2021 Audi A8 Safety Report

The 2021 Audi A8 presents a mixed safety picture. While NHTSA has not conducted crash tests for this specific model, leading to N/A ratings across all categories, the vehicle has been subject to a significant number of recalls. There are 10 recalls in total, addressing various critical components such as the rearview camera, instrument panel, charging systems, and even engine control modules. Several recalls, specifically those related to the rearview camera (e.g., 'BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA' and 'BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION'), indicate persistent issues with rear visibility, which could increase the risk of a crash. Other recalls point to potential fire risks from charging cables ('ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ONBOARD') and engine stalling due to a faulty engine control module ('ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)'). Despite the high number of recalls, the 2021 Audi A8 has a very low number of consumer complaints, with only 4 total complaints reported to NHTSA. These complaints include issues like a 'Total electrical shutdown' (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 'Delay in change gear' (POWER TRAIN), a 'fuel pump leak' (FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM), and a 'rear moon roof exploded outward' (STRUCTURE). The low complaint volume, with 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported, suggests that while potential safety defects have been identified and recalled, they have not frequently manifested as severe incidents reported by owners. The most frequently cited components in the few complaints are POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, and STRUCTURE, each with 1 complaint. The recalls, however, cover a broader range of critical safety systems. For instance, multiple recalls address rearview camera malfunctions, which is a significant safety concern for backing up. Other recalls highlight issues with the instrument cluster not displaying critical information, rear axle misalignment leading to tire wear, and even seat belt retractors, all of which could increase crash risk or injury severity. The discrepancy between the high recall count and low complaint volume might indicate proactive recall campaigns by Audi or that the issues, while potentially serious, are not widespread in terms of owner-reported incidents.

Our recommendation: Given the high number of safety recalls but very low consumer complaint volume, prioritize verifying all 10 recalls have been completed by an authorized dealer before purchasing a 2021 Audi A8.