Audi S8 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
50,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 42 complaints (45.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 19.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 11.9% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.4% |
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 | 19 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Engine: 19; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 5; Power Train: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Electrical System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 15; 2020: 3; 2021: 8; 2022: 6; 2023: 3; 2024: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 11424203 · 2021-07-10 (July 10, 2021)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY, MY CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. I HAD DYSFUNCTIONAL BRAKE AND STEERING FAILURE. BRAKE WAS HARDLY WORKING AND I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO CONTROL STEERING. BASICALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH, CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD INTO A VACANT PARKING LOT AND CAR CAME TO A STOP. FORTUNATELY, NO CARS WERE AROUND AT THE TIME. OTHERWISE, I ALONG WITH MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED BY AUDI SI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11450988 · 2022-02-08 (February 8, 2022)
Engine turbocharger experience catastrophic damage, engine stalled, power steering was disrupted.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11450988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325065 · 2020-05-18 (May 18, 2020)
BOTH TURBOS ON THE ENGINE WERE DAMAGED TO THE POINT OF REPLACEMENT, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT AT IDLE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION PUTTING ME IN DANGER OF AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 48,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11423603 · 2021-07-06 (July 6, 2021)
TURBOS FAILED, CAR STALLED AND WILL NOT START UNLESS GIVING IT GAS. DOWN ON POWER AND PERFORMANCE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11423603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331276 · 2020-06-28 (June 28, 2020)
AFTER A PERIOD OF ACCELERATION ON THE HIGHWAY, THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE CAR, AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED ONLY AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11391037 · 2021-02-01 (February 1, 2021)
WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP APPROPRIATE SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE WAS NO PRIOR NOTICE OR ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANY ABNORMALITIES WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS. I DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AT A REST AREA AND AS THE CAR WAS SLOWED DOWN AROUND 15-20 MPH, I LOST TOTAL POWER OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER OR USE THE BRAKES. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITHOUT INJURY BUT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER TOW TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11391037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11499620 · 2022-12-31 (December 31, 2022)
When started up on 11/17/22, multiple warning lights came on in rapid sequence advising of an electrical system & battery malfunction. Warning was to not drive the vehicle and contact service. I shut off the vehicle and re-started it. The same warnings were displayed. I was about 0.8 mile from the dealer so I attempted to drive it to their location. On the way, the warnings continued to show. After about 0.6 miles, the transmission fully disengaged from the engine. I coasted to the side of the street, shut off the vehicle, re-started it (same w…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11499620 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 4; 2021: 8; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1