2014 Audi A8

On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE 21-009) after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7 equipped with the 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported the vehicles would stall with no warning while driving at highway or city traffic speeds. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints alleged the major contributing factor to the engine stalling was the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints cited the turbocharger failure was a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making servicing the component difficult. The oil strainer removes particles and carbon deposits from the oil before lubricating the turbochargers. Over time, if the debris is not removed from the oil strainer, it becomes clogged and prevents oil from flowing to the turbochargers. This causes the turbine bushings to run dry and overheat resulting in turbine shaft failure due to thermal stress.On April 04, 2022, PE21-009 was upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA22-001) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the alleged defect. Volkswagen filed recall 22V-178 to replace the 30?m mesh oil strainer with a 90?m mesh oil strainer in the subject vehicles. VW introduced the larger mesh oil strainer into production in March of 2017 effecting the 2017-2018MY vehicles.ODI reviewed information from VW for vehicles that had the larger mesh installed in production. The data received showed, since the new oil strainer size of 90?m went into production for the 2017-2018MY, there has not been any reported incidents of turbocharger failures due to oil starvation or other failures that could be related to the larger screen mesh. In view of the recall being conducted by VW and lack of any detrimental side effect to the turbocharger caused by the larger mesh, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.11502847,11506565,11494663,11488813,11486393,11480926,11479882,11476289,11466761 11464663,11463254,11460580,11460496,11458973,11458804,11457556,11454753,11452668 11452589,11452584,11452383,11452175,11452111,11451724,11451724,11450995,11450988 11449661,11447092,11443657,11442867,11440536,11440052,11439959,11438691,11436461 11435619,11433925,11433733,11432336,11431661,11431421,11429704,11429584,11428128 11426929,11424203,11423603,11423337,11422431,11421084,11420626,11420342,11419693 11418884,11418437,11418433,11418135,11417635,11417351,11416095,11414578,11414235 11414064,11413359,11413285,11413214,11407510,11407450,11406897,11406821,11406637 11406460,11406416,11406291,11406287,11406277,11406273,11406263,11406256,11406251 11406229,11406222,11406208,11406204,11406197,11406182,11406015,11404665,11404426 11404348,11403823,11403430,11403268,11402684,11399435,11397821,11396241,11394763 11391037

On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 21-009 after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7. The subject vehicles are equipped with 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported that the vehicles stall suddenly with no warning while driving on the highway or in city traffic. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints allege the major contributing factor to the engine stalling is the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints further allege the turbocharger failure is a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making regular service difficult. The oil strainer removes dirty particles and carbon deposits from the oil before flowing to lubricate the Turbochargers. Overtime if the debris are not removed from the oil strainer, it clogs the strainer and prevents free flow of oil to the turbochargers and makes the turbine bushings to run dry and overheat which causes the turbine shaft to break due to thermal stress. In VW's response to ODI's Information Request letter, VW provided approximately 611 warranty claims with unique VINs, 70 Field Reports and 45 Consumer complaints. These reports allege engine stalling due to turbocharger failure similar to the NHTSA reports described above. To date, NHTSA has received approximately 98 allegations of stall due to turbocharger failures. The total of 824 reports shown in the table above eliminates duplicate reports received by both ODI and the manufacturer.This Preliminary Evaluation is being upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to further assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety related consequences of the alleged defect of engine stalling due to turbocharger failureThe ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers:11452589, 11452584, 11452383, 11450995, 11450988, 11449661, 11447092, 11442867 11440536, 11440052, 11439959, 11438691, 11436461, 11435619, 11431661, 11429704 11429584, 11426929, 11424203, 11423603, 11423337, 11421084, 11420626, 11420342 11418884, 11418437, 11418433, 11417635, 11417351, 11416095, 11414235, 11413359 11413214, 11413285, 11413133, 11407510, 11407450, 11407289, 11406821, 11406416 11406291, 11406277, 11406273, 11406256, 11406251, 11406229, 11406222, 11406204 11406197, 11406182, 11404665, 11404426, 11404348, 11403430, 11403268, 11399435 11397821, 11396241, 11394763, 11391037, 11388662, 11387166, 11377446, 11363283 11354107, 11344193, 11342497, 11342360, 11340302, 11325065, 11324163, 11322168, 11321144, 11318477, 11306754, 11279429, 11268109, 11256706, 11252723, 11246579 11234853, 11234714, 11231582, 11231013, 11230589, 11229484, 11222281, 11218822 11218749, 11217604, 11209168, 11209142, 11197149, 11191243, 11175842, 11170776 11164032, 11152418.

Car went dead on the hwy without any warning. Dealer has the vehicle for a month now and says there is metal shavings in fuel and need more than 15000/- in repairs to replace fuel pump, 6 fuel injectors fuel line and fuel rail. Metal shavings come from fuel pump Failure there should be micro filters in line to stop them from entering the fuel line and injector with sudden death.

NHTSA ID

11676666

Incident

May 22, 2025

The dealer has been unable to provide repairs for the broken front camera for over three months, which has rendered many of the car's safety features inoperable.

NHTSA ID

11676075

Incident

May 19, 2025

I was driving along on the highway, at normal speeds. When my engine started surging, causing me to speed up and slow down rapidly. Putting the safety of others behind and in front of me in danger. No check engine or any light of that nature turned on. then after another mile or so my engine sputtered then just died. I had to pull to the left side of the road since there way a semi truck to my right and it was rush hour here on [XXX] in Denver, CO. I don't know what the issue was but I was worried if the people behind me could easily get out from behind me as I almost caused a rear end collision. I'm taking my A8 into the mechanic this coming Monday to find out exactly what was wrong. But engines shouldn't just die out on you on the highway. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11618250

Incident

Oct 5, 2024

The oil strainer needs to be replaced in my car. This is a known issue with Audi and there are many recalls on Audis, with the exception of mine. I read that this can lead to the engine stopping and causing an accident and it can ruin the engine. This has been problem has been reported to me by an independent service center.

NHTSA ID

11515815

Incident

Mar 30, 2023

Turbos failed. Was traveling home on a highway, when i pulled off the engine suddenly stalls out and loss of steering occurs as the engine system automatically puts you in park. Switching to neutral leads to a very 'leaden'/heavy driving feeling (Kind of like with no Power steering, but a little better). Able to get it restarted again with some effort. Car will stall out at any point in time when RPM is 1200 or less (you have about .25s to get it back out of that range or it stalls again). Power is sluggish. To avoid stalls, shifts must be rapid and neutral-shift+gas needs to be applied to prevent RPM from being below 1200. Made it home safely, but had it towed to dealership. Dealership notified me that it was a turbo failure, both impellers have become lodged in the side of turbo casing and are stalled out. Nothing preceded this; no engine lights or anything. Effect was sudden and drastic. Temperatures were fine. Attempt to drive to repair shop led to total loss of coolant. It is believed this is a seperate issue.

NHTSA ID

11450995

Incident

Jan 29, 2022

My Audi Certified Preowned A8L, 4.0 TFSI suffered a complete turbocharger failure without any notice. The car went into service 9/30/2013. I purchased the car from the same dealer that originally sold the car in Stratham, New Hampshire on 12/26/2016. I purchased an extended warranty from the dealership for 8 years, 100,000 miles. Thus, the extended warranty expired on 9/30/2021. Car has always been serviced by this Audi Stratham Dealership. During a routine trip, car stalled, went into neutral upon entering a stoplight/intersection and would not re-start. Had to be towed. No modifications ever made to this vehicle. Recently had 75,000 mile service interval completed by Audi. Car now has 81,000 miles. Audi Technical Service Bulletin [21 Engine difficult to start, turbocharger damaged, V8 4.0TFSI 21 17 27 2044640/2 November 21, 2017. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 21 number 17-24 dated February 2, 2017] describes this problem. Audi refuses to cover the ~$9,000 repair.

NHTSA ID

11439959

Incident

Nov 5, 2021

The rear view mirror on my car fell off of the windshield without warning.As a result,I nearly backed into a lady and her granddaughter in a senior living facility and a woman pushing a shopping cart at the supermarket.My adaptive cruise control isn't working nor is the sunroof.Th rain sensor and headlights have also been compromised.The manufacturer hasn't inspected it.My insurance company has looked at it, but won't cover it.The rear view mirror has the eyes behind me for the last 28 years.It's second nature to me,so to take my eyes off of the road to check my side/blind spots,an actual blind spot exists behind me.There's too many variables that can come into play with life altering results.Please help me with this issue as I have exhausted all of my resources.

NHTSA ID

11433919

Incident

Aug 13, 2021

For technician report, go to: https://getpe.co/4ZT0j2 While driving on a major central NJ highway, slowing to exit, the vehicle shuddered and stalled in lane. The engine EPC light came on and a message to put the car in park to start the engine followed. This made it impossible to move the car off the road. It was necessary to stand behind the vehicle and wave traffic around. A passerby was able to get the car started and moved it off the exit and to a service road shoulder. The car shuddered and died again. Traffic was heavy and the situation was quite dangerous. The car was taken to the dealer. The turbocharger impeller shaft and fins were damage. Please see above link. Also, please see Audi Technical Bulletin 2044640. This is not a unique event.

NHTSA ID

11418884

Incident

May 26, 2021

This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.

This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.

This bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of vehicle in dynamic mode.

This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the instrument cluster.

This bulleitn procides informaiton when tehre is a transmission warning mssage in the instrument cluster; P074100 is stored in the TCM.

This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.