2013 Audi A8 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A8 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Audi A8. That is the most of any A8 model year in the database (32 years). The most reported problem area is engine (36 complaints, 73%), typically at around 64,500 miles. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 49owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Audi A8 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 73% | 64,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 10% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 10% | 71,484 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 8% | 300 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 6% | 56,356 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 6% | 99,609 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 4% | 300 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 4% | 69,946 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 71,462 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 60,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Audi A8 recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Problem: 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.
Risk: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body:hood
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of fire.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: 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.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: 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.
Risk: Should the sunroof's glass break while the vehicle is in use, the falling glass could injure the driver or passengers. It could also distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine Stall - Turbo Failure (EA22001) — opened Apr 4, 2022, closed May 26, 2023.
- Engine Stall - Turbo Failure (PE21009) — opened Mar 29, 2021, closed May 27, 2022, led to recall 22V178000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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
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 vehicle. I called audi dealership and they said this is not an open recall…
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 station. Carl would not drive without Jerking or accelerate, add check engine, light…
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 despite the failure. The vehicle was initially towed to one dealer; however, the…
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 hill because too much oil I'd burnt in the cylinders, causing the spark plugs to…
Other Audi A8 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 A8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 A8 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 A8 | 5 | 10 |
| 2020 A8 | 3 | 5 |
| 2019 A8 | 14 | 3 |
| 2018 A8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 A8 | 8 | 3 |
| 2016 A8 | 11 | 4 |
| 2015 A8 | 31 | 5 |
| 2014 A8 | 18 | 5 |
| 2013 | 49 | 6 |
| 2012 A8 | 11 | 1 |
| 2011 A8 | 15 | 1 |
| 2010 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 A8 | 5 | 1 |
| 2008 A8 | 8 | 1 |
| 2007 A8 | 4 | 2 |
| 2006 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2005 A8 | 6 | 1 |
| 2004 A8 | 20 | 1 |
| 2003 A8 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 A8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 A8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000 A8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1999 A8 | 9 | 4 |
| 1998 A8 | 4 | 3 |
| 1997 A8 | 10 | 2 |
| 1996 A8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 A8 | 0 | 1 |
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 2013 Audi A8?
Owners most often report engine, fuel/propulsion system, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 36 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Audi A8?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 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 2013 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.