2013 Audi A8L 4 DR AWD
Safety Ratings.
NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.
Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.
Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.
The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.
26 Complaints
FAILURE BOTH TURBOS Purchased Audi Naples Jan 2018 Maintained at Audi Ft Myers Audi While on a vacation from our home in Florida to New England our Audi A8 experienced a major turbo failure while on an Interstate highway. On 8/6/21 I was traveling in the middle lane of I495 at 65 mph, when traffic slowed, the car stalled. With cars passing me on both sides I eventually managed to get the car started and made it to exit 15 (rt44) going toward Plymouth, MA. This truly was a scary situation, waiting to be rear ended. While on rt 44 it died again in traffic. I managed to make it into the breakdown lane. At about 2:55 pm a state Trooper stopped and asked if he could help me get to a safer spot but by that time I had called AAA. At 3:30pm AAA arrived and towed us to a safe spot. At no time before, during or after this failure did I receive any message or warning that this failure was imminent. The car was taken to Audi Norwell and diagnosed with defective turbos due to failure of turbo shaft bearings . The screens were clogged preventing oil from reaching the bearings. The turbos were the original equipment. I have read in the Audi Forum this is not an uncommon problem. I understand the screens have been redesigned as a result.
The car start chugging and lost power while driving. My safety and the safety of other drivers were at risk, because the vehicle stalled immediately. This issue happened while exiting off the highway. The vehicle was inspected by an Audi dealer and the issue reported was Turbo Charger issue. There were no warnings prior to the failure.
After exiting the highway the car just stopped running. There was no warning and all power was lost. Engine would not start up and vehicle had to be towed from the road. It was at night and the car stopped dead at an intersection (safety). We are grateful that the problem did not happen on the Ohio Turnpike we just exited. There was a clunk sound before it stopped. I suspect the turbo let loose. This has not been confirmed yet by the dealer. There was no warning. Consumer stated vehicle has been repaired.
AS A SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN IN AN INTERSECTION (DOWNTOWN IN A MAJOR CITY) THE CAR STARTED JUMPING AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I TURNED ON MY HAZARDS AND LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START UP. HOWEVER, ONE I GAVE IT SOME GAS WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION IT TURNED OVER, BUT THE CAR DIED TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD SAFELY PARK IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME MY TURBOS WERE BLOWN. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES, WELL MAINTAINED, AND IT'S ONLY BEEN USED AS A COMMUTER VEHICLE.
DRIVING CAR FROM PROVO, UT TO CALIFORNIA, APPROX 250 MILES INTO THE TRIP NOTICED THE EPC LIGHT ON, I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY TO CHECK THE ENGINE AND IT STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO LAS VEGAS IT RAN FINE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. WHEN I GOT OFF THE EXIT THE CAR STALLED AND ENGINE QUIT WHILE I WAS ROLLING DOWN THE OFFRAMP. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE CENTER LANE OF A THREE LANE EXIT, COULD NOT GET PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE HAD CARS IN BOTH LANES BESIDE ME. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I GOT THE STARTED (USING 3/4 THROTTLE)BUT NOT UNTIL THE LIGHT HAD CYCLED TO YELLOW, CAR HORNS HONKING PEOPLE YELLING, I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, SHOT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND ROLLED INTO AN EMPTY EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE RIO. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS GO NO GO I MADE IT TO AN OVERFULL PARKING AREA AND THE NEXT MORNING HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LAS VEGAS AUDI. I CONTINUED MY TRIP TO CA. AFTER RENTING A VEHICLE IN LV. THE NEXT DAY THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT ONE OF MY TURBOS HAD FAILED AND THAT IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE BOTH. QUOTED 13,800 TO FIX THE CAR.I FELT TRAPPED BECAUSE MY CAR WAS 400 MILES FROM HOME AND I NEEDED IT FIXED. AFTER TALKING TO SOME INDEPENDENT SHOPS I REALIZED THAT PRICE WAS IN THE NORMAL PRICE RANGE. WHAT I AM MOST DISAPPOINTED WITH IS THAT AUDI HAD ISSUED A TSB ON THIS ENGINE EXPLAINING THAT THE CHECK VALVE AND OIL SCREEN COULD GET CLOGGED AND STARVE THE TURBOS OF LUBRICATION. I WAS ALSO SCARED WHEN I BROKE DOWNWHEN I EXITED THE FREEWAY. I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY GOT IN A WRECK BECAUSE I HAD TO KEEP THE THROTTLE SO HIGH SO THE ENGINE WOULDN'T DIE. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SEVERAL MINUTES FOR ME AND LUCKILY I WAS IN A AREA THAT I COULD GET TO A VACANT PARKING LOT WITH CROSSING TOO MUCH TRAFFIC. MY CAR HAD 67065 MILES ON IT WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.
AFTER TRAVELING 4 HOURS FROM SAVANNAH, GA TO ATLANTA, GA; I PROCEEDED TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE ON EXIT 228. UPON GETTING OFF THE EXIT, THE CAR SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE COMPUTER ADVISED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, HOWEVER THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY EXIT AND COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR, WHICH WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS ADVISED THAT BOTH TURBOS ON THE ENGINE HAD GONE BAD. HOW COULD THIS BE, THE CAR ONLY HAS 38,542 MILES ON IT. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE THAN IT WAS HAD THE CAR DECIDED TO STALL & SHUT OFF WHILE STILL TRAVELING ON A BUSY TRAFFIC ON I75.
I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS IDLING RUFF. SO I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STALLED THEN I RESTARTED IT THEN NOTICED MASSIVE POWER LOSS. SO I DROVE HOME AND CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR HAD TWO BLOWN TURBOS AND ITS GOING TO COST ME $10.000.00. AND MY WARRANTY WON'T COVER IT BECAUSE ITS ON THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BOARD AND AUDI SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THERE OWN PROBLEMS KNOWING ITS AN ISSUE. AND I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THE SAME ESPECIALLY FOR HOW MUCH YOU SPEND ON THIS CAR AND AUDI'S REPUTATION. IF THEY DON'T EVER RECALL THIS ISSUE I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUDI AGAIN, AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET MY MOTHER TO BUY ONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V397000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. FATHERS & SONS-AUDI WEST SPRINGFIELD (434 MEMORIAL AVE, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA 01089) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING ON I-20 IN TEXAS THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE POWER DECREASED NOTICEABLY. LIMPED OFF I-20 TO AN EXIT. WHEN I STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT AT END OF RAMP, ENGINE QUIT. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART. NOTHING BUT SPUTTERING. FORTUNATELY, I FOUND THAT SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE CRANKING WOULD START ENGINE. ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN BELOW 1000 RPM. VERY DANGEROUS HAVING TO KEEP ENGINE RUNNING WHILE NAVIGATING CITY STREETS. THIS ENGINE HAS HAD A SERIES OF RECALLS, INCLUDING AN OIL SEPARATOR FAILURE. AUDI TSB, ATTACHED, FINDS AN OIL SIEVE RESPONSIBLE FOR STARVING THE TURBOCHARGERS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING ON THE FREEWAY AT 62,000 MILES. I HAVE KEPT THE FAILED PARTS INCLUDING BOTH TURBOCHARGERS, ONE WOBBLING AND THE OTHER COMPLETELY SEPARATED ON THE EXHAUST SIDE. THIS IS A CLEAR DANGER TO VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS. THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR WARRANTS A NHTSA RECALL.
MY VEHLICE WAS IN MOTION APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE PRESSUE WAS LOST. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE TO BRING THE CAR TO THE STOP. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT RESTART WITHOUT GIVING IT HARD GAS. IT WOULD DIE WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO. AFTER TOWING TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD BOTH MY TURBOS HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR FAILURE FOR A VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES. IN ADDITION, AUDI HAS ISSUED A TSB ACKNLOWLEDGING THE ISSUE. I AM JUST FORTUNATE IT HAPPENED FOR ME AT SUCH LOW SPEEDS. I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
I HAD A STRONG GAS SMELL. I CHECKED INTERNET AND READ, 2013 AUDI A8 (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. IT COULD CAUSE FIRE. ACTION NEED TO FIX IT: AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINE, FREE OF CHARGE. WHEN I NOTIFIED FLOW AUDI IN GREENSBORO, NC, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT AUDI AMERICA. WHAT DO I DO?
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I DROVE A VERY SHORT DISTANCE TO RETURN HOME DURING WHICH ODD NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. DIAGNOSTICS SHOW THAT ONE OF TWO TURBOS FAILED DUE A FAILURE OF THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR THE TURBOS.
2X TURBO DAMAGE 66000KILOMETERS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, AND SHORTLY AFTER DIED OUT COMPLETELY. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME WHEN THE CAR DIED, AND THAT I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO LIMP ONTO THE SHOULDER. WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE A FAULTY TURBOCHARGER WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE REASON FOR VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN
I WAS TRAILING MY WIFE AND CHILDREN HOME ONE EVENING WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL ON HER AT AN INTERSECTION. I SIGNALED FOR HER TO PULL INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION SO I COULD TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CAR. AS THE IDLING GOT ROUGHER, IT FINALLY STALLED OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHERE THEY INCORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND SAID IT NEEDED A CRANKCASE VENTILATION VALVE. I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED $3,500 LATER. WHEN I ARRIVED, THE CAR STILL HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME IN THE CURRENT CONDITION EVEN THOUGH AUDI SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY REDIAGNOSED THE CAR AND SAID THE TURBOS WERE GOING OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CLEARLY, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT'S EVENTUALLY GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURIED. BECAUSE THESE PARTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND AUDI IS PUTTING A PATCH ON THEM TELLING AND CUSTOMERS THAT THE CARS ARE SAFE TO DRIVE IS IRRESPONSIBLE, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!
DRIVING WITH MY 3 KIDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED. WOULDN'T START. AFTER RESEARCH, FOUND OUT I WAS THE NEXT IN A LONG LINE OF FOLKS WITH A 4.0T ENGINE TURBO FAILURE. AUDI HAS A TSB HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2018/MC-10153123-9999.PDF BUT THE ISSUE STEMS FROM FAULTY ENGINEERING OF AN OIL STRAINER. CAR HAS FULL DEALER MAINTAINED SERVICE RECORDS. BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER. FAILED LESS THAN 500 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. MILEAGE IS 82000. PLEASE HELP HOLD AUDI ACCOUNTABLE FOR A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING ALL CARS WITH THE 4.0T.
SUSPENSION FAILS DURING DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS.
AFTER PULLING OFF OF THE PA TURNPIKE THE IDLE BECAME ROUGH AND THE CAR CUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO READING(PA) AUDI AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS FAILED TURBOS.
MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING AUDI TSB & NHTSA DOCUMENTED BULLETINS AND COMPLAINTS: NHTSA 1-888-327-4236 NHTSA ID 10118418 TSB ID A211724 2044640 & TSB 2040644/10 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL SEPARATOR - $254 (WITH FREE SHIPPING) FROM AUDIUSAPARTS.COM. YOU WILL WANT PART NUMBER 079-103-542-E. AMIDST THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER AUDI OWNERS THE DEALER IS UNWILLING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGES NOR WILLING TO PERFORM THE NEEDED REPAIRS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS PLACES THE BURDEN ON THE VEHICLE OWNER (EXCESS OF $11,000 OF REPAIRS) TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AND BE PLACED IN HARMS WAY WHEREVER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE AT THAT TIME. MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME WAS IN MOTION IN CITY DRIVING FORCING ME TO PULL OVER UNEXPECTEDLY OFF THE ROAD. I AM ASKING TO TO HOLD AUDI OF AMERICA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS KNOWN DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND MAKE REPAIRS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FIRSTLY AND SECONDLY COVERING THE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE FAILURE FOR MY VEHICLE AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR FAILURE TO DO SO INITIALLY.
WATER LEAK FROM WINDSHIELD. TECHNICIAN NOTED LEAK FROM WINDSHIELD SEALANT. EVERY TIME IT WOULD RAIN PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GET FLOODED WITH WATER FROM LEAK CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM FROM THE SEALANT.
AT 69946 MILES IT STARTED LEAKING WATER WHEN RAINING FROM TOP OF WINDSHIELD IN THE MIDDLE BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR,ON TOP OF ALL ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS.FROM THAT INCIDENT CAR IS NOT RUNNING,BECAUSE WATER GOT ON TO ALL KIND OF ELECTRONICS THAT CONTROL ENGINE,TRANSMISSION,RADIO.......WHEN I DID RESEARCH,FIND OUT THAT ITS KNOW PROBLEM WITH THOSE VEHICLES AND IM NOT THE FIRST ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM
SMELLING OF ENGINE COOLANT. AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR, YOU CAN SEE STEAM COMING FROM THE HOOD BUT NO LEAK.
DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT ON US HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE NEAR NORTHERN SUBURBS OF CHICAGO, EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE BEGAN RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND EVENTUALLY STALLED IN LEFT LANE. SUDDEN LACK OF POWER, STALL AND UNANTICIPATED LOSS OF SPEED NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT AND DID CAUSE MAJOR TRAFFIC BACK UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP. DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED CAUSE OF SUDDEN POWER LOSS WAS DAMAGED TURBOCHARGERS (X2). TURBO IMPELLER BEARINGS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED DUE TO LUBRICATION STARVATION, WHICH CAUSED DISINTEGRATION OF TURBOCHARGER IMPELLERS. SHOP INDICATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AUDI (VAG) 4.0 TWIN TURBO V-8 ENGINES. SUPPORTING THIS NOTION, THE DEALER HAD THE TURBOS AND ASSOCIATED REPAIR PARTS IN STOCK (OVER $6,000 OF PARTS). VEHICLE IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED BY CERTIFIED AUDI DEALER. VEHICLE INDICATED ABOUT 63,000 MILES ON ODOMETER AT TIME OF INCIDENT. VAG USES THIS ENGINE IN SEVERAL MODELS ACROSS THE AUDI LINE: S6, S7, RS7, A8, AND S8 (SOME MODIFICATIONS BETWEEN SOME MODELS).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD BOOMING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE GLASS SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE SUN ROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI OF LAFAYETTE LOCATED IN LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V448000 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR AT FIRST FAILED TO MOVE THE CAR; THEN IT SURGED UNTIL BRAKED; THEN IT FAILED TO MOVE THE CAR ON THE NEXT DEPRESSION; AGAIN FOLLOWED BY A SURGE. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING INTO A LANE OF ONCOMING CARS WHERE I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE THE TURN SAFELY BUT THAT TIME WAS CHEWED UP TRYING TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN EXCEPT THIS TIME I EXPECTED NON-PERFORMANCE AND WAITED 2 OR 3 MINUTES FOR ALL TRAFFIC TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THERE IS NO DOUBT THIS COULD LEAD TO A FATAL CRASH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A8L. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE SIDE WALL ON THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL INSTALLATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300....UPDATED 05/08/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPACING BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FOOTWELL SIDE WALL WAS DIFFERENT BETWEEN 2011 AND 2013 MODEL YEARS. THE LOSS OF 3/4 OF AN INCH IS WAT IS CAUSING THE FAILURE. UPDATED 05/30/2013 *JS
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Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.