2013 Audi A8 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Audi A8 over 14 years — 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most A8 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Turbocharger, Hood, and Hoses and fittings.

2012 Audi A8 — Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (36 of 49), then Fuel and propulsion system (5) and Service brakes (4).

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 A8 has 11 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2014 has 18 complaints, 0 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Audi A8. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (6)

Recall engine and cooling, engine, gasoline, turbocharger 2022-03-23 · NHTSA campaign 22V178000

Summary 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.

Remedy Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.

Recall structure, body, hood 2020-07-07 · NHTSA campaign 20V397000

Summary 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.

Remedy Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install a retaining plate to prevent the engine compartment seal from loosening. The recall began September 4, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51G6.

Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2019-01-28 · NHTSA campaign 19V057000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous and leak fuel.

Remedy Audi has notified owners, and dealers will install a fuel pressure damper, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BM.

Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2018-06-25 · NHTSA campaign 18V430000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous over time, resulting in a fuel leak.

Remedy Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began July 20, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AV.

Recall Engine 2016-08-24 · NHTSA campaign 16V619000

Summary 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.

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.

Recall visibility, sunroof 2013-09-23 · NHTSA campaign 13V448000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles equipped with a standard sunroof, manufactured March 12, 2013, through July 15, 2013. These vehicles are equipped with a standard sunroof glass panel that may shatter.

Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass panel, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2013. Owners may contact Audi of America at 1-800-822-2834. Volkwagen's number for this campaign is 60B6/1L.

Complaints by component (49 total)

Engine

Fuel and propulsion system

Service brakes

Powertrain

Suspension

Electrical system

Steering

Structure

Visibility and wipers

Engine and engine cooling

Speed control

Visibility

Show 4 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Engine totaled because of oil starvation I'm guessing or maybe an oil pump failure oil starvation caused Pistons to rub inside of head cost of engine and work is more than the vehicles cost so that means car is totaled"
Engine · filed 2026-04-19
"The pcv oil separator has failed and is making a whistling sound. From researching this issue it is widely known and an investigation shows it is caused in relation to a recall for the oil strainer that was done on this…"
Engine · filed 2025-10-11
"Driving up an inclined road at night. Car engine started to sputter and jerk and lost power. Was able to get to the side of the road out of traffic at the top of the hill? I was able to coast down the hill to a gas…"
Engine · filed 2025-06-18
"The contact owns a 2013 Audi A8. The contact stated that while her son was driving at highway speeds, the warning lights on the instrument panel flashed as the vehicle shut off. The contact's son managed to pull over…"
Engine · filed 2024-11-15
"Audi, A8L 2013, also has the stuck piston. Rings end oil blow by like the other Volkswagen, defected engines of the same year yesterday while driving my car ended up stalling on a road with traffic behind me going up a…"
Steering, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2024-08-22

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2013 Audi A8 4 DR AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
A8	4L, 8-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	17	28	21 MPG	$3800
A8	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	18	28	21 MPG	$3800
A8 L	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	18	28	21 MPG	$3800
A8 L	4L, 8-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	16	26	19 MPG	$4200
A8 L	6.3L, 12-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	13	20	15 MPG	$5300

Specs and fitment

D4 generation, 2012–2018

Body styles Sedan

Oil 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, or 5W-40 (engine dependent; confirm on cap)

Tire size 255/45R19, 265/40R20 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 18V-430 covers certain 2013-2015 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous over time, resulting in a fuel leak that can increase fire risk. Remedy: dealers replace the fuel line free of charge. NHTSA safety recall 19V-035 covers certain 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles (also listing Q7, A6, and A7): the left and right fuel rails may leak fuel, increasing fire risk. Remedy: dealers replace the left and right fuel rail free of charge. When NHTSA lists multiple Audi models in one campaign, the published unit count is shared.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Audi A8 Next year 2014 Audi A8 See every Audi A8 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Audi A8 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2013 Audi A8?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (36 of 49), then Fuel and propulsion system (5) and Service brakes (4).

Is the 2013 Audi A8 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 A8 has 11 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2014 has 18 complaints, 0 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Audi A8 been recalled?

The 2013 Audi A8 has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Audi A8?

Owners have filed 49 complaints about the 2013 Audi A8 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Audi A8 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Audi A8 is 19.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US Audi A8 use?

0W-20 or 0W-30 (engine dependent; confirm on cap)

What tire sizes fit a US Audi A8?

Published US specs commonly list front 255/45R19, 265/40R20 (trim dependent) and rear 255/45R19, 265/40R20 (trim dependent); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Audi A8?

NHTSA safety recall 21V-111 covers 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 that can stall the engine and increase crash risk. Remedy: dealers inspect the connector for a missing sealing pin and install it if necessary, and inspect for corrosion. NHTSA safety recall 19V-415 covers certain 2019 Audi A8 vehicles equipped with rear relaxation seats: the front passenger seat track rivet may fail and cause the spindle bracket to…