This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000 km.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Audi A8 engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Audi A8 have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 69,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 A8 | 6 |
| 2012 A8 | 3 |
| 2013 A8 | 29 |
| 2014 A8 | 11 |
| 2015 A8 (this page) | 15 |
When does it fail?
Of the 15 engine complaints filed for the 2015 Audi A8, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Audi A8 in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on VIN Plates, Safety Certification labels, and the ordering procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on the use of the Audi frequencly analysis app, and where the application can be downloaded.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information regarding UV leak additive for finding oil leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently describe sudden, complete engine shutdown on highways and city streets with no warning or only brief stuttering beforehand. The diagnosis is twin turbocharger failure—bent impellers, excessive bearing play, and scored housings. Metal debris contaminates the oil. Failures occur between 45,000 and 110,000 miles, with most clustered at 60,000–70,000 miles, even on vehicles serviced at Audi dealers on the manufacturer's recommended intervals.
When the engine dies at highway speed, owners lose power steering and brake assist simultaneously, creating dangerous loss-of-control situations. One owner stated the steering wheel locked. Recovery requires coasting to the shoulder or coming to rest in traffic.
An oil separator defect produces loud whistling at idle and rough running; replacement costs exceeded $2,000. One complaint mentions rocker arm failure and valve train knock, described as epidemic on the 3.0 TFSI.
Audi has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) on turbo failures and a 2015 Supplement to the Emissions Warranty covering 7 years/70,000 miles. However, owners report Audi is not treating this as a safety recall, leaving many owners to cover repair costs out of pocket. Turbocharger replacement runs $10,000.
Same Audi A8 engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Twin turbocharger failure
Both turbochargers fail prematurely, causing complete engine shutdown with no warning or with brief stuttering/sputtering. Owners report bent turbo impellers, excessive play, and scoring in the housing. Metal shavings contaminate the oil pan and exhaust.
When: 45,688 to 110,000 miles; most between 60,000–68,800 miles despite manufacturer-recommended service intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning or with brief rough running/sputtering; Check engine light and EC light illuminate; Complete loss of engine power at highway speed; Loss of power steering and brake assist when engine dies; Engine will not restart or restarts with difficulty; Metal shavings in oil pan
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, EC light
Repairs/costs cited: Twin turbocharger replacement; one owner paid $10,000 for OEM turbo replacement. One case reported engine failure requiring full engine replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi issued TSB on the issue. 2015 Supplement to Emissions Warranty issued identifying turbo failures and covering 7 years/70,000 miles under federal statute. Audi opened a case on at least one failure.
Oil separator failure
Oil separator develops defect causing loud whistling noise at idle and rough engine running. Owner reports this is a known issue with Audi TSB issued but no recall.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely loud whistling sound at idle; Rough engine running
Repairs/costs cited: Oil separator replacement; owner paid over $2,000 for new version of the part
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi issued TSB for the defect but did not issue a recall
Rocker arm/valve train knock
Owner reports knock in valve train (rocker arm failure mentioned) with indication this is a widespread epidemic on 3.0 TFSI engines.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Knock in valve train
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
Bad water pump and cross bar
Engine stalled as i approached departure terminal at Newark airport. Dealer has inspected and determined the Turbo Impeller is bent and requires replacement. Car will not run. This is a known problem on Audi turbo engines apparently. Just prior to stalling the oil low light came on then the car stalled out creating a hazardous safety situation for a perfectly well maintained car.
The stock turbo when right in the middle of traffic at 60,000 miles. Almost died in traffic as the car would not move out of the road. This is not exclusive to A8 but to all the audi cars with the 4.0T engine across many vehicle years. An OEM turbo should last 150k-200k miles (half that if aftermarket). Cost $10k to replace.
Car stalled in left turn lane. Restarted with difficulty, and loss of power. No warning lights. Diagnosed by dealer to be failed twin turbochargers. 45688 miles. Replaced under extended warranty. Dangerous as car stalled in an intersection with no prior warning.
The car experienced a oil separator failure. The made an extremely loud whistling sound at idle. This is a known issue and Audi issued a tsb for it but did not issue a recall. The car ran very rough. To fis this issue I had to pay over $2,000 to have an new version of the oil separator installed. Audi should issue a recall on this since they know the original part is defective.
Car ran rough on the way home from picking up take out dinner - metallic, rapid popping sound coming from engine bay (faint with window up). Car died while slowing at a stop light and would not turn on - steering wheel also locked, power brakes failed. I was able to bring my car to a stop before striking a boulder using non-power brakes. Car was towed to nearest Audi dealership and I was informed…
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A8. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle that stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case.…
My car's engine started stuttering and idling very roughly while exiting the expressway. The ec and check engine lights came on. It continued to shutter, and shake, until it shut off. It wouldn't restart, and I had to have it towed to the dealership where I purchased it. The dealer confirmed the issue, and reported the turbos had excessive play and scoring on the surface of the housing, caused…
Regular driving east bound on I-80 and after going up a hill my car couldn't go over 3500 rpms. Thought it was the ECU putting it into limp mode because of weather conditions. Turned out both my turbos blew at 67,000 miles and lead to total engine failure with metal shavings reaching the exhaust and loitering the oil pan.
After getting off the highway, the engine just quit. Fortunately we were at a stop sign at the end of the off-ramp. There was no warning and we were not able to restart the car to move it out of traffic nor could we shift into neutral. Had this happened a few minutes earlier, we would have been traveling at 70 MPH. Fortunately, my son was driving, because at my age had this happened at highway…
Had engine trouble with your 2015 Audi A8?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2015 Audi A8?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 67,000 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 69,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 67,000; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Audi/A8.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.