AUDI A8 · model year

2016 AUDI A8

17 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016AUDIA8 carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 A8 is engine with 5 filings, followed by unknown or other (2) and power train (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2016 A8. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

17
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

17 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
POWER TRAIN1
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS1
TIRES1
SUSPENSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL1
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING1
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST1

Recalls (4)

19V05700028/01/2019

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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.

22V17800023/03/2022

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

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.

19V03500016/01/2019

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.

20V39700007/07/2020

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

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.

Recent Complaints

20251009FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Part #: 4h0907217fx which is a windshield camera has stopped working and Audi has no solution to repair it. I have been without Cruise control, ABS error codes for 2 years. Please help.

20251009LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

Part #: 4h0907217fx which is a windshield camera has stopped working and Audi has no solution to repair it. I have been without Cruise control, ABS error codes for 2 years. Please help.

20251009LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

Part #: 4h0907217fx which is a windshield camera has stopped working and Audi has no solution to repair it. I have been without Cruise control, ABS error codes for 2 years. Please help.

20221212ENGINE

My car was schedule for the 21H7 recall. I received 2 letters this year to have the recall work done. Audi of Pittsburgh's only available date was 12/08/22. I took the car in and later that day I got a call stating the recall was done back in March of this year. I told them it was not. Later I got a call saying it was done in April of 2019. I asked for the repair order and no one will provide it. To me it seems that Audi is looking for a reason not to perform the work.

20220823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A8. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated. Additionally, after starting the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle was shaking until the engine warmed up. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), 20V397000 (Structure), and 19V057000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

20220823STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A8. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated. Additionally, after starting the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle was shaking until the engine warmed up. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), 20V397000 (Structure), and 19V057000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

20220823FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A8. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated. Additionally, after starting the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle was shaking until the engine warmed up. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), 20V397000 (Structure), and 19V057000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

20220503ENGINE

Recall for turbo internals, but nothing done to remedy problem . Second issue in leaking suspension parts, which the dealership let problem continue, until warranty up.

20220503SUSPENSION

Recall for turbo internals, but nothing done to remedy problem . Second issue in leaking suspension parts, which the dealership let problem continue, until warranty up.

20220301UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Turbos failed which caused the car to shut down in heavy traffic on an interstate.

20210626ENGINE

I was driving and my turbos blew causing my car to shut down and not be able to restart. I was in the middle of traffic and was lucky to pull over. There was no warning and I had my 2 young kids in the car and it could have caused an accident. This was dangerous for myself and other motorists. I use this vehicle as a daily driver and this should not happen. I have not had it repaired yet but I can only imagine it will costs thousands of dollars.

20210403ENGINE

CAR STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAY. CAUSE DUE TO TURBO ISSUES

Mileage: 60,000

20210118ENGINE

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 2 HOURS, SLOWED DOWN TO EXIT TO A GAS STATION, ONCE ON THE ROUTE CAR SHUT DOWN, ALL SYSTEMS INOPERATIVE STEERING AND BRAKES SOON HARDEN COULD SECURELY STOP AT GAS STATION WITH IMPULSE. CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED ON AGAIN EASILY, AND IN MY DRIVE TO THE CLOSEST HOTEL (2 MNILES) CAR WILL SHUT DOWN IF NOT CONSTANTLY ACCELERATED. DEALER TOLD ME TWO TURBOS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAD 45K MILES, LESS THAN ONE MONTH OFF CPO WARRANTY (I.E., PERFECTLY MAINTAINED).

Mileage: 45,000

20200731UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AS A RESIDENT OF OKLAHOMA I PURCHASED A 2016 AUDI A8 FROM VROOM IN NOVEMBER 2019. I PAID THEM 30,000 CASH DOWN TO INCLUDE $4025 IN SALES TAX $73.75 DEALER INVENTORY TAX $105.50 GOV LICENSE AND REGISTRATION FEES $11.00 CERT OF TITLE FEE $25.00 VEHICLE INSPECTION FEE $150.00 SOME RANDOM DOCUMENT FEE RELATED TO REGISTRATION ALL OF WHICH VROOM HAS REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH!!! IT'S GOING ON NINE MONTHS AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TYPE OF REGISTRATION, LICENSE PLATE, TEMPORARY PLATE SINCE JANUARY 2020 THAT'S VALID ON THE CAR THAT I PURCHASED FROM THIS SHADY COMPANY! I SIGNED ALL THE CONTRACTS, SENT THEN THE VIN VERIFICATION FORM AND STILL NOTHING. NOT EVEN ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY PLATES UNTIL THEY GET THEIR CRAP TOGETHER!! I'VE CALLED THEM, EMAILED THEM AND ONCE THEY RECEIVED MY PAYMENT IT'S LIKE I DIDN'T EXIST. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. I'VE BEEN TO MY OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME FILE A COMPLAIN

20190227TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A8 EQUIPPED WITH FOUR CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTACT 5P TIRES, SIZE: 275/35R21 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A POTHOLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FLATTENED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED TO ALERT THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

Mileage: 3,500

20190227TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A8 EQUIPPED WITH FOUR CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTACT 5P TIRES, SIZE: 275/35R21 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A POTHOLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FLATTENED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED TO ALERT THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

Mileage: 3,500

20160624POWER TRAIN

I DON'T HAVE A COMPLAINT, PER SE, I AM ALERTING YOU TO THE FACT THAT THE AUDI A8 HAS THE SAME SHIFTER AS THE JEEP CHEROKEE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY. SAME SUPPLIER, ZF.

Compare 2016AUDIA8 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 AUDI A8 have?
The 2016 AUDI A8 has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 AUDI A8?
Yes, the 2016 AUDI A8 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 AUDI A8?
The most-complained component for the 2016 AUDI A8 is ENGINE with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2016 AUDI A8 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.