2016 Audi A8 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#7 most-complained of 16 A8 years
The 2016 Audi A8 has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 11 complaints, 4 recalls, and no crashes, fires, injuries or deaths, with engine problems making up 55% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 11
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 18.5 city / 29 hwy
Top 2016 Audi A8 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine6 (55%)
- Other2 (18%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (18%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (9%)
- Fuel System1 (9%)
- Lane Departure1 (9%)
- Structure & Body1 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (9%)
What owners report
- Engine turbochargers can fail, causing the car to stall and shut down while driving on the highway or city streets, sometimes with steering and brakes hardening.
- Owners describe turbo failures happening with little or no warning, forcing them to pull over in traffic.
- One owner reported a recall addressed turbo internals but the underlying problem was not actually fixed.
- A front tire flattened after hitting a pothole at low speed, with the tire pressure monitoring system failing to alert the driver at 3,500 miles.
- The windshield camera used for collision avoidance stopped working, leaving cruise control and ABS systems throwing error codes with no repair available.
- One complaint flagged that the A8 shares a shifter design with another automaker's vehicle that was in the news for shifter problems.
2016 Audi A8 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
2016 Audi A8 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 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.
2016 compared with other A8 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Audi A8 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2016 A8 a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 7th worst out of 16 model years tracked, which puts it in the Caution category relative to other A8 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Audi A8?
- Engine complaints, mainly turbocharger failures, make up 55% of all reported issues, with a median failure mileage of 45,000 miles.
- Does the 2016 Audi A8 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 A8, covering the turbocharger oil supply strainer, an engine compartment seal, and two separate fuel system issues including fuel rail and fuel supply line leaks.
- How does the 2016 A8 compare to other A8 years?
- The 2016 A8's Complaint Index of 60 is lower than the worse 2013 (100), 2015 (93), and 2019 (87) model years, but higher than 2017 (67), 2020 (47), and 2021 (40), which fared better.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Audi A8?
- EPA rates the 2016 A8 at 22 mpg combined (18.5 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650.