation A8 owners have to deal with.

  1. Busted Timing Chains

    Audi's EA888 2.0-liter engine has a history of tensioner problems in its timing chain. The loose chain is to blame for multiple occurances of catastrophic engine failure. Audi was forced to offer settlement offers, including an extended war…

    Continue reading article "Busted Timing Chains" View of engine timing chain

  2. Oil Starved Turbochargers

    The twin-turbochargers in Audi's 4.0L V8 engine can become starved of oil because of a clogged filter. This can cause strange acceleration noises, difficulty starting the engine, or sudden stalls.

    Continue reading article "Oil Starved Turbochargers" Gray RS 7 Sportback on a concrete dock near the water

  3. Cheating Diesel Emissions

    Audi was caught cheating on its diesel emissions with defeat devices. Twice. It started with the widespread dieselgate story for 2.0L 4-cylinder engines and was followed with a lesser known cheat for vehicles with the ZF 8-speed transmiss…

    Continue reading article "Cheating Diesel Emissions" Cloud of emissions from a tail pipe

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

3rd Generation (2011–2018) A8 Key Numbers

  1. 8 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 16 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 18th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 39 eligible generations.

Recent 3rd Generation (2011–2018) A8 News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  2. Loose seals in the A8 and S8 engine bad can come lose and start a fire, propmting a recall.


    The automaker says it only happens in "rare cases" but is that true? The problem happens when a wire helix inside the seal deforms from normal engine tempterature changes. Once that happens, the whole seal can fall off due to normal engine vibrations. Doesn't sound as rare as they say it is.…

    keep reading article "A8 and S8 Recalled to Stop Loose Seals From Starting Engine Fires"

  3. When Volkswagen agreed to a multi-district settlement for selling polluting engines marketed as clean diesel,

    it did so knowing it’d have to pay billions of dollars to customers that owned or leased an affected vehicle when the news about the scandal broke.

    Some owners that had sold their affected vehicles before the news came out tried to file for compensation in court, but didn't get very far. That may be about to change due to an interesting court decision in California.…

    keep reading article "Judge's Decision May Open to the Door to New Diesel-Scandal Claims"