Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Audi S8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility3
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Visibility/wiper1
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
In the Netherlands
48 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 69% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €166,734.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde18
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld14
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm9
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen8
- Band onvoldoende profiel7
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af7
- Waarschuwingsinrichting controlesysteem bandenspanning geeft5
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
41 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 28 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
In Finland
6 of these cars first registered in 2008 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 249,000 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
16 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 50% arrived as used imports, 50% 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 15.8 L/100 km (about 15 mpg US), CO₂ 363 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 18.4 | 12.7 | 15.8 |
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 S8.
| 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 S8: 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. |
| 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 |
| 10250999 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250982 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 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 |
| 10250475 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10250423 | Idle speed characteristic during cold start |
| 10250415 | Idle speed characteristic during cold start |
| 10250413 | Engine may have reduced performance without significant loss of power or stalling |
| 10250322 | This bulletin provides information pertaining to MMI Navigation database concerns. |
| 10249085 | Google Maps Street View (NVLW)) |
| 10249054 | Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota. |
| 10248208 | This bulletin provides information when the parking assistance provides false warnings. |
| 10246152 | This bulletin provides general information about the outside air temperature reading. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)