What's Wrong with the Audi A8?

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"
Start-Stop Defects
There are multiple problems with Audi's start-stop technology that outweigh the modest fuel efficiency gains. Owners complain that the system will shut off the power steering and brake systems at dangerous times and cause the accelerat The …
Continue reading article "Start-Stop Defects"
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"
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"

What A8 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

rattling from dash in the 2015 A8
4 complaints
transmission fail safe mode in the 2008 A8
3 complaints
high pitch noise from struts in the 2012 A8
1 complaints
navigation maps out of date in the 2013 A8
1 complaints
bluetooth is not working properly in the 2018 A8
1 complaints

What Breaks the Most

Interior
7 complaints
Transmission
4 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints
Engine
2 complaints
Cooling System
1 complaints

Years to Avoid

2015
6 complaints
2011
4 complaints
2008
3 complaints
2014
2 complaints
2018
2 complaints

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

4th Generation A8
Years
2019–2019
Reliability
N/A
PainRank^™
N/A
Complaints
0
Learn more about the 4th Generation A8
3rd Generation A8
Years
2011–2018
Reliability
18th out of 39
PainRank^™
0.97
Complaints
16
Learn more about the 3rd Generation A8
2nd Generation A8
Years
2003–2010
Reliability
1st out of 39
PainRank^™
0.02
Complaints
3
Learn more about the 2nd Generation A8
1st Generation A8
Years
1997–2002
Reliability
2nd out of 39
PainRank^™
0.03
Complaints
1
Learn more about the 1st Generation A8

A8 Key Numbers

20 complaints
Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.
1,691 service bulletins
Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.
16 recall campaigns
Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

A8 Class-Action Lawsuits

The A8 has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

Dismissed
Pitts, et al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al.
1. Dismissed
  March 2021
  The case was dismissed when a judge ruled Audi's owner's manuals clearly say the Start-Stop system "may turn off the engine before the car comes to a complete stop."
2. Case Filed
  July 2020
  The lawsuit wanted refunds for the purchase price of the vehicles for class members, plus compensation for overpaying and for loss of values.
Problem
Start-Stop Defects
Class Vehicles
2017-2020 A3
2017-2020 A4
2017-2020 A5
2017-2020 A6
2017-2020 A7
2017-2020 A8
2017-2020 S3
2017-2020 S4
2017-2020 S6
2017-2020 S8
2017-2020 TT
2017-2020 TTS
2017-2020 Q5
2017-2020 Q7
2017-2020 Q8
2017-2020 SQ5
Location
Virginia
Dusanjh v. Audi AG, et al.
1. Case Filed
  September 2020
  The Audi Start-Stop system allegedly requires expensive repairs, car rentals, towing charges, time off work and other costs, while customers allegedly lose money as the vehicles lose their values.
Problem
Start-Stop Defects
Class Vehicles
2017-2020 A3
2017-2020 A4
2017-2020 A5
2017-2020 A6
2017-2020 A7
2017-2020 A8
2017-2020 S3
2017-2020 S4
2017-2020 S6
2017-2020 S8
2017-2020 Q5
2017-2020 Q7
2017-2020 Q8
2017-2020 SQ5
2017-2020 TT
2017-2020 TTS
Location
British Columbia
Anzhelya Makaryan, et. al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc
2:2017cv05086
1. Case Filed
  July 2017
  An Audi timing chain lawsuit alleges Audi and Volkswagen vehicles have defects that cause the timing chains to suddenly fail without warning, causing the engines to fail.
2. Dismissed
  October 2017
  The case was voluntarily dismissed in November 2017 after a motion to dismiss by Audi was filed earlier that same month.
Problem
Start-Stop Defects
Class Vehicles
2013-2017 A3
2013-2017 A4
2013-2017 A5
2013-2017 A6
2013-2017 A7
2013-2017 A8
2013-2017 S3
2013-2017 S4
2013-2017 S5
2013-2017 S6
2013-2017 S7
2013-2017 S8
2013-2017 RS 5
2013-2017 RS 7
2013-2017 allroad
2013-2017 Q3
2013-2017 Q5
2013-2017 Q7
2013-2017 SQ5
2013-2017 TT
2013-2017 TTS
2013-2017 TT RS
2013-2017 R8
Location
California

Recent 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.

There's growing concern that more than 46,000 Audi vehicles can end up with misaligned rear axles.
The automaker recalled the vehicles after discovering a certain batch of lock nuts on the axle's trailing arm are more suceptible to snap because of corrosion.…
keep reading article "Audi Recalls 46,000 Vehicles With Potentially Misaligned Rear Axles"
Posted on
May 6, 2021
Source
carcomplaints.com
Tagged
#recall
Are the twin-turbochargers in Audi's 4.0L V8 engine starved of oil?
An investigation has been opened into dozens of complaints about the engines being difficult to start or suddenly shutting down due to turbocharger problems.…
keep reading article "Investigation Opened into Audi V8 Turbocharger Failure"
Posted on
April 7, 2021
Source
carcomplaints.com
Tagged
#investigation
Another Audi start-stop lawsuit has been dismissed
after the judge ruled that the owner's manual clearly states the Start-Stop system may turn off the engine before the car comes to a complete stop. Is that all it takes to win in court? Be prepared for your next owner's manual to say "cars might catch on fire due to thermodynamics" just to cover all the bases.…
keep reading article "A Judge Just Ruled That Audi's Start-System Operates As Intended"
Posted on
March 15, 2021
Source
carcomplaints.com
Tagged
#lawsuit
For the third time in three months Audi has been sued for failing to do something about their dangerous start-stop defects.
It's almost as if owners don't appreciate suddenly losing access to their power steering and brakes while slowing down or not knowing whether their vehicle will accelerate through a busy intersection.…
keep reading article "Canada Joins the Lawsuit Party Against Audi's Defective Start-Stop System"
Posted on
September 6, 2020
Source
carcomplaints.com
Tagged
#lawsuit
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"
Posted on
July 24, 2020
Source
carcomplaints.com
Tagged
#recall
Start-stop technology shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a complete stop in order to save on fuel consumption and emissions.
That's a good thing. But it also disables the power steering and brakes way too early. And it is a little slow to re-engage those systems when the vehicle starts moving again. That's a really bad thing.…
keep reading article "Defects in Audi's Start-Stop Technology Make it Dangerous to Drive"
Posted on
July 13, 2020
Source
carcomplaints.com
Tagged
#lawsuit
Audi recently announced more than 116,000 cars need to be recalled to replace their non-azide driver-side Takata inflators because they might underinflate on deployment.
First they explode with too much force, now this? Pick a lane, Takata.…
keep reading article "Underinflating Takata Airbags Recalled in Older Audis"
Posted on
February 10, 2020
Source
carcomplaints.com
Tagged
#recall

See All A8 News

Audi A8 Reliability Problems

4 Common Audi A8 Problems

Busted Timing Chains

Start-Stop Defects

Oil Starved Turbochargers

Cheating Diesel Emissions

What A8 Owners Complain About

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

A8 Generations

4th Generation A8

3rd Generation A8

2nd Generation A8

1st Generation A8

A8 Key Numbers

20 complaints

1,691 service bulletins

16 recall campaigns

A8 Class-Action Lawsuits

Pitts, et al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al.

Dismissed

Case Filed

Dusanjh v. Audi AG, et al.

Case Filed

Anzhelya Makaryan, et. al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

Case Filed

Dismissed

Recent A8 News

There's growing concern that more than 46,000 Audi vehicles can end up with misaligned rear axles.

Are the twin-turbochargers in Audi's 4.0L V8 engine starved of oil?

Another Audi start-stop lawsuit has been dismissed

For the third time in three months Audi has been sued for failing to do something about their dangerous start-stop defects.

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

Start-stop technology shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a complete stop in order to save on fuel consumption and emissions.

Audi recently announced more than 116,000 cars need to be recalled to replace their non-azide driver-side Takata inflators because they might underinflate on deployment.

Other Audi Models