Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Audi S8
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Audi S8 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V900000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V201000 Instrument Panel Display Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V742000 Rearview Display Inoperative/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V034000 Rear Axle May Be Misaligned NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V825000 Rear-View Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V606000 Seat Belt Locking Retractor Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V295000 Rear Axle Lock Nuts May Break NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V111000 Engine Control Module Malfunction NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 1 complaint
- Engine 1 complaint
- Power Train 1 complaint
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $25,000–$35,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Audi S8 has a moderate number of recalls, mainly related to software and electronic issues. With only one owner complaint filed, evidence is limited in assessing long-term reliability conclusively. The recall data indicates potential electronic and mechanical concerns that owners might encounter.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine control module | Unknown | $1,500–$2,500 | occasional |
| rear axle assembly | Unknown | $1,200–$2,000 | occasional |
| instrument cluster | Unknown | $700–$1,200 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission service
- Tire rotations
- Cooling system service
- Cabin air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Loss of rearview camera
- Instrument cluster failures
- Unusual engine noises
- Vibration from rear axle
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Audi S8 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.