YearToAvoid

2013 Audi A8 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 16 A8 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Audi A8 ranks worst of 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 49 complaints, 76% engine-related. NHTSA lists 6 recalls, including turbocharger oil starvation, fuel line leaks, and coolant valve leaks, but no fires, crashes, or injuries were reported.

Complaints
49
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
17 city / 28 hwy

Top 2013 Audi A8 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine37 (76%)
  2. Fuel System5 (10%)
  3. Other5 (10%)
  4. Brakes4 (8%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (6%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain3 (6%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers3 (6%)
  8. Electrical System2 (4%)
  9. Steering2 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power suddenly and stalls in traffic, sometimes nearly causing a crash.
  • Turbochargers fail after rough idling and the car cuts off and won't restart.
  • Coolant smell appears after driving, with steam visible from the hood but no visible leak.
  • Panoramic sunroof glass shatters with a loud boom while driving at highway speed.
  • Water leaks from the top of the windshield during rain, reaching electronic components and disabling the car.
  • Strong gasoline smell traced to a porous high-pressure fuel line, matching an open recall.
2013 Audi A8 complaints: complaints filed per month6Apr 2013Feb 2019Aug 2019Feb 2021Nov 2021Jun 2022Dec 2023Jun 2025
66 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2013 to Apr 2026; peak Feb 2024 (6).

2013 Audi A8 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V178000Mar 23, 2022Engine26,093 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

    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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 20V397000Jul 7, 2020Structure & Body12,964 vehicles

    Structure:body:hood

    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.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 19V057000Jan 28, 2019Fuel System8,985 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    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.

    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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2013 Audi A8 →

2013 Audi A8 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other A8 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Caution7315121
2012Caution5311121
2013Avoid10049621
2014Avoid8018521
2015Avoid9331522

All Audi A8 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Audi A8 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 A8 ranks worst among the 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 49 complaints, 76% of them engine-related.
What are the most common 2013 Audi A8 problems?
Engine problems dominate, making up 76% of complaints (37 of 49), with a median failure mileage of 64,500. Fuel system issues account for another 10%.
Does the 2013 Audi A8 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2013 A8, covering turbocharger oil starvation, an engine compartment seal, two separate fuel supply line leaks, a coolant valve leak, and a sunroof glass defect.
How does the 2013 A8 compare to other A8 years?
The 2013 A8 has the highest complaint index (100) of any year in the dataset, ranked worst overall, ahead of 2015 (93) and 2019 (87), both also rated Avoid.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.