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2011 Audi A8

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Suspension complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2022
EngineSuspension

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 FOR SO MUCH I DID SOME AUDI R…

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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 FOR SO MUCH I DID SOME AUDI RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND SAW THAT IT HAD A PRIOR RECALL. I PURCHASED THIS CAR OVER A YEAR AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP DIDNT ALERT ME OF ANY RECALLS. I DONT THINK MY RECALL WAS FIXED. ALSO THERES BEEN A LOUND NOISE ON MY SUSPENSION IN THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT. I SEE AUDI HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WITH ARROWS FOR MY SUSPENSION STAYS ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO GET IT DIAGNOSED. THEY CUT THE LIGHTS OFF FROM THE DASH BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS IVE READ THESE ISSUES ON MY AUDI ARE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. THERE WERE NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. I AM REALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I DONT KNNOW WHAT OR WHEN IF IT WILL STALL OUT ON ME IN TRAFFIC OR WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #11447239

85,000 miles · Nov 30, 2017
Suspension

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 (2011 AUDI 8L) TO MY LOCAL AUDI…

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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 (2011 AUDI 8L) TO MY LOCAL AUDI WHO FIRST SAID THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE ISSUE CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND ASKED TO TAKE THE MECHANIC ON A RIDE WITH ME SO I COULD POINT OUT WHAT I WAS HEARING AND NOTICING. THE AUDI MECHANIC THEN SAID THAT HE TOO NOTICED IT AND IT SEEMS TO HIM LIKE IT WAS THE CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS BUT HAD TO FULLY DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE BACK AT THE SHOP, WHICH HE DID. MY LOCAL AUDI THEN CAME BACK AND SAID THAT MY LOWER LEFT CONTROL CONTROL ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACE IT, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AND THEY SAID THAT NOW MY LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM HAD TO BE REPLACE, WHICH I DID. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. A FEW MONTHS LATER I HEAR THE SAME NOISE. I TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY LOCAL AUDI AND THEY SAID THAT MY RIGHT CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH I DID. THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. A FEW MONTHS GO BY AND I HEAR THE SAME NOISES AND NOTICE THAT THE CAR IS AGAIN DIPPING HEAVILY IN THE FRONT. I TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY LOCAL AUDI AND THEY SAY THAT MY CONTROL ARMS ON THE LEFT SIDE ARE AGAIN BAD; THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN. NOW, ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER I AM NOTICING THE SAME NOISE AND VIBRATIONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED ON MANY AUDI FORUMS THAT MANY AUDI A8 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11051392

87,000 miles · Oct 26, 2016
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.

NHTSA ODI #10919234

Official recalls

1

16V619000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Aug 24, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Audi A8 vehicles manufactured May 15, 2010, to May 14, 2012. The affected vehicles have a coolant valve that may leak, allowing coolant to enter the engine control module causing a loss of power or the engine to stall.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant valve and inspect for coolant that has leaked through the electrical connector, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.