2013 Audi S8

Routine

Owners filed 13 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine11
000
Unknown or Other2
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger22V178000
Filed Mar 23, 202226,093 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.

Risk. Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.

Structure › Body › Hood20V397000
Filed Jul 7, 202012,964 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The seal around the engine compartment may come loose and contact hot engine components.

Risk. If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install a retaining plate to prevent the engine compartment seal from loosening. The recall began September 4, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51G6.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings19V057000
Filed Jan 28, 20198,985 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous and leak fuel.

Risk. Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of fire.

Remedy. Audi has notified owners, and dealers will install a fuel pressure damper, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BM.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings18V430000
Filed Jun 25, 20186,633 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous over time, resulting in a fuel leak.

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began July 20, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AV.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly13V448000
Filed Sep 23, 20131,120 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles equipped with a standard sunroof, manufactured March 12, 2013, through July 15, 2013. These vehicles are equipped with a standard sunroof glass panel that may shatter.

Risk. Should the sunroof's glass break while the vehicle is in use, the falling glass could injure the driver or passengers. It could also distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass panel, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2013. Owners may contact Audi of America at 1-800-822-2834. Volkwagen's number for this campaign is 60B6/1L.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 4, 2022WI

The windshield top gasket is not working and the glass can be easily pushed out an 1/8”. Wind can be heard while driving and when it’s raining water runs through steady stream. I was under the impression that the windshield is an integral part of the cars structure.

Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2022OR

The dealer doesn’t want to perform the recall due to branded title. They should though. Please look into it

Engine
Filed Feb 8, 2022OR

Engine turbocharger experience catastrophic damage, engine stalled, power steering was disrupted.

Engine
Filed Sep 3, 2021MA

The car was running rough for a couple weeks; hesitant to accelerate, failed to start multiple times and idled rough. One day I was coming home from my hour long commute, I put the car in reverse in my driveway and the car started bucking so badly that it became un-drivable. At this point we had to get the car towed on a flatbed an hour away to the nearest dealership and this is when we discovered that the turbos had gone bad. There was no check engine light or any indication before it just failed. I am active duty in the United States Coast Guard and being without a car is not an option. Because of the shipping delay and waiting for the turbos to come from Germany, I was without my car for two weeks. I was loaned a vehicle but I had to rent a car for one day in between. We have been told by Audi dealerships for years that this was a known problem and to expect this $10,000 repair.

Engine
Filed Jul 10, 2021GA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY, MY CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. I HAD DYSFUNCTIONAL BRAKE AND STEERING FAILURE. BRAKE WAS HARDLY WORKING AND I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO CONTROL STEERING. BASICALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH, CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD INTO A VACANT PARKING LOT AND CAR CAME TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY, NO CARS WERE AROUND AT THE TIME. OTHERWISE, I ALONG WITH MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED BY AUDI SINCE PURCHASE. IT WAS JUST SERVICED WITHIN THE PAST MONTH. CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER--THE TURBO CHARGER HAD FAILED. BASED ON THE DEALER DESCRIPTION, FAILER OF TURBO CAUSED THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BOTH THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. THERE SHOULD BE A BACKUP SAFETY MECHANISM IN CASE OF TURBO FAILURE WITH AUDI 4L ENGINE--APPARENTLY, THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO EXIST. I CONTACTED AUDI AND THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION. IT WAS JUST BY GOD'S GRACE THAT HORRIBLE ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR. I HOPE YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT INTO THIS. BASED ON SOME BLOGS, THIS IS APPARENTLY COMMON WITH 4L TURBO ENGINES WITH AUDI.

Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2021MO

TURBOS FAILED, CAR STALLED AND WILL NOT START UNLESS GIVING IT GAS. DOWN ON POWER AND PERFORMANCE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 4, 2021LA

SUN ROOF EXPLODED ON MT AUDIS8 2013. 6/03/2021.

Engine
Filed Apr 4, 202158,000 milesCT

TURBOCHARGERS FAILURE DUE TO CLOGGED OIL SCREEN. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TURBOCHARGER WITH NEW UNITS AND REPLACED OIL SCREEN WITH UPDATED VERSION

Engine
Filed Feb 1, 202180,000 milesMI

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP APPROPRIATE SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE WAS NO PRIOR NOTICE OR ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANY ABNORMALITIES WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS. I DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AT A REST AREA AND AS THE CAR WAS SLOWED DOWN AROUND 15-20 MPH, I LOST TOTAL POWER OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER OR USE THE BRAKES. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITHOUT INJURY BUT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER TOW TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TURBOS IN THE ENGINE. I DID EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIND OUT THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND BOILS DOWN TO A DESIGN FLAW WHERE A SMALL OIL SCREEN ESSENTIALLY STARVES THE TURBOS OF OIL. SOMETIME THESE SCREENS HAVE CLOGGED BUT IN MANY CASES ARE JUST FINE BUT IN ALL CASES HAVE LEAD TO TURBO FAILURE. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND ALL VEHICLES I HAVE REVIEWED HAVE BEEN FACTORY MAINTAINED WITH SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF MY VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED BY AN AUDI EXTENDED WARRANTY AND REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY AVERAGING AROUND 12-13K FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. I CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT (AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE) AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND COSTLY REPAIR BUT HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE HAD I LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY I MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN INV

Engine
Filed May 18, 202048,700 milesMA

BOTH TURBOS ON THE ENGINE WERE DAMAGED TO THE POINT OF REPLACEMENT, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT AT IDLE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION PUTTING ME IN DANGER OF AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Engine
Filed May 24, 201984,600 milesCT

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND WOULDN'T IDLE WHEN I CAME TO A STOP. IT BECAME VERY HARD TO START, ESPECIALLY WHEN HOT. WHILE THE CAR WAS IN FOR RECALL WORK IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BAD TURBOCHARGERS. QUOTED OVER $10K IN REPAIRS.

Engine
Filed Mar 25, 2019112,000 milesOH

IT IF VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE FOR 4.0TT V8 AUDI ENGINE, THERE IS POUR OIL SUPPLY TO TURBOS WHICH CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. AFTER AN HOUR OF CRUISING ON HIGHWAY CAR WOULD CHOKE ON IDLE, DIFFICULT TO EVEN START. AUDI DEALER DIAGNOSED TURBO FAILURE WITHOUT UNDERLINE CAUSE. 10K DOLLARS REPAIR EVERY 20-50K MILES IS UNREASONABLE DUE TO FACT THAT OIL SEPARATOR, OIL STRAINER, SEALS AND COOLANT LINES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO BE DEFECTIVE AND UPDATED BY MANUFACTURER (AUDI)

Engine
Filed Feb 15, 201861,000 milesFL

CAR HAS 3 BENT RIMS AND A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT CARMAX WILL TRY TO SAY THEY FIXED RIMS AND THE MOTOR MOUNT IS FINE

13 of 13 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260100Routine
20250100Routine
20240100Routine
20230200Routine
20220300Routine
20211800Routine
20200400Routine
20180100Routine
20170200Routine
20166300Routine
20156400Routine
20146510Routine
2013 — this page13500Routine
20092100Routine
20085100Routine
20073100Routine

Compare every S8 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 23, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.