Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 S8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 S8 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 | 8 |
| 2020 | 0 | 4 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 S8 | 6 | 3 |
| 2015 S8 | 6 | 4 |
| 2014 S8 | 6 | 5 |
| 2013 S8 | 13 | 5 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 S8 | 5 | 1 |
| 2007 S8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine19
- Visibility5
- Unknown or other4
- Power train4
- Visibility/wiper3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Service brakes2
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 9 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026 AUDI S8 4 DR MHEV AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2021 | 2021 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2020 | 2020 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Audi S8 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 18 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 11.9–15.8 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | S8 quattro · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 16.0 | 10.0 | 13.3 |
| 2024 | S8 quattro · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 16.0 | 10.0 | 13.3 |
| 2023 | S8 Sedan quattro · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.9 | 10.3 | 13.4 |
| 2022 | S8 Sedan quattro · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 16.9 | 10.2 | 13.8 |
| 2021 | S8 Sedan quattro · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 17.6 | 10.7 | 14.5 |
| 2020 | S8 · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 17.6 | 10.7 | 14.5 |
| 2018 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 16.2 | 9.9 | 13.4 |
| 2017 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 16.2 | 9.9 | 13.4 |
| 2016 | S8 quattro · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 9.4 | 12.8 |
| 2015 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.6 | 8.8 | 11.9 |
| 2014 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.8 | 9.2 | 12.8 |
| 2013 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.8 | 9.2 | 12.8 |
| 2009 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 18.4 | 12.7 | 15.8 |
| 2008 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 18.4 | 12.7 | 15.8 |
| 2007 | S8 · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 17.7 | 12.1 | 15.2 |
| 2003 | S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 16.7 | 12.0 | 14.6 |
| 2002 | S8 quattro · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 17.8 | 11.9 | 15.1 |
| 2001 | S8 quattro # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 17.8 | 11.9 | 15.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
223 S8 cars are on the New Zealand register; 30% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2016 | 26 | 21 | 5 |
| 2015 | 15 | 11 | 2 |
| 2014 | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| 2013 | 21 | 14 | 4 |
| 2012 | 16 | 8 | 7 |
| 2010 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| 2008 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 2007 | 26 | 13 | 13 |
| 2006 | 17 | 6 | 10 |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2001 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 2000 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 1999 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 1998 | 10 | 5 | 4 |
| 1997 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
436 S8 cars are on Dutch roads; 73% arrived later as imports, and 25 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 21 | €239,791 |
| 2020 | 23 | €224,526 |
| 2015 | 35 | €194,983 |
| 2014 | 35 | €188,489 |
| 2013 | 45 | €178,468 |
| 2012 | 37 | €192,566 |
| 2008 | 48 | €166,734 |
| 2007 | 113 | €178,607 |
| 2006 | 79 | €154,699 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
40 S8 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 | 175,000 km |
| 2012 | 11 | 160,000 km |
| 2008 | 6 | 249,000 km |
| 2007 | 12 | 239,000 km |
| 2006 | 6 | 268,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
954 S8 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | — |
| 2024 | 14 | — |
| 2023 | 40 | 3 |
| 2022 | 33 | 1 |
| 2021 | 19 | — |
| 2020 | 19 | 1 |
| 2017 | 63 | 2 |
| 2016 | 189 | 11 |
| 2015 | 151 | 19 |
| 2014 | 63 | 5 |
| 2013 | 39 | 16 |
| 2012 | 34 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 | — |
| 2009 | 15 | 3 |
| 2008 | 41 | 28 |
| 2007 | 60 | 38 |
| 2006 | 42 | 44 |
| 2003 | 3 | 2 |
| 2002 | 51 | 81 |
| 2001 | 31 | 47 |
| 2000 | 13 | 35 |
| 1999 | 5 | 21 |
| 1998 | 11 | 36 |
| 1997 | 2 | 19 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
4,320 new Audi S8 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Germany (219), Poland (64), Czechia (20).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 412 | 264 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 327 | 264 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 460 | 266 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 4 | 269 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 7 | 218 (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 159 | 221 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 398 | — |
| 2015 | 680 | — |
| 2014 | 621 | — |
| 2013 | 551 | — |
| 2012 | 672 | — |
| 2011 | 3 | — |
| 2010 | 26 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Real-world fuel consumption
327 Audi S8 cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2024 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Petrol hybrid versions average 14.0 l/100 km on the road, against 11.6 l/100 km in the official WLTP test — 21% more.
| Fuel | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol hybrid | 327 | 14.0 | 11.6 | +21% |
Litres per 100 km: total fuel used divided by total distance driven, from the car's own fuel consumption meter (OBFCM), collected in 2024 by the manufacturers, mostly remotely, and by national authorities. WLTP figures are the type-approval CO₂ values converted to litres. Hybrids, including mild hybrids, do not plug in; plug-in hybrid figures include the distance driven on electricity. European Environment Agency, Real-world CO₂ emissions from cars and vans · CC BY 4.0
What it costs in fuel
On real-world figures the Audi S8 uses 14.0 litres per 100 km, so 15,000 km a year takes about 2,100 litres: €4,566 at this week's average price in Germany, its largest market in Europe.
| Country | Petrol hybrid |
|---|---|
| Germany | €4,566 |
| United Kingdom | £3,658 |
| Poland | €3,269 |
| France | €4,671 |
| Austria | €3,808 |
| United States | $2,372 |
Fuel for 15,000 km (9,300 miles) a year at real-world consumption. Pump prices with taxes, week of 19 October 2026: European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, US Energy Information Administration. Non-euro EU prices are in euros as the Bulletin publishes them.
Work it out for your driving
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the S8 in 5 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
A rocker arm with cracks may have been mounted on the front axle. This can lead the rocker arm to break, causing a loss of vehicle's control, creating a risk of accidents and injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market …
Moisture may enter into the engine control unit due to a missing sealing pin in one of the connectors.As a result, the engine may run in an emergency mode with reduced power or stall.
The cylinder crankcase could be cracked, which could damage the pistons and consequently they may become jammed.This could lead to an engine failure, increasing the risk of an accident.
The wire coil profile used in the radiator tank seal may be deformed due to the very variable temperatures within the engine compartment. Over time, and under unfavourable conditions, this could lead to the radiator seal coming loose. A loose radiator seal cou…
The rivets which fix the seat tracks on the passenger side of the vehicle have an unsuitable head diameter. This can cause the rivet connection to fail in the event of an accident, impairing the restraining effect of the seat and belt system and increasing the…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
16 campaigns cover the S8; the latest 12 are below.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
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."
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."
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA recalls