Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Audi A8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags3
- Power train2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Engine1
- Structure1
- Service brakes1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Audi A8 failed the safety check 3.61% of the time — 46% more often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 134,851 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
51 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 53% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €128,500.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde34
- Band onvoldoende profiel7
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm7
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse6
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld6
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)6
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt5
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
477 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 248 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 768 of these cars first registered in 2008 took their annual MOT test. 81% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2008 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.8% | 19.8% |
| Suspension | 4.3% | 17.2% |
| Tyres | 4.3% | 7.6% |
| Brakes | 4.0% | 11.3% |
| Visibility | 3.6% | 6.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.5% | 6.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
27 of these cars first registered in 2008 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 295,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
18 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 78% arrived as used imports, 17% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 12.8 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2008 Audi A8.
| 2016287 6 Jun 2016 | Accessories On certain vehicles, the glass panel of the sunroof may not have been properly bonded to the sunroof frame. This could allow the glass panel to separate from th… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The sunroof glass on the affected vehicles may not be properly secured to the sunroof frame. As a result, the sunroof glass may detach from the car while driving.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2008 Audi A8: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11002234 | This bulletin provides information when the exterior trunk handle is inoperative. |
| 11002134 | This bulletin provides information when the exterior trunk handle is inoperative. |
| 10251038 | Brakes squeel |
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10251025 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10251023 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10251018 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10251016 | Self-leveling compressor inoperative |
| 10251012 | Vehicle lowers itself, air suspension warning light on, level sensor error (PR-2MB or 1BK) |
| 10250999 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250995 | Clicking noise from wheel bearing |
| 10250982 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250971 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250968 | Electric steering column adjustment is inoperative |
| 10250966 | Brake pulsation diagnostic guidelines |
| 10250959 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250952 | Electric steering column adjustment is inoperative |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250949 | Steering wheel leather damage, all vehicles |
| 10250944 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250679 | Vehicle lowers itself, air suspension warning light on, level sensor error (PR-2MB or 1BK) |
| 10250676 | Self-leveling compressor inoperative |
| 10250665 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250658 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250654 | Clicking noise from wheel bearing |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)