2011 Audi A8 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
81,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 15 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 10 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Engine: 10; Electrical System: 4; Suspension: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1; Structure:Body: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10870187 · 2016-05-21 (May 21, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED (4 LANE STREET -- 2 GOING, TO COMING). THERE WAS VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AS IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON, NOR COULD I SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY. AS A RESULT, THE CAR REMAINED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS AND INTO THE PCM WHERE IT SHORTED THE PINS. AS A RESULT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11558252 · 2023-12-04 (December 4, 2023)
ECU starting to malfunction as a coolant leak valve is leaking into it. There is a recall for these models but not for my specific car but I do believe my car is affected because my car has a coolant leak that I personally can’t find and my car was just worked on by Audi Indianapolis and they did not see any coolant leaks either. It was mentioned to me by another Audi A8 owner and it’s making sense to me as the way everything began to fail on my car until I detached the battery and attached it back it worked fine but sometimes the ECU will begi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11558252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838985 · 2016-02-29 (February 29, 2016)
THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALVE LEAKED COOLANT ON TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CARD STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY STREET AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BUY A SEMI TRUCK. IT STARTED BACK UP, I GOT IT TO A PARKING LOT AND IT STOPPED AGAIN. I HAVE FOUND NO LESS THAN 50 ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS STATE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS "AWARE" OF THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11447239 · 2022-01-12 (January 12, 2022)
AUDI A8 HAS BEEN USING LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT. HOWEVER, ITS NOT RUNNING OUT THE CAR. YET IM STEADY BUYING COOLANT BECAUSE ITS SAYING ITS LOW. AND WHEN I GO TO PUT THE COOLANT IN MY CAR IT IS LOW. SO WHERE IS THE COOLANT GOING? IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE MY COOLANT WAS GOING OR WHY WAS IT CALLING FOR SO MUCH I DID SOME AUDI RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND SAW THAT IT HAD A PRIOR RECALL. I PURCHASED THIS CAR OVER A YEAR AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP DIDNT ALERT ME OF ANY RECALLS. I DONT THINK MY RECALL WAS FIXED. ALSO THERES BEEN A LOUND NOISE ON MY SUSP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10919234 · 2016-10-26 (October 26, 2016)
CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS SUBJECT TO PREMATURE FAILURE REQUIRING FREQUENT REPLACEMENT. THIS RESULTS IN EXTREME VIBRATION AND ERRATIC HANDING DURING BRAKING. UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT OTHERS SOON FAILED ONCE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051392 · 2017-11-30 (November 30, 2017)
I WAS HEARING A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR EVERY TIME I BRAKED AND CAME TO A STOP. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CAR LEANED FORWARD HEAVILY WHEN I BRAKED AND KNEW THIS WAS NOT NORMAL. I ALSO NOTICED A VIBRATION ON MY STEERING WHEN WHEN TRAVELING AT AROUND 40-50 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR (2011 AUDI 8L) TO MY LOCAL AUDI WHO FIRST SAID THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE ISSUE CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND ASKED TO TAKE THE MECHANIC ON A RIDE WITH ME SO I COULD POINT OUT WHAT I WAS HEARING …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051392 at NHTSA ↗