Audi A8
Registered from 1995 to 2024.
About this model
The Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, and currently in its fourth generation, the A8 has been offered with either front- or permanent all-wheel drive and in short- and long-wheelbase variants. The first two generations employed the Volkswagen Group D platform, with the current generation deriving from the MLB platform. After the original model's 1994 release, Audi released the second generation in late 2002, the third in late 2009, and the fourth and current iteration in 2017. Noted as the first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, all A8 models have used this construction method co-developed with Alcoa and marketed as the Audi Space Frame.
From the Wikipedia article Audi A8, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2018 3.0 diesel. 54 of 824 tests failed, 7%.
Better than 87% of 2018 cars. The typical one fails 10%, across 966 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 61% | 33 |
| Brakes | 15% | 8 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 7% | 4 |
| Lights and electrics | 6% | 3 |
| Plates and identity | 6% | 3 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 6% | 3 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 61% of its failures
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brakes — 15% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Exhaust and emissions — 7% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 6% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Plates and identity — 6% of its failures
- Seat belts and airbags — 6% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 9% of its inspections, against the 15% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 5% | 6% | 42 | |
| 20–40k miles | 8% | 9% | 255 | |
| 40–60k miles | 6% | 12% | 290 | |
| 60–80k miles | 8% | 14% | 143 | |
| 80–100k miles | 4% | 15% | 45 | |
| 100–120k miles | 9% | 15% | 32 |
807 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.0 diesel · 282 hp · 2109 kg · 3045 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 3.0 diesel · 2051 kg · 3005 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 3.0 diesel · 2050 kg · 2998 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 3.0 diesel · 2050 kg · 2998 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 3.0 diesel · 280 hp · 1992 kg · 2945 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 3.0 diesel · 256 hp · 1965 kg · 2992 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 3.0 diesel · 255 hp · 1965 kg · 2993 mm wheelbase · 5.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 3.0 diesel · 252 hp · 1960 kg · 2993 mm wheelbase · 6.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 3.0 diesel · 243 hp · 1925 kg · 2995 mm wheelbase · 6.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 3.0 diesel · 243 hp · 1918 kg · 2997 mm wheelbase · 6.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 4.1 diesel · 346 hp · 2070 kg · 2992 mm wheelbase · 7.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00504/22
Alteration of the rear axle’s toe and/or camber values lead to increased and uneven wear on the rear tyres, and if worn down to its carcass may suffer a sudden loss of pressure. This can lead to loss of traction and may affect vehicle handling, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00849/20
Audi has been informed by its current supplier that driver-airbag gas generators from the original manufacturer Takata (‘NADI’ (non-azide driver inflator) generators) produced during 1997-1999 may be faulty. Internal investigations have shown that in the event of an accident the restraining effect of the deployed driver airbag might not always be fully guaranteed. Compliance with the statutory requirements in force for protection by an airbag in the event of an accident is thus not ensured. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/03859/25
The cell modules of the high-voltage battery could overheat during charging which can lead to a fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users