2009 Audi A8 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Apr 25, 2025 · 5 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other A8 years
Not enough data 16th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Audi A8. That ranks 16th out of 32 A8 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 20%). Complaints mention 1 crash. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.

Audi A8
Audi A8L D5 (2021) at Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 2009 Audi A8 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System1
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1 · ~5,050 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling1 · ~9,033 mi
Exterior Lighting1 · ~5,390 mi
Latches/locks/linkages1
Visibility1 · ~133,878 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System120%———
Electronic Stability Control (esc)120%5,050——
Engine and Engine Cooling120%9,033——
Exterior Lighting120%5,390——
Latches/locks/linkages120%———
Visibility120%133,878——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2009, with 2 complaints
2009: 2200922014: 1201412021: 1202112025: 120251

n = 5 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2009 Audi A8 recalls (1)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Visibility:sun/moon roof assemblyJun 9, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V415000 · 536 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the glass detaches from the sunroof frame it could be come a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install additional adhesive between the sunroof glass and frame, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in August 4, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60C3.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2009 Audi A8. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof glass detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the sunroof glass frame had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired…

Visibility · received Apr 25, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11656775

1: My passenger door sensitive door closing sensor is not working 2: my sunroof is off track and makes noises 3: battery cord is corroded. There is no where in the world to get 1 right now apparently. I bought a brand new battery and car still doesn’t pull energy from the battery so I’m scared…

Latches/locks/linkages · received Jun 5, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11419727

Multiple component failures relative to tail light assemblies. Both trunk mounted tail light assemblies were replace in 12/11 under manufacturers warranty. Sealed tail light assemblies were not water tight which caused failure of circuit boards and led lights. One of the two replacement units has…

Exterior Lighting · received Apr 10, 2014 · NHTSA complaint 10578903

Car handling system went out of directional control and steering control causing vehicle to be sent into oncoming traffic and then off the road. *tr

Electronic Stability Control (esc) · received Dec 11, 2009 · NHTSA complaint 10295397

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 audi a8. When he turned the vehicle on the engine began vibrating and whenever the contact began to slow down the vehicle the transmission shifted to a lower gear and then surged forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on 4 occasions and each time they were unable to…

Engine and Engine Cooling · received Aug 19, 2009 · NHTSA complaint 10280964

Other Audi A8 years

← 2008 A8 · 2010 A8 →

See all Audi A8 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Audi A8?

Owners most often report electrical system, electronic stability control (esc), engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2009 Audi A8?

Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2009 Audi A8 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A8 model years, the 2009 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.