Reliability & cost of ownership
Audi A8 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Audi A8? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Audi A8 problems by model year
81 recall entries and 248 owner complaints on file across 32 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 A8 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2025 A8 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2024 A8 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2023 A8 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2022 A8 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 A8 | 10 | 5 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 A8 | 5 | 3 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 A8 | 3 | 12 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 A8 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2017 A8 | 3 | 6 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 A8 | 4 | 10 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 A8 | 5 | 32 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 A8 | 5 | 18 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 A8 | 6 | 50 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 A8 | 1 | 11 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 A8 | 1 | 15 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 A8 | 1 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2009 A8 | 1 | 5 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2008 A8 | 1 | 8 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2007 A8 | 2 | 4 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2006 A8 | 2 | 6 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2005 A8 | 1 | 6 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2004 A8 | 1 | 20 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 A8 | 1 | 3 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2002 A8 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2001 A8 | 2 | 6 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2000 A8 | 2 | 3 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1999 A8 | 4 | 9 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1998 A8 | 3 | 4 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 A8 | 2 | 10 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1996 A8 | 2 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1995 A8 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Audi A8, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine92 complaints
- electrical system35 complaints
- power train24 complaints
- vehicle speed control23 complaints
- unknown or other21 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system19 complaints
- service brakes14 complaints
- suspension13 complaints