The 2008 Audi A8 has 8 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and power train. Owners most often flag high maintenance and repair costs — very expensive parts (e.g., air struts ~$2,200 each, headlights ~$3,000) and labor, leading to high annual ownership costs. frequency: very frequent.
Safety record for the 2008 model year
8
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2008 Audi A8 vehicles (US, public record).
Where owners report problems
air bags
3
power train
2
vehicle speed control
2
engine
1
service brakes
1
Recalls affecting the 2008 A8
visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Campaign 16V415000
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The sunroof glass on the affected vehicles may not be properly secured to the sunroof frame. As a result, …
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is generally positive among long-term owners, particularly for the D5 generation (2018+), which is praised for its exceptional ride comfort, quiet cabin, advanced technology, and strong value proposition on the used market. The D5 is frequently descr
High maintenance and repair costs — very expensive parts (e.g., air struts ~$2,200 each, headlights ~$3,000) and labor, leading to high annual ownership costs. Frequency: very frequent.
Mild Hybrid System (Belt Starter Generator/BSG) failures — a known issue on D5 (2018+) models with the 48V system, potentially leading to expensive repairs; subject to a technical service campaign (27BQ). Frequency: recurrent.
Electronic gremlins — concerns over long-term reliability of complex infotainment, driver aids, and other electronic systems; some isolated reports of issues requiring multiple resets. Frequency: recurrent.
Air suspension failures — a noted point of potential failure and high repair cost, particularly on higher-mileage examples of all generations. Frequency: recurrent.
Rapid depreciation — significant loss in value, especially in the first few years, though this makes the car a strong used value. Frequency: very frequent.
Owner insights cover all generations of the A8.
Typical used price
Used A8 listings typically run $85,599–$95,190 across 2012 to 2026 model years.