ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
2015 Audi A8
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 31 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Audi A8, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and driver assistance categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1,089 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 1 |
| Aug 2015 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 3 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 5 |
| Sep 2017 | 1 | 6 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 7 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 8 |
| May 2019 | 1 | 9 |
| Jul 2019 | 1 | 10 |
| Feb 2020 | 2 | 12 |
| Apr 2020 | 1 | 13 |
| Nov 2020 | 1 | 14 |
| Dec 2020 | 1 | 15 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 16 |
| Feb 2021 | 2 | 18 |
| Mar 2021 | 1 | 19 |
| Apr 2021 | 2 | 21 |
| May 2021 | 1 | 22 |
| Jun 2021 | 1 | 23 |
| Aug 2021 | 1 | 24 |
| Feb 2022 | 2 | 26 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 27 |
| Feb 2024 | 2 | 29 |
| Jan 2025 | 1 | 30 |
| Oct 2025 | 1 | 31 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine1739.5%
- Brakes49.3%
- Driver assistance49.3%
- Other / unspecified37.0%
- Electrical37.0%
- Visibility24.7%
- Interior & seats24.7%
- Powertrain (other)24.7%
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
5 campaigns 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.govSTRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Engine Stall - Turbo Failure
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
Engine Stall - Turbo Failure
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.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
So I purchased a vehicle from wright drive in El Paso, Texas. I was driving home back to Alamogordo which is 90 miles away, maybe 80 I realized there was no adaptive cruise control. So I messaged dealership. They told me that there was nothing they could do. It's not a safety issue. I got the vehicle home the next day. I found out the whole front suspension was bad. I kept hearing a noise when I would drive over bumps and it was really loud. I contacted the dealership, told them that the suspension was bad. They told me to take it to Audi to have them look at it. It came out to like $8,000 worth of repairs. They told me they would not pay that and I could return the vehicle for a full refund. I told them okay. I would be there in 3 days because I was working. They said that was fine. I get there 3 days later they told me that was no longer an option. So I got stuck with the car that needed $8,000 worth of repairs and then another four for more suspension parts. New breaks the 3,000 to fix the adaptive cruise control. I understand the adaptive cruise control is not really a big deal but the fact that they lied about me being able to return the vehicle and now I'm stuck with the vehicle thing that I've paid more fixing a suspension then the car is even worth. I'm a single father with two kids. I cannot afford to keep paying for a car that they should have taken back to begin with because it's illegal to sell a vehicle that has saved the issues
- NHTSA ID
- 11691917
- Incident
- Jul 28, 2023
Yet another beautiful Audi 3.0tfsi with the rocker arm failure … how is there not a class action lawsuit already ? I have a knock in my valve train and I just bought this car two days ago …. Audi should be liable to fix this because I didn’t know nothing about this and with a quick search it’s alike a epidemic of the same problem..
- NHTSA ID
- 11634247
- Incident
- Jan 5, 2025
Water leaking from passenger side top right corner from windshield. Glass isn’t damaged. Just started leaking for no reason
- NHTSA ID
- 11573260
- Incident
- Feb 16, 2024
Leaking windshield on passenger side top left corner
- NHTSA ID
- 11572479
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A8. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle that stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11460496
- Incident
- Mar 30, 2022
- Mileage
- 110,000 mi
With out any prior warning the car began to sputter and then lost power while I was on the highway. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership and found the Turbos failed which caused the problem. This car has been well maintained and serviced by the dealership. It now has a $14000.00 repair bill.
- NHTSA ID
- 11451724
- Incident
- Feb 6, 2022
Turbo chargers failed on highway at highway speeds leading major loss of power in a passing situation nearly causing an accident then the car stalled at exit ramp
- NHTSA ID
- 11449661
- Incident
- Jan 29, 2022
Engine stalled as i approached departure terminal at Newark airport. Dealer has inspected and determined the Turbo Impeller is bent and requires replacement. Car will not run. This is a known problem on Audi turbo engines apparently. Just prior to stalling the oil low light came on then the car stalled out creating a hazardous safety situation for a perfectly well maintained car.
- NHTSA ID
- 11429584
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2021
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin provides informatoinw hent here are scratches or a coating on the cover of the instrument cluster, or particles inside of the housing.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
ENGINE
This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000 km.
POWER TRAIN
Ths bulletin provides informaiotn when the gearbox warning lamp is on, DTC P060A00 (8693) in gearbox control unit; 0BK and 0BL gearbox.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of vehicle in dynamic mode.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 5 | 10 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 54.2 |
| 2018 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 8 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 55.5 |
| 2015Viewing | 31 | 5 | 2 | 54.5 |
| 2014 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 49.2 |
| 2013 | 49 | 6 | 2 | 55.9 |
| 2012 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 30.2 |
| 2011 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 39.6 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 38.9 |
| 2003 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 9 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 46.1 |
| 1996 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.