Audi S8: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Audi S8: 9 model years scored from 32 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recall campaigns. Worst year 2013, best year 2020.
Audi S8: which years to avoid
Across 9 scored model years the Audi S8 ranges from 77/100 in 2013 to 92/100 in 2018 — a 15-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Engine (11 of them).
Safest years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
How the S8 changed, run by run
The federal record falls into 2 stretches of years that behave alike. A redesign shows up here as a step in the complaint rate that then holds.
2013–2018
Mean score 86/100, about 1 complaints per year on the road. Owners of these years complain about Engine more than anything else (18 complaints). 7 recall campaign(s) in this run touch fire, crash or stall risk.
2020–2021
Mean score 85/100. Owners of these years complain about Power Train more than anything else (1 complaints). 2 recall campaign(s) in this run touch fire, crash or stall risk.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2020 (score 89). Worst: 2013 (score 77, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 92 | BUY | $4,870 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 81 | BUY | $5,844 | 1 | 8 |
| 2020 | 89 | BUY | $5,980 | 0 | 4 |
| 2018 | 92 | BUY | $5,710 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | 91 | BUY | $5,850 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | 86 | BUY | $6,001 | 6 | 3 |
| 2015 | 84 | BUY | $5,740 | 6 | 4 |
| 2014 | 83 | BUY | $6,280 | 6 | 5 |
| 2013 | 77 | BUY | $6,429 | 13 | 5 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the S8, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Audi S8
Across every S8 model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Engine19 complaints across all S8 years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other4 complaints across all S8 years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Power Train4 complaints across all S8 years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Service Brakes2 complaints across all S8 years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Fuel/Propulsion System2 complaints across all S8 years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
- Engine And Engine Cooling2 complaints across all S8 years · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service$600–$1,040
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Audi S8 years to buy?
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021… all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2018 at 92/100, on 0 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
Which Audi S8 years should I avoid?
The 2013 is the weakest year we score, at 77/100 (BUY), on 13 complaints and 5 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Audi S8 problem?
19 of the complaints filed against the S8 across all its model years sit in the Engine group — more than any other component.
Compare with
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04