RoadVitals

2008 Audi A8 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
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Latest Dec 9, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Audi A8, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags330.0%
  • Driver assistance220.0%
  • Powertrain (other)220.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Engine110.0%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TAKATA RECALL - I JUST RECEIVED WORK ONLINE THROUGH CREDIT KARMA THAT MY CAR HAS A RECALL ON IT DATING BACK TOWARDS 2016. I FINANCED THIS CAR IN 2015. THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE, FOR THE MOST PART ASIDE FROM SMALL ELECTRICAL ISSUES.. HOWEVER MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT SAYS THIS RECALL IS BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS ARE PRONE TO EXPLODING CAUSING METAL SHRAPNEL TO FLY AND CAUSE HEAVY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY DEATH TO THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR. IN SOME CASES IT SEEMS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE HEAT RUINING THE PARTS THE CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO WORK.

NHTSA ID 11099573 · filed Jun 4, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS RECALLED IN JANUARY, 2017. TEN MONTHS HAVE PASSED WITH NO REPLACEMENT PART OR SOLUTION AND WAS INSTEUCTED NOT TO HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. HOW LONG AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT?

NHTSA ID 11040627 · filed Oct 27, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 10905010 · filed Sep 9, 2016

TL. HI, THIS MORNING I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY 2008 AUDI A8L SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AS I WAS ENTERING A PARKING GARAGE. THANKFULLY IT APPEARS NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM EXTREMELY DISTURBED BY THIS INCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED AUDI USA. IS THUS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR? PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE AND I DO NOT KNOW IF I SHOULD ESCALATE THIS ISSUE SOMEWHERE ELSE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT AGAIN AFTER IT IS REPAIRED. I ALWAYS LIKED THE CAR AND IF I DON'T DRIVE IT AGAIN I COULD NOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANYTHING THAT COULD HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THANKS BOB (CONTACT WANTED THIS COMPLAINTED COPY AND PASTED INTO THE COMPLAINT FORM)

NHTSA ID 10358339 · filed Sep 29, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 11057729 · filed Dec 31, 2017

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

NHTSA ID 10934464 · filed Dec 10, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE 2008 AUDI A8L WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLING REAR-END COLLISION WHILE STARTING TO MOVE AT A STOP SIGN. VELOCITY WAS LESS THAN 5 MPH. MINOR COLLISION WITH NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS AND NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR AHEAD. THE A8L DROVE NORMALLY AFTER THE COLLISION. INSPECTION AT THE BODY SHOP REVEALED STRESS FRACTURE AND BENDING OF THE FRAME. CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A FULL SIZE PREMIUM SEDAN SHOULD SUFFER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRAME AT A LOW SPEED COLLISION. A HIGH SPEED COLLISION WOULD HAVE PROVIDED NO PROTECTION TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. MULTIPLE CONTACTS MADE WITH AUDI USA VIA UPS LETTER, EMAIL, TELEPHONE, TWITTER AND FACEBOOK. AUDI USA REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY CRASH TEST DATA ON THE A8 WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING. I REQUEST THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE IF THIS CAR IS SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10513552 · filed May 25, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 10905010 · filed Sep 9, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A8. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI PITTSBURGH (2050 LIBERTY AVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15222, (412) 245-4200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASSIVE AIR FLOW SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH AN ABNORMAL VACUUM NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

NHTSA ID 11287905 · filed Dec 9, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .