2008 Audi A8: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,118 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 8 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Power Train: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10358339 · 2010-09-29 (September 29, 2010)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513552 · 2013-05-25 (May 25, 2013)
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 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,118 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10905010 · 2016-09-09 (September 9, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10905010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10934464 · 2016-12-10 (December 10, 2016)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE DURING DRIVING AROUND 4,5,6 GEARS WHEN GOING AROUND 70+ MPH AND RELEASE GAS PEDAL AND APPLYING GAS AGAIN IN ORDER TO PASS VEHICLE. CAR GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE, NEEDS TO BE PULLED OVER TO RESTART AND RESET TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS TAKEN TO A AUDI DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND BY TECHNICIAN AT FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW. TOP UP TRANS FLUID . WAS DRIVING OK FOR TWO WEEKS , PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. TOOK CAR BACK TO A DEALER, TECHNICIAN CALLED AN AUDI SUPPORT CENTER. BY AUDI SUPPORT CENTER WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10934464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11040627 · 2017-10-27 (October 27, 2017)
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?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11040627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11057729 · 2017-12-31 (December 31, 2017)
I OWN A 2008 AUDI A8 WITH ABOUT 48200 MILES. IT IS GREAT VEHICLE BUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION DURING DRIVING. UNDER LOAD IT WILL GO IN FAIL SAFE MODE AROUND 4,5,6 GEARS. IT IS CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS CAR STARTS STOPPING SUDDENLY AND CAUSING DRIVER MOMENTARILY LOOSE CONTROL OF A VEHICLE. THIS IISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP TO A AUDI BUT THEY SAID IT IS PAST WARRANTY. BY DOING AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE IS ONE SINGLE TEFLON SEAL CONTROLLING FLUID PRESSURE FOR A CLUTCH E.THAT SEAL WEARS OUT PREMATURELY CAUSING FLUID T…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 11057729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099573 · 2018-06-04 (June 4, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287905 · 2019-12-09 (December 9, 2019)
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, [phone removed]) 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287905 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V415000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The sunroof glass on the affected vehicles may not be properly secured to the sunroof frame. As a result, the sunroof glass may detach from the car while driving.
Consequence: If the glass detaches from the sunroof frame it could be come a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install additional adhesive between the sunroof glass and frame, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in August 4, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60C3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗