Audi

A8

Midsize Cars · model years 1997 to 2027

Includes A8 and A8 quattro as listed by the EPA.

See all 28 A8 trims All Audi cars

The verdict

Best year: 2027. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 2013. complaints: 49, about 4.9x this model's typical 10; recalls: 6, about 3x this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Audi A8
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1997	2Gas	18	no data	$4,300	2	10	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 33%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 17%, AIR BAGS 8%
complaints: 10, in line with this model's typical 10 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	2Gas	18	no data	$4,300	3	4	0	no data	AIR BAGS 50%, EQUIPMENT 25%, VISIBILITY 25%
complaints: 4, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 68 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	2Gas	18	no data	$4,300	4	9	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, POWER TRAIN 15%, STRUCTURE 15%
complaints: 9, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 46 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	2	3	0	no data	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 33%, SEATS 33%, TIRES 33%
complaints: 3, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	2	6	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 25%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 6, above this model's typical 5 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	1	1	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	1	3	0	no data	EXTERIOR LIGHTING 33%, POWER TRAIN 33%, SUSPENSION 33%
complaints: 3, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	1	6	0	no data	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 27%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%
complaints: 6, above this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	2	6	0	no data	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 33%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11%
complaints: 6, above this model's typical 5 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	2	4	0	no data	AIR BAGS 25%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 25%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 25%
complaints: 4, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 Score: 73 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	1	8	0	no data	AIR BAGS 30%, POWER TRAIN 20%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 20%
complaints: 8, about 1.6x this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 57 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	1Gas	18	no data	$4,300	1	5	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 17%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%
complaints: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 75 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	1Gas	18	350	$4,300	1	1	0	606	VISIBILITY 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	1Gas	21	no data	$3,650	1	15	0	903	ENGINE 44%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, SUSPENSION 13%
complaints: 15, about 3x this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 35 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.1 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	1Gas	21	no data	$3,650	1	11	0	1,013	ENGINE 24%, AIR BAGS 12%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 11, about 2.2x this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	2Gas	21	377	$3,650	6	49	2	1,341	ENGINE 54%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8%
complaints: 49, about 4.9x this model's typical 10 recalls: 6, about 3x this model's typical 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	2Gas	21	377	$3,650	5	18	2	1,178	ENGINE 46%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 8%
complaints: 18, about 1.8x this model's typical 10 recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 Score: 16 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	2Gas	22	384	$3,500	5	31	2	988	ENGINE 37%, SERVICE BRAKES 9%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7%
complaints: 31, about 3.1x this model's typical 10 recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	1Hybrid	22	no data	$3,500	2	0	0	647	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	1Hybrid	22	no data	$3,750	1	0	0	427	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 90 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	1Hybrid	22	no data	$3,750	1	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 90 of 100, where higher is better.
2027	1Hybrid	22	no data	$3,750	0	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1997: 18 to 2027: 22

Owner complaints1997: 10 to 2027: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Audi A8 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.