The 2008 draws 1.67 complaints per run and the 2015 1, a 1.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 80% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine, with 18 complaints, typically at 6.4 years.
Audi S8 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | yes | |
| 2014 | 6 | 5 | yes | |
| 2013 | 13 | 8 | yes | |
| 2008 | 5 | 3 | yes |
Among the 4 Audi S8 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2008, 2013, 2014; the three worth hunting are 2015, 2014, 2013.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 2.5% | covered | |
| 1 year | 5% | covered | |
| 3 years | 20% | covered | |
| 4 years | 22.5% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 30% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 42.5% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 55% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 67.5% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 80% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 82.5% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 87.5% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 95% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 20% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 80% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 54% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Audi S8, the early trouble is Electrical System — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Engine at 6.4 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6.4 yrs | — | — | |
| Visibility | 12.4 yrs | — | — | |
| Power Train | 5 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 6.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Visibility/wiper | 11.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 3.5 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the S8's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.58 for the S8. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the S8 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Audi S8 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.58 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which S8 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2008, 2013, 2014. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2015, 2014, 2013. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do S8 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Engine, typically at 6.4 years, followed by Visibility.
Will the warranty cover S8 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 20% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 54% of the complaints here.
Is the S8 more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.58 complaints per production run for the S8 against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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