RoadVitals

2008 Audi A5

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Apr 15, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 27, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Audi A5, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 486 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags228.6%
  • Brakes228.6%
  • Electrical228.6%
  • Exterior lighting114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V376000

AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

May 27, 2016
8,381 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
The risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 69O1View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesElectrical
Filed Apr 15, 2026

2008 Audi A5 3.2L S-Line Coupe experiencing severe water intrusion into trunk compartment causing progressive failure of multiple electronic modules. Water enters through a known design defect in the trunk seal and drainage pathway, pooling in the spare tire well where critical electronic control modules are mounted. Affected systems: (1) Complete audio and entertainment system failure due to amplifier module destroyed by water damage. (2) Electronic parking brake malfunction with brake failing to engage and disengage reliably, creating serious rollaway risk on inclines. (3) General electrical instability with intermittent warning lights and system malfunctions. (4) Severe parasitic battery drain with vehicle battery draining overnight due to water-damaged modules drawing constant current. This is a well-documented design flaw across the entire B8 A5 and S5 platform from 2008 to 2013. The manufacturer engineered a protective cover part for later production models, confirming awareness of the water intrusion defect, but never issued a recall or retrofit for earlier vehicles. Hundreds of owners have reported identical failures on major Audi enthusiast forums. The electronic parking brake failure is a serious safety hazard as the vehicle may roll uncontrolled on grades when parked.

NHTSA ID
11731285
Incident
Apr 15, 2026
Filed Jun 24, 2018

THE AUDIO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE AUDIO SYSTEM POWERS ON, POWERS OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER ABOUT 5. SECONDS

NHTSA ID
11103665
Incident
Jun 24, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 22, 2016

TAKATA RECALL ON MAY 23, 2016, MY AUDI A5 WAS RECALLED. SAFETY RISK WAS CLAIMED TO BE "IF THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT FAILS, SAFETY SYSTEMS SUCH AS SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS AND AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY." 6 MONTHS LATER, THE RECALL IS "INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE" I AM TRYING TO TRADE IN MY VEHICLE, BUT THE DEALER SAYS THE LACK OF RECALL FIX WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10918080
Incident
May 23, 2016
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Feb 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECTS WERE ALL CAUSED BY A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL SPRING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID
10563988
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
35,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 4, 2013

MAIN BEAM/LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT WARNING CAME ON. SECOND TIME DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE READ THAT AUDIS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT. HAVING BULB REPLACED IS COSTING 360.00 AT THE AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. A FACTORY RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10546793
Incident
Sep 28, 2013
Mileage
46,300 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

A4824602073033_1

STEERING:COLUMN

This bulletin provides information for when the steering column adjustment does not work.

A4824612034351_1

STEERING:COLUMN

This bulletin contains repair information for when there is a creaking/squeaking from the steering column when steering slowly.

A9124632044694_3

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

This bulletin provides information pertaining to MMI Navigation database concerns.

A912306202432310

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:SENSORS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:SOFTWARE

This bulletin provides information when the parking assistance provides false warnings.

A9023562032113_8

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

This bulletin provides general information about the outside air temperature reading.

A0023812070568_2

EQUIPMENT

This bulletin provides information on the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool for professional noise analysis.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi A5 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025720—
2024800—
2023800—
2022620—
2021750—
2020604047.5
2019123046.2
2018366060.0
2017020—
2016730—
2015830—
2014283044.0
2013353057.8
2012220037.7
2011240032.6
2010340029.6
2009111031.0
2008Viewing510—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.