Reliable Auto DB

2016 Audi S8 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi S8 over 11 years — 0 per year. The other S8 years sit at about the same rate: their median is 0 complaints per year. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Turbocharger, Hood, and Hoses and fittings.

2013 Audi S8
Photo by Calreyn88, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

6

Per year

0

Recalls

3

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (2 of 6), then Electronic stability control (ESC) (1) and Powertrain (1).

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 S8 has 6 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2017 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2015. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2017.

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 2016 Audi S8. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

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.

Complaints by component (6 total)

Service brakes
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Powertrain
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

62019
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I STARTED THE CAR LAST FRIDAY, 11/15/2019 AND GOT A BUNCH OF SYSTEM ERRORS POPPING UP ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY OFF CENTER ABOUT 70…"
    Electronic stability control (ESC) · filed 2019-11-24
  • "I STARTED THE CAR LAST FRIDAY, 11/15/2019 AND GOT A BUNCH OF SYSTEM ERRORS POPPING UP ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY OFF CENTER ABOUT 70…"
    Steering, Service brakes · filed 2019-11-24
  • "I STARTED THE CAR LAST FRIDAY, 11/15/2019 AND GOT A BUNCH OF SYSTEM ERRORS POPPING UP ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY OFF CENTER ABOUT 70…"
    Powertrain · filed 2019-11-24
  • "I STARTED THE CAR LAST FRIDAY, 11/15/2019 AND GOT A BUNCH OF SYSTEM ERRORS POPPING UP ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY OFF CENTER ABOUT 70…"
    Suspension · filed 2019-11-24
  • "I STARTED THE CAR LAST FRIDAY, 11/15/2019 AND GOT A BUNCH OF SYSTEM ERRORS POPPING UP ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY OFF CENTER ABOUT 70…"
    Service brakes · filed 2019-11-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Audi S8 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
S8 4L, 8-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 15 25 18 MPG $4450

Specs and fitment

D4 generation, 2013–2018
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, or 5W-40 (engine dependent; confirm on cap)
Tire size 265/35R21 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V430000 and 19V057000 cover certain 2013-2015 and 2013-2016 Audi S8 and A8 models for fuel-supply line issues that can leak fuel. Recall 20V397000 covers certain 2013-2018 S8 and A8 models where the hood seal can allow water intrusion. Recall 13V448000 covers certain 2013-2014 S8 and A8 models equipped with a panoramic sunroof for a sunroof assembly concern. Recall 22V178000 covers certain 2013-2017 S8 models (with A8, S6, S7, and RS7) where the turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked and wear bearings, which can stall the engine.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Audi S8 See every Audi S8 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Audi S8 reliable?

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi S8 over 11 years — 0 per year. The other S8 years sit at about the same rate: their median is 0 complaints per year. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Turbocharger, Hood, and Hoses and fittings.

What are common problems with a 2016 Audi S8?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (2 of 6), then Electronic stability control (ESC) (1) and Powertrain (1).

Is the 2016 Audi S8 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 S8 has 6 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2017 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2015. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2017.

Has the 2016 Audi S8 been recalled?

The 2016 Audi S8 has 3 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 2016 Audi S8?

Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2016 Audi S8 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Audi S8 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Audi S8 is 18 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 S8 use?

0W-30 (confirm on cap)

What tire sizes fit a US Audi S8?

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

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Audi S8?

Recall 21V111000 covers certain 2020-2021 Audi S8 models (with 2019-2021 A8) where a missing engine control module software update is described in NHTSA's summary. Recall 25V900000 covers certain 2019-2026 Audi models including S8 where a software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying; dealers update the software.