2008 Audi A5 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (2) · Exterior Lighting (1) · Air Bags (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A5 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2016-05-27 · campaign 16V376000 · 8,381 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
Service bulletins (487)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2024-02-19 · A4824612034351_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains repair information for when there is a creaking/squeaking from the steering column when steering slowly.
Unknown Or Other 2024-02-19 · A4824602073033_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for when the steering column adjustment does not work.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2024-02-07 · A9124632044694_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information pertaining to mmi navigation database concerns.
Electrical System:adas:parking Assist:software 2023-12-21 · A912306202432310 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the parking assistance provides false warnings.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2023-11-16 · A9023562032113_8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides general information about the outside air temperature reading.
Equipment 2023-11-07 · A0023812070568_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the vas 611 015 pico-nvh tool for professional noise analysis.
Showing the 6 most recent of 487 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-04-15 · Service Brakes“2008 audi a5 3.2l s-line coupe experiencing severe water intrusion into trunk compartment causing progressive failure of multiple electronic modules. water enters through a known design defect in the trunk seal and drainage pathway, pooling in the spare tire well where critical electronic control modules are mounted. affected systems: (1) complete …”
2018-06-24 · Unknown Or Other · 100,000 mi“the audio entertainment system has stopped working. the audio system powers on, powers off immediately after about 5. seconds…”
2016-10-22 · Air Bags“takata recall on may 23, 2016, my audi a5 was recalled. safety risk was claimed to be "if the airbag control unit fails, safety systems such as seat belt pretensioners and airbags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury." 6 months later, the recall is "incomplete. remedy not yet available" i am trying t…”
2014-02-12 · Service Brakes · 35,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 audi a5. the contact stated that the driver's side air bag sensor and the parking brake warning light was illuminated. in addition, the horn had failed. the vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who determined that the defects were all caused by a faulty steering wheel spring column. the vehicle was not repai…”
2013-10-04 · Exterior Lighting · 46,300 mi“main beam/left dipped headlight warning came on. second time dealing with this problem and have read that audis are notorious for the same issue but nothing has been done to correct it. having bulb replaced is costing 360.00 at the audi service department. something must be done to rectify this problem. a factory recall should be ordered. than…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.