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2015 Audi A8 Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2015 Audi A8 carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering hoses, lines/piping, and fittings and fuel rail. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Vehicle vibration at speed.” Audi follows the VW Group Longlife service rhythm: oil and minor service every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first, using oil that meets VW 502 00 / 504 00 (or 508 00 for newer 0W-20 engines) — generic synthetic does not qualify. S tronic dual-clutch gearboxes need fluid service every 40,000 miles despite 'lifetime fill' claims. Fully electric models (e-tron, e-tron GT) skip oil service entirely but keep brake-fluid, cabin-filter, and coolant-circuit intervals.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Campaign #18V430000 · Jun 25, 2018

Issue: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

Campaign #19V035000 · Jan 16, 2019

Issue: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.

Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Campaign #19V057000 · Jan 28, 2019

Issue: 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.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

Campaign #20V397000 · Jul 7, 2020

Issue: 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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Campaign #22V178000 · Mar 23, 2022

Issue: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2015 Audi A8.

Reported to NHTSA

Vehicle vibration at speed

WHEELS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2015-06 → 2017-09

“CAR VIBRATES ABOVE 35 MILES PER HOUR. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO GIVE WAY OR FALL APART. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES BY THIS MANUFACTURER AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY LIKE IT BEFORE. I FEELS LIKE A BAD WHEEL BALANCING PROBLEM. WHEELS HAVE BEEN REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10726768
“CAR VIBRATES AT ALMOST ANY SPEED OTHER THAN IDLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THE SEATS AND ON THE DASHBOARD. I CAN'T GET THE CAR FIXED. I HAVE ASKED AUDI TO REPLACE THE CAR IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT. NO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10767369
“WHEN BRAKING THE CAR VIBRATES, SOMETIMES SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO KEEP APPLYING THE BRAKES TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE JUNE 27, 2015 AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN 21,000 MILES. HOWEVER, THIS VIBRATION HAS BEEN NOTICED EARLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11024716

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Windshield water leak at upper corner

VISIBILITY/WIPER

2 NHTSA complaints · 2024-02 → 2024-02

“Water leaking from passenger side top right corner from windshield. Glass isn’t damaged. Just started leaking for no reason”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11573260
“Leaking windshield on passenger side top left corner”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11572479

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Turbocharger failure causing engine stall

ENGINE

14 NHTSA complaints · 2019-03 → 2022-04

“Car stalled in left turn lane. Restarted with difficulty, and loss of power. No warning lights. Diagnosed by dealer to be failed twin turbochargers. 45688 miles. Replaced under extended warranty. Dangerous as car stalled in an intersection with no prior warning”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11417351
“ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY, PULLED UP TO A RED LIGHT TO TURN LEFT ON TO BUSY 2-LANE HIGHWAY. ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING AND CAR LURCHED FORWARD. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, WAS ABLE TO TURN LEFT ON TO THE ROAD. I GOT 1/3 MILE DOWN THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11185505
“CAR RAN ROUGH ON THE WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP TAKE OUT DINNER - METALLIC, RAPID POPPING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE BAY (FAINT WITH WINDOW UP). CAR DIED WHILE SLOWING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WOULD NOT TURN ON - STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKED, POWER BRAKES FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO BRING MY CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11321144

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Forward collision avoidance system malfunction

LANE DEPARTURE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2025-10

“FRONT COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE HEADS UP DISPLAY AND THE AUDIO PORTION OF THE ALARM IS NOT AUDIBLE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO RESOLUTION. THE BLIND SIDE WARNING SYSTEM HAS NO AUDIO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11383218
“I WAS DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN CITY STREET IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH NO CARS OR ANY OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF ME OR BEHIND ME. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR ENGAGED ITS EMERGENCY BRAKING THROWING MY DAUGHTER AND ME FORWARD VIOLENTLY INTO OUR SEAT BELTS. WHEN I FELL BACK, THE DASHBOARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10892542
“So I purchased a vehicle from wright drive in El Paso, Texas. I was driving home back to Alamogordo which is 90 miles away, maybe 80 I realized there was no adaptive cruise control. So I messaged dealership. They told me that there was nothing they could do. It's not a safety”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11691917

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 2 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Longlife Service)

Every 10,000 mi

Replace oil and filter every 10,000 miles or 12 months with VW 502 00 / 504 00 / 508 00 spec oil. S and RS models driven hard: many owners shorten to 5,000-7,500 miles. Wrong-spec oil is the leading cause of TFSI timing-chain tensioner and PCV problems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate every 10,000 miles with the oil service. quattro models: keep all four tires within 4/32" of each other — mismatched wear stresses the center differential.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and wear sensors every 10,000 miles. Audi uses electronic pad-wear sensors on most models — replace the sensor with the pads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace DOT 4 brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage — Audi's published schedule is time-based because the fluid absorbs moisture.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

S tronic Dual-Clutch Fluid

Every 40,000 mi

S tronic (DSG) gearboxes on A3/S3/RS 3, Q3, TT, and many A5/Q5 models: replace fluid and filter every 40,000 miles with the VW Group-spec fluid for your gearbox code. Skipping this service is the most common cause of mechatronic failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$470–$640

Shop

~$330–$450

DIY

Pro only

VW/Audi DSG service needs a fluid-fill procedure at a specific temperature — shop equipment territory.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

quattro Coupling Fluid (Transverse Models)

Every 40,000 mi

A3/S3/RS 3, Q3, and TT use a Haldex-style rear coupling: replace its fluid roughly every 40,000 miles (some model years specify sooner — check your manual). Longitudinal quattro (A5-A8, Q5, Q8) has no coupling service; see differential fluid instead.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$220–$290

Shop

~$155–$205

DIY

~$40–$90

VW/Audi/Volvo AWD coupling — specific fluid required. Filter usually swapped at the same time.

Spark Plugs

Every 40,000 mi

TFSI turbo engines: new plugs every 40,000 miles. RS models with the 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder: consider 30,000 miles under track or hard street use.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 40,000 mi

Replace every 40,000 miles; inspect at 20,000 on turbocharged engines — a clogged filter shows up as sluggish boost response first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Timing Chain (EA888 — Inspect Tensioner)

On condition / lifetime

2.0 TFSI (EA888) engines before roughly 2013 had timing-chain tensioner failures — have the tensioner revision checked by 80,000 miles on earlier cars. Later engines carry the updated design with no scheduled service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Differential Fluid (Longitudinal quattro)

Every 60,000 mi

Q5, Q8, and A5-A8 quattro: independent Audi specialists recommend front/rear differential fluid service around 60,000 miles even where Audi lists it as lifetime fill.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Dust & Pollen Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles or 2 years. Audi specifies an activated-carbon filter on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

G12evo / G13 Coolant

On condition / lifetime

Audi coolant is labeled lifetime fill. Independent VW/Audi specialists recommend a refresh around 5 years or 100,000 miles to protect the water pump and thermostat housing — and only with the correct pink/lilac VW Group coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

3 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

1

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2015 Audi A8 reflects Audi's published service intervals and the Audi Service Interval Display system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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