2011 Audi A8

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Audi A8 has 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: i was accelerating onto the freeway on ramp when the engine cut off. i managed to pull over to the shoulder but the check engine light and the epc light came on. i had to be towed into the dealer. there was a "coolant valve leak. the coolant migrated through a harness to the ecm and to multiple .

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

10 complaints

43%

• I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY ON RAMP WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A "COOLANT VALVE LEAK. THE COOLANT MIGRATED THROUGH A HARNESS TO THE ECM AND TO MULTIPLE
• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND THE "DO NOT EXCEED 4,000 RPMS" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE COOLANT VALVE CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY ON RAMP WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A "COOLANT VALVE LEAK. THE COOLANT MIGRATED THROUGH A HARNESS TO THE ECM AND TO MULTIPLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

17%

• 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 T
• 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
• 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 R

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

13%

• 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 T
• 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
• THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY DISPLAYS A LOCATION WHERE I AM NOT LOCATED. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY, MANY TIMES. IT CAN OCCUR RANDOMLY OR AT STARTUP. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR WHICH I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL AUDI BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

13%

• 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.
• 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 (
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaints

• 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 T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 23 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY ON RAMP WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A "COOLANT VALVE LEAK. THE COOLANT MIGRATED THROUGH A HARNESS TO THE ECM AND TO MULTIPLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)