2015 Audi A8 Safety Report
2015 Audi A8 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2015 Audi A8
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2015 Audi A8. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (31) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Audi A8 with 3 complaints and 5 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2021 | Check the 2021 Audi A8 before buying across this generation. |
Audi A8 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Audi A8 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Audi A8 | 3 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Audi A8 | 4 | 10 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2015 Audi A8 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2015 Audi A8, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyService Brakes
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Audi onlySuspension,Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Suspension,Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Audi onlyVisibility/Wiper
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Audi onlyStructure,Visibility/Wiper
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure,Visibility/Wiper issues Audi onlyUnknown Or Other,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2015 Audi A8
Reliability Score
The 2015 Audi A8 receives a reliability score of 87 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2015 Audi A8
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2015 Audi A8:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling Recalled for turbocharger failures and engine cooling issues, leading to potential loss of power and engine stalling. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel System Recalled for fuel hose leaks and fuel injection system failures, posing risks of engine stalling and loss of power. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Structural Issues Recalled for hood structural issues, which can lead to hood separation and potential safety hazards. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Visibility And Wipers Reported malfunctions can reduce visibility, especially in poor weather conditions. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2015 Audi A8:
Engine issues, including turbocharger failures and fuel system problems, are the most common concerns.
Recall Details for the 2015 Audi A8
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2015 Audi A8 by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of fire.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2015 Audi A8
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2015 Audi A8 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
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 issue. I got the vehicle home the next day. I found out the whole front suspension was bad. I kept hearing a noise when I w...
Yet another beautiful Audi 3.0tfsi with the rocker arm failure … how is there not a class action lawsuit already ? I have a knock in my valve train and I just bought this car two days ago …. Audi should be liable to fix this because I didn’t know nothing about this and with a quick search it’s alike a epidemic of the same problem..
Water leaking from passenger side top right corner from windshield. Glass isn’t damaged. Just started leaking for no reason
Leaking windshield on passenger side top left corner
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A8. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle that stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. Th...
With out any prior warning the car began to sputter and then lost power while I was on the highway. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership and found the Turbos failed which caused the problem. This car has been well maintained and serviced by the dealership. It now has a $14000.00 repair bill.
Turbo chargers failed on highway at highway speeds leading major loss of power in a passing situation nearly causing an accident then the car stalled at exit ramp
Engine stalled as i approached departure terminal at Newark airport. Dealer has inspected and determined the Turbo Impeller is bent and requires replacement. Car will not run. This is a known problem on Audi turbo engines apparently. Just prior to stalling the oil low light came on then the car stalled out creating a hazardous safety situation for a perfectly well maintained car.
The stock turbo when right in the middle of traffic at 60,000 miles. Almost died in traffic as the car would not move out of the road. This is not exclusive to A8 but to all the audi cars with the 4.0T engine across many vehicle years. An OEM turbo should last 150k-200k miles (half that if aftermarket). Cost $10k to replace.
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.
MY CAR'S ENGINE STARTED STUTTERING AND IDLING VERY ROUGHLY WHILE EXITING THE EXPRESSWAY. THE EC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. IT CONTINUED TO SHUTTER, AND SHAKE, UNTIL IT SHUT OFF. IT WOULDN'T RESTART, AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE ISSUE, AND REPORTED THE TURBOS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY AND SCORING ON THE SURFACE OF THE HOUSING, CAUSED BY...
REGULAR DRIVING EAST BOUND ON I-80 AND AFTER GOING UP A HILL MY CAR COULDN'T GO OVER 3500 RPMS. THOUGHT IT WAS THE ECU PUTTING IT INTO LIMP MODE BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. TURNED OUT BOTH MY TURBOS BLEW AT 67,000 MILES AND LEAD TO TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WITH METAL SHAVINGS REACHING THE EXHAUST AND LOITERING THE OIL PAN.
AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE JUST QUIT. FORTUNATELY WE WERE AT A STOP SIGN AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR TO MOVE IT OUT OF TRAFFIC NOR COULD WE SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD THIS HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES EARLIER, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY, MY SON WAS DRIVING, BECAUSE AT MY AGE HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPE...
ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED ~65MPH WHILE DECELERATING INTO TOLL BOOTH OUR TO TURBO FAILURE. COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. LOST POWER IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. DANGEROUSLY NAVIGATED THROUGH EZPASS LANE WITHOUT POWER. HAZARDS ON. DANGEROUSLY NAVIGATED TO SHOULDER, COASTING, WITH NO ENGINE POWER. CAME TO COMPLETE STOP ON SHOULDER. WAS ABLE TO RESTART MOTOR AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO AUDI DEALERSHIP. DEALER...
TURBO FAILURE AT 57,000 MILES. CAR DIED WHILE IN TRAFFIC WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.
THE DRIVER SEAT BADGES A BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY IN DYNAMIC MODE AND THERE IS A BIG VIBRATION WHEN CAR IS SHIFTING GEARS
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.
BAD WATER PUMP AND CROSS BAR
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 TO A STOP BEFORE STRIKING A BOULDER USING NON-POWER BRAKES. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST AUDI DEALERSHIP AND I WAS INFORMED ...
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND MY AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY CAUSING ME A HEAD INJURY. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY SITING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED $16,000.00 IN REPAIR COST.
Showing 20 of 31 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2015 Audi A8
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
Opened 2021-03-29 · Closed 2022-05-27
On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 21-009 after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7. The subject vehicles are equipped with 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported that the vehicles stall suddenly with no warning while driving on the highway or in city traffic. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints allege the ...
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
Opened 2022-04-04 · Closed 2023-05-26
On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE 21-009) after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7 equipped with the 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported the vehicles would stall with no warning while driving at highway or city traffic speeds. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints alleged the major contributing factor t...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2015 Audi A8
Has the 2015 AUDI A8 been recalled?
Yes, the 2015 AUDI A8 has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2015 AUDI A8 have?
The 2015 AUDI A8 has 31 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 AUDI A8?
The 2015 AUDI A8 does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 AUDI A8?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2015 AUDI A8 involve engine (15 complaints), service brakes (2 complaints), suspension,electrical system,forward collision avoidance (1 complaints). Other affected components include visibility/wiper, structure,visibility/wiper, unknown or other,engine.
How many crash reports does the 2015 AUDI A8 have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2015 AUDI A8 out of 31 total complaints (3.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2015 AUDI A8 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2015 AUDI A8 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2015 AUDI A8?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2015 AUDI A8.
How many injuries are reported for the 2015 AUDI A8?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2015 AUDI A8. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2015 AUDI A8?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2015 AUDI A8 is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 31 complaints, 5 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2015 AUDI A8?
The components with the most failures on the 2015 AUDI A8 are: 1. ENGINE (15 complaints), 2. SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints), 3. SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints), 4. VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints), 5. STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 15 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2015 AUDI A8?
Be cautious of engine and fuel system issues, and regularly inspect the vehicle for structural and visibility problems. The 2015 AUDI A8 has 31 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2015 AUDI A8?
The 2015 AUDI A8 receives a reliability score of 87/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 31 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and Engine Cooling and Fuel System.
What are the known issues with the 2015 AUDI A8?
Known issues with the 2015 AUDI A8 include: Engine and Engine Cooling, Fuel System, Structural Issues, Visibility and Wipers. These are based on patterns found across 31 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2015 Audi A8?
Engine and fuel system problems, including turbocharger failures and fuel hose leaks, are the most common issues.
Can visibility and wiper system malfunctions affect safety?
Yes, visibility issues can reduce the driver's ability to see clearly, especially in poor weather conditions.
What should I do if I experience engine stalling or loss of power?
Pull over safely, check for any warning lights, and contact a professional mechanic for diagnosis and repair.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine and fuel system issues, and regularly inspect the vehicle for structural and visibility problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2015 Audi A8
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2015 Audi A8. The data includes 31 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13