Audi S8 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Remedy: Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S8 and A8 vehicles. During air bag assembly, the front-passenger occupant protection flap of the air bag may not have been folded correctly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69ET.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.

What year S8 has the most problems?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2013 Audi S8 had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 12 complaints and 4 safety recalls. See the full 2013 report for specific defects.

Is the Audi S8 reliable?

The Audi S8 has accumulated 28 owner-filed complaints and 20 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used S8.

What are the most common S8 problems?

The most frequently cited problem areas are: Engine (15 reports), Fuel/Propulsion System (2 reports), Power Train (2 reports), Engine And Engine Cooling (2 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.

How do I check if my S8 has an open recall?

Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.