2019 Audi A8

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2019 Audi A8 has 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: message appeared on display jan 7 2023: "electrical system: malfunction! please contact service" the trunk lid opened while i was driving, the a/c quit (i am in key west!), the auto start/stop quit. i had heard of many other audi owners whose car just quit, so i scooted home and parked. i had it to.

1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

36%

• Message appeared on display Jan 7 2023: "Electrical system: Malfunction! Please contact service" The trunk lid opened while I was driving, the a/c quit (I am in Key West!), the auto start/stop quit. I had heard of many other Audi owners whose car just quit, so I scooted home and parked. I had it to
• The contact owns a 2019 Audi 8. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the message "Electrical Malfunction" was suddenly displayed before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the alterna
• Alternator/Start stop generator is bad. Car stopped dead in the intersection.

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

“Message appeared on display Jan 7 2023: "Electrical system: Malfunction! Please contact service" The trunk lid opened while I was driving, the a/c quit (I am in Key West!), the auto start/stop quit. I had heard of many other Audi owners whose car just quit, so I scooted home and parked. I had it to”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

18%

• I OWN A 2019 AUDI A8 WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. THIS NEARLY HAS CAUSED ME ACCIDENTS AND OTHER AUDI A8 OWNERS ARE ALSO VOICING COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF IT BUT SAID AUDI ENGINEERS WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLES DOES NOT RESPOND FOR THREE O
• Vehicle engine would suddenly stop working, warning, "drive system malfunction: stop vehicle safely." It has happened 3 times within 3 days in the middle of the intersection. Dealers wouldn't take this issue seriously and they asked me to make an appointment online, which is scheduled to be 1 month
• Message appeared on display Jan 7 2023: "Electrical system: Malfunction! Please contact service" The trunk lid opened while I was driving, the a/c quit (I am in Key West!), the auto start/stop quit. I had heard of many other Audi owners whose car just quit, so I scooted home and parked. I had it to

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

“I OWN A 2019 AUDI A8 WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. THIS NEARLY HAS CAUSED ME ACCIDENTS AND OTHER AUDI A8 OWNERS ARE ALSO VOICING COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF IT BUT SAID AUDI ENGINEERS WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLES DOES NOT RESPOND FOR THREE O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

18%

• INADVERTENT ACCELERATION. CAR A AGAINST WALL AT LOW SPEED (EST. 3 MPH). WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH BEHAVIOR OF STOP-START FEATURE. ENGINE WAS STOPPED, BUT VEHICLE IGNITION WAS NOT TURNED OFF. DRIVER DID NOT ANTICIPATE RESTART OF VEHICLE WHEN LIFTING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE. MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE FRONT END.
• Message appeared on display Jan 7 2023: "Electrical system: Malfunction! Please contact service" The trunk lid opened while I was driving, the a/c quit (I am in Key West!), the auto start/stop quit. I had heard of many other Audi owners whose car just quit, so I scooted home and parked. I had it to
• The sunroof on my 2019 Audi A8 spontaneously exploded around 445 pm on Friday, April 7, 2023. The car was traveling around 55 MPH and the sunroof just exploded out. The sunscreen was closed at the time. It was not hit by a rock or a tree limb or any other item. It just exploded. Sounded like a gu

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“INADVERTENT ACCELERATION. CAR A AGAINST WALL AT LOW SPEED (EST. 3 MPH). WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH BEHAVIOR OF STOP-START FEATURE. ENGINE WAS STOPPED, BUT VEHICLE IGNITION WAS NOT TURNED OFF. DRIVER DID NOT ANTICIPATE RESTART OF VEHICLE WHEN LIFTING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE. MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE FRONT END.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

2 complaints

• While driving on highway my car experienced massive electrical malfunction. All systems shut down (including dashboard) and engine cut off. I think it was a miracle that I was able to pull over to the roadside parking lot without any accident. The issue was caused by faulty design of the starter-alt
• While driving on highway my car experienced massive electrical malfunction. All systems shut down (including dashboard) and engine cut off. I think it was a miracle that I was able to pull over to the roadside parking lot without any accident. The issue was caused by faulty design of the starter-alt

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

“While driving on highway my car experienced massive electrical malfunction. All systems shut down (including dashboard) and engine cut off. I think it was a miracle that I was able to pull over to the roadside parking lot without any accident. The issue was caused by faulty design of the starter-alt”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

1 complaints

• Vehicle engine would suddenly stop working, warning, "drive system malfunction: stop vehicle safely." It has happened 3 times within 3 days in the middle of the intersection. Dealers wouldn't take this issue seriously and they asked me to make an appointment online, which is scheduled to be 1 month

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

“Vehicle engine would suddenly stop working, warning, "drive system malfunction: stop vehicle safely." It has happened 3 times within 3 days in the middle of the intersection. Dealers wouldn't take this issue seriously and they asked me to make an appointment online, which is scheduled to be 1 month ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 22 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: Message appeared on display Jan 7 2023: "Electrical system: Malfunction! Please contact service" The trunk lid opened while I was driving, the a/c quit (I am in Key West!), the auto start/stop quit. I had heard of many other Audi owners whose car just quit, so I scooted home and parked. I had it to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I OWN A 2019 AUDI A8 WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. THIS NEARLY HAS CAUSED ME ACCIDENTS AND OTHER AUDI A8 OWNERS ARE ALSO VOICING COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF IT BUT SAID AUDI ENGINEERS WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLES DOES NOT RESPOND FOR THREE O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: INADVERTENT ACCELERATION. CAR A AGAINST WALL AT LOW SPEED (EST. 3 MPH). WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH BEHAVIOR OF STOP-START FEATURE. ENGINE WAS STOPPED, BUT VEHICLE IGNITION WAS NOT TURNED OFF. DRIVER DID NOT ANTICIPATE RESTART OF VEHICLE WHEN LIFTING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE. MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE FRONT END.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: While driving on highway my car experienced massive electrical malfunction. All systems shut down (including dashboard) and engine cut off. I think it was a miracle that I was able to pull over to the roadside parking lot without any accident. The issue was caused by faulty design of the starter-alt
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)