2013 Audi A8 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (27) · Fuel/Propulsion System (4) · Visibility/Wiper (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A8 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/Supercharger 2022-03-23 · campaign 22V178000 · 26,093 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
Risk: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
Structure:body:hood 2020-07-07 · campaign 20V397000 · 12,964 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The seal around the engine compartment may come loose and contact hot engine components.
Risk: If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install a retaining plate to prevent the engine compartment seal from loosening. The recall began September 4, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51G6.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2019-01-28 · campaign 19V057000 · 8,985 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous and leak fuel.
Risk: Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of fire.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will install a fuel pressure damper, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BM.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2018-06-25 · campaign 18V430000 · 6,633 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous over time, resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began July 20, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AV.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2016-08-24 · campaign 16V619000 · 9,067 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Audi A8 vehicles manufactured May 15, 2010, to May 14, 2012. The affected vehicles have a coolant valve that may leak, allowing coolant to enter the engine control module causing a loss of power or the engine to stall.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant valve and inspect for coolant that has leaked through the electrical connector, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2013-09-23 · campaign 13V448000 · 1,120 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles equipped with a standard sunroof, manufactured March 12, 2013, through July 15, 2013. These vehicles are equipped with a standard sunroof glass panel that may shatter.
Risk: Should the sunroof's glass break while the vehicle is in use, the falling glass could injure the driver or passengers. It could also distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass panel, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2013. Owners may contact Audi of America at 1-800-822-2834. Volkwagen's number for this campaign is 60B6/1L.
Service bulletins (1,506)
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 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Structure:body 2026-09-08 · TSB_2068999_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,506 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-24 · Tires“lionhart lh-five uhp all season 265/40zr20 104y xl passenger tire the tire tread separated at the inside seam of the tire at the side wall. one tire had 90-180 degree of tire separation. you could see the inside of the tire and the belt. the tire was still holding pressure. this problem was identified before the tire further self destructed. bu…”
2026-04-19 · Engine“engine totaled because of oil starvation i'm guessing or maybe an oil pump failure oil starvation caused pistons to rub inside of head cost of engine and work is more than the vehicles cost so that means car is totaled…”
2025-10-11 · Engine“the pcv oil separator has failed and is making a whistling sound. from researching this issue it is widely known and an investigation shows it is caused in relation to a recall for the oil strainer that was done on this vehicle. i called audi dealership and they said this is not an open recall, however it seems this is exactly what caused it.…”
2025-06-18 · Engine“driving up an inclined road at night. car engine started to sputter and jerk and lost power. was able to get to the side of the road out of traffic at the top of the hill? i was able to coast down the hill to a gas station. carl would not drive without jerking or accelerate, add check engine, light on and flashing. with the smell of burning from th…”
2024-11-15 · Engine · 120,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 audi a8. the contact stated that while her son was driving at highway speeds, the warning lights on the instrument panel flashed as the vehicle shut off. the contact's son managed to pull over despite the failure. the vehicle was initially towed to one dealer; however, the dealer failed to service the vehicle promptly. the v…”
2024-08-22 · Steering“audi, a8l 2013, also has the stuck piston. rings end oil blow by like the other volkswagen, defected engines of the same year yesterday while driving my car ended up stalling on a road with traffic behind me going up a hill because too much oil i'd burnt in the cylinders, causing the spark plugs to become completely coated in oil and the cars. elec…”
2024-05-28 · Service Brakes“brake pedal is hard when starting the vehicle. brake pedal turns soft when engine is started. the brake pedal is so hard that it requires significant force to depress sufficiently to start the engine. this indicates loss of vacuum in brake booster when engine is off. the vehicle is equipped with a start/stop system and it seems likely that the brak…”
2024-05-16 · Engine“unknown at this moment service vist is next week. the problem is a know piston ring issues on other years of same engine with massive oil consumption 1 qt a week with minimal driving less then 100 miles. spent 3k on pvc and coolant pump that are a known issue of totaling engine but burning oil non stop and risk or seized engine if on highway…”
2024-02-26 · Service Brakes“me and my son were traveling on a business road trip from my home in lincoln, ca to do business at several companies and end up at a customer located in anaheim, ca. we started on [xxx] in roseville, ca highway interstate [xxx] traveling towards anaheim with stops along the way. we were coming down [xxx] on the southside of the grapevine at the…”
2024-02-24 · Steering“me and my son were traveling on a business road trip from my home in lincoln, ca to do business at several companies and end up at a customer located in anaheim, ca. we started on [xxx] traveling towards anaheim with stops along the way. we were coming down highway [xxx] on the southside of the grapevine at the speed limit of 70 mph, when the eng…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.