Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Audi S5, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train1
- Air bags1
- Visibility1
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 S5 failed the safety check 1.33% of the time — 46% less often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 91,583 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
131 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 69% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €95,234.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel35
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde34
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm21
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen20
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm20
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse15
- Waarschuwingsinrichting controlesysteem bandenspanning geeft11
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld10
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
360 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 179 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, 280 of these cars first registered in 2008 took their annual MOT test. 78% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2008 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 7.5% | 17.2% |
| Tyres | 7.1% | 7.6% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.4% | 19.8% |
| Brakes | 3.2% | 11.3% |
| Visibility | 2.5% | 6.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.1% | 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
28 of these cars first registered in 2008 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 201,000 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
107 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 60% arrived as used imports, 34% 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 2 variants: combined 12.6–14.2 L/100 km (about 17–19 mpg US), CO₂ 290–327 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S5 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 14.4 | 10.5 | 12.6 |
| S5 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 16.8 | 11.1 | 14.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2008 Audi S5.
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 S5: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10252235 | ECM Software Update |
| 10251044 | squealing from front brakes (PR-1LJ) |
| 10251033 | squealing from front brakes (PR-1LJ) |
| 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 |
| 10251014 | Replaced adaptive damping suspension control module cannot be coded |
| 10250999 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250988 | squealing from front brakes (PR-1LJ) |
| 10250982 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250976 | squealing from front brakes (PR-1LJ) |
| 10250971 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250966 | Brake pulsation diagnostic guidelines |
| 10250959 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250949 | Steering wheel leather damage, all vehicles |
| 10250944 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250665 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250658 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250555 | This bulletin contains repair information for when there is a creaking/squeaking from the steering column when steering slowly. |
| 10250554 | This bulletin provides information for when the steering column adjustment does not work. |
| 10250475 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10250430 | Oil consumption measurement - Repair Authorization (CA) |
| 10250423 | Idle speed characteristic during cold start |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)