2021 Audi A8 problems
The Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, and now in its fourth generation, the A8 has been offered with both front- or permanent all-wheel drive—and in short- and long-wheelbase variants. The first two generations employed the Volkswagen Group D platform, with the current generation deriving from the MLB platform. After the original model's 1994 release, Audi released the second generation in late 2002, the third in late 2009, and the fourth and current iteration in 2017. Noted as the first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, all A8 models have used this construction method co-developed with Alcoa and marketed as the Audi Space Frame.
A mechanically upgraded, high-performance version of the A8 debuted in 1996 as the Audi S8. Produced exclusively at Audi's Neckarsulm plant, the S8 is fitted standard with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system. The S8 was only offered with a short-wheelbase for the first three generations, being joined by a long-wheelbase variant for the fourth generation.
D2 (Typ 4D; 1994–2002)
Development
In 1982, Ferdinand Piëch signed an agreement with Aluminum Company of America. The objective was to design and develop a car that would be substantially lighter than any other vehicles in its class (to compensate for the fact that standard all-wheel drive was around 100 kg (220 lb) heavier than competitors' rear-wheel drive). In the late 1980s, it was decided that the target vehicle would be a successor to the V8 (Typ 4C) flagship introduced in 1988. By 1990, a final design by Chris Bird and Dirk van Braeckel was chosen and frozen for series production in mid-1991. In September 1993, the Audi Space Frame (ASF) Concept was unveiled at the 1993 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) as a D2 Typ 4D prototype in polished aluminum. Pilot production began in December 1993 and development ended in early 1994, at a total cost of $700 million (£418.1 million).
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Common 2021 Audi A8 problems
The Audi A8, a full-size luxury sedan, has been known to have certain common problems that owners have reported. These issues are essential to understand before purchasing this vehicle.
- Start-Stop Defects: The start-stop system in modern vehicles, including the Audi A8, is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by shutting off the engine when the car is stationary and restarting it. Defects in this system can cause issues like the engine failing to restart, abrupt stops, or delayed engine response.
- Oil-Starved Turbochargers: Turbocharged engines, like those found in some Audi A8 models, rely on a steady oil supply to keep the turbocharger’s moving parts lubricated and cool. Oil starvation can occur due to leaks, clogs in the oil supply lines, or insufficient maintenance, leading to turbocharger failure.
- Cheating Diesel Emissions: Audi, as part of the Volkswagen Group, was involved in the diesel emissions scandal, where software in diesel engines was found to manipulate emission tests to meet U.S. standards during testing but not in real-world conditions. This issue, known as “Dieselgate,” affects performance or fuel efficiency as vehicles are brought into compliance with emissions standards.
- Transmission Troubles: Some Audi A8 owners have reported transmission troubles, including hard shifting and other issues, within the first few days of ownership.
- Electrical Issues: Audi A8 owners have reported various electrical issues, such as rattles, loss of power, and malfunctioning features, which can be challenging to diagnose and repair.
- Oil Leaks: Oil leaks are another common problem reported by Audi A8 owners. These leaks can lead to significant engine damage if not addressed promptly.
- Brake Issues: Some Audi A8 owners have experienced brake issues, including poor performance and extended service times, with no resolution from Audi.
- Cooling System Issues: Audi A8 owners have reported cooling system issues, including the need for minor work shortly after purchasing the car. These problems can lead to extended downtime and significant repair costs.
- Software/Hardware Issues: Audi A8 owners have reported various software and hardware issues, including problems with the infotainment system, navigation, and other features. These issues can be challenging to diagnose and repair, leading to extended downtime and frustration for owners.
In conclusion, while the Audi A8 is a luxurious and capable vehicle, it is essential to be aware of these common problems before purchasing. Proper maintenance and prompt attention to any issues that arise can help ensure a more enjoyable ownership experience.
Is the new Audi A8 reliable?
We expect the 2024 A8 to have about average reliability when compared to other new cars.
Is buying a used Audi A8 a good idea?
Audi A8: The Audi A8 is one of the most dependable full-size luxury sedans on the used car market. It also impresses with its powerful engine, outstanding fuel economy, and upscale interior.
What is the recall on the Audi A8?
(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.
How long do Audi A8 engines last?
Audis can go up to 200,000 miles or 20 years without major repairs when they're properly maintained.
Is the new Audi A8 reliable?
We expect the 2024 A8 to have about average reliability when compared to other new cars.
Is buying a used Audi A8 a good idea?
Audi A8: The Audi A8 is one of the most dependable full-size luxury sedans on the used car market. It also impresses with its powerful engine, outstanding fuel economy, and upscale interior.
How long do Audi A8 engines last?
How Many Miles Does an Audi Last? Audis can go up to 200,000 miles or 20 years without major repairs when they're properly maintained.
What are the common issues with Audi A8 d3?
Audi A8 Common Problems and Solutions
- Water in Footwell. Problem: ...
- Timing Chain Rattle. Problem: ...
- Electronic handbrake problems. Problem: ...
- Air temperature sensor failure. Problem: ...
- MMI (Multi Media Interface) problems. Problem: ...
- Door micro switch failure. Problem: ...
- Loss of Power Steering. Problem: ...
- Bumpy Driving. Problem:
2021 Audi A8 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Audi A8 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Engine problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
- Structure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Audi A8 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2021 Audi A8 complaints
The NHTSA has received 4 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Audi A8.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-04
- VIN: WAU8EAF88MN
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: Total electrical shutdown over about 2 minutes. Stranded on road. All electrical systems failed rapidly. Strongly suspect this is part of known BSG/alternator issues with this model.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-31
- VIN: WAU8EAF8XMN
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: fuel pump leak, dealer claimed the seal is broken from the manufacture, gave out strong gasoline smell
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-04
- VIN: WAU8EAF8XMN
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Delay in change gear especially from full stop, vehicle recoil, jump, jolt, sometimes with loud noise
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-12-03
- VIN: WAU8DAF82MN
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: I was driving in the morning on a November day on a rural road. The rear moon roof exploded outward. The sound was deafening and scared my passenger and I. The center glass exploded outward, scattering glass outside and inside of the car. I believe that if this happened that passengers in the car could be hurt. Other drivers on the highway could be startled on their car damaged by the flying glass. An accident could be induced by the incident either by the drive of my car or by nearby drivers.
2021 Audi A8 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 8 recalls for different components of the 2021 Audi A8.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ONBOARD
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charge setting, some home power outlets may be incapable of handling the electrical current required to utilize the compact charging system, causing the outlet or charging cable to overheat.
- Consequence: An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated temperature sensor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's numbers for this recall are 93U6 and 93U8.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT
- Summary: 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."
- Consequence: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
- Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially displaying when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
- Consequence: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A8 and 2020-2021 Audi S8 vehicles. A missing sealing pin may allow moisture to enter the engine control module connector, possibly causing a control module malfunction.
- Consequence: An engine control module malfunction may cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine control module connector for a missing sealing pin, and install it, if necessary. The connector will also be inspected for corrosion, and replaced as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 12, 20121. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EV.
Positive 2021 Audi A8 car reviews
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Audi A8 problems:
Audi a8 d4 common problems - AudiWorld Forums
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Audizine Forums
Apr 26, 2022 ... ... a8-...ating-2928903/) ... This is a common problem. The actual failure ... Audi extended warranty and the overheating issue just started to show up.
UK: What's wrong with the A8 - AudiWorld Forums
Feb 25, 2023 ... A8 / S8 (D5 Platform) Discussion - UK: What's wrong with the A8 - Hi there, looking to buy an Audi A8 (2019 onwards) and looking at a Tdi ...
Other years of Audi A8
Are you having problems with your 2021 Audi A8?
Weston DuBuque 2024-08-22
Driving this car is a breeze, and the massaging front and rear seats make it a perfect choice for a family outing.
Sven Mayert 2024-07-28
I hope you're doing well! I wanted to share my experience with the Audi A8L. I opted for the 4.0L twin turbo V8 after having a great experience with the 2018 S6 a few years ago. The A8L is a flagship luxury sedan that is well-built and then some. The adaptable suspension is excellent in all modes, but I particularly enjoy driving in individual mode, which has the suspension and steering in Dynamic mode and the engine in Balanced mode. The technology marvel has more functions than you can possibly use, making it a great choice for tech enthusiasts. In my opinion, the Audi A8L is definitely better than the BMW 7 series, which can feel lighter and have technical gremlins that can be annoying. While the S Class has the edge if you want the full ultra luxury experience, the Audi A8L is the BEST choice if you want a well-balanced luxury sedan that not everyone has. Thank you for reading!
Stefan Collier 2024-05-16
It has so many cool features.
Darrel Hermiston 2024-03-08
I recently purchased a CPO 2020 Mythos Black A8L with 16K miles. It is fully loaded with everything except the Advanced B & O sound system. I opted for the 4.0L twin turbo V8 due to my previous awesome experience with the 2018 S6 I had a few years ago. Like the S6, my A8L is a flagship luxury sedan that is well-built and then some. The adaptable suspension is excellent in all modes, and I personally prefer driving in the individual mode which has the suspension and steering in Dynamic mode and the engine in Balanced mode. The Audi A8L is a technology marvel that has more functions than you can possibly use. It is definitely a better choice than the BMW 7 series, which can feel lighter and have technical gremlins that can be annoying. While the S Class has the edge if you want the full ultra luxury experience, the Audi A8L is the BEST choice if you want a well-balanced luxury sedan that not everyone has!
Larue Prosacco 2024-03-01
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I was wondering if you could help me out with something. I'm having trouble figuring out how to start and stop something, and I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to turn it off permanently? Thank you so much!