Most common 2011 Audi A8 problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A8 complaints by model year
Best A8 years: 2018, 2022, 2009. Years to avoid: 2013, 2015, 2019, 2014, 2004. Compare all years →
2011 Audi A8 recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Audi A8 vehicles manufactured May 15, 2010, to May 14, 2012. The affected vehicles have a coolant valve that may leak, allowing coolant to enter the engine control module causing a loss of power or the engine to stall.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant valve and inspect for coolant that has leaked through the electrical connector, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2016.
What 2011 Audi A8 owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2011 AUDI A8. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the camshaft and timing chain failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
ECU starting to malfunction as a coolant leak valve is leaking into it. There is a recall for these models but not for my specific car but I do believe my car is affected because my car has a coolant leak that I personally can't find and my car was just worked on by Audi Indianapolis and they did not see any coolant leaks either. It was mentioned to me by another Audi A8 owner and it's making sense to me as the way everything began to fail on my car until I detached the battery and attached it back it worked fine but sometimes the ECU will begin to fail for Adaptive Cruise Control randomly, then it will work again. These are symptoms of coolant leaking and affecting the ECU, and I can't afford to pay for that to be fixed because it would cost more than what the car is worth but I would like to see if my car was affected by this recall because i genuinely believe this is what is happening
Electrical system
ECU starting to malfunction as a coolant leak valve is leaking into it. There is a recall for these models but not for my specific car but I do believe my car is affected because my car has a coolant leak that I personally can't find and my car was just worked on by Audi Indianapolis and they did not see any coolant leaks either. It was mentioned to me by another Audi A8 owner and it's making sense to me as the way everything began to fail on my car until I detached the battery and attached it back it worked fine but sometimes the ECU will begin to fail for Adaptive Cruise Control randomly, then it will work again. These are symptoms of coolant leaking and affecting the ECU, and I can't afford to pay for that to be fixed because it would cost more than what the car is worth but I would like to see if my car was affected by this recall because i genuinely believe this is what is happening
While driving on a city street my car suddenly stopped (4 lane street -- 2 going, to coming). There was very heavy traffic and I could not move the car as it would not come back on, nor could I shift the car into neutral to push it out of the way. As a result, the car remained in the middle of the road, in heavy traffic, for about three hours until the tow truck arrived. The car was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed as having coolant leaked into the engine wire harness and into the PCM where it shorted the pins. As a result the car was completely inoperable. This caused a very unsafe condition as there were no warning signs, the car just shut down and would not restart or engage the neutral gear in order for me to get out of the middle of the road. …
Suspension
Control arm bushings subject to premature failure requiring frequent replacement. This results in extreme vibration and erratic handing during braking. Upper control arms were replace while under warranty but others soon failed once vehicle was out of warranty.
I was hearing a thumping noise coming from the front of my car every time I braked and came to a stop. I also noticed that the car leaned forward heavily when I braked and knew this was not normal. I also noticed a vibration on my steering when when traveling at around 40-50 MPH. I took the car (2011 Audi 8l) to my local Audi who first said the car was fine and nothing was wrong with it. The issue continued. I took the car back to my local Audi dealer and asked to take the mechanic on a ride with me so I could point out what I was hearing and noticing. The Audi mechanic then said that he too noticed it and it seems to him like it was the control arms and bushings but had to fully diagnose the vehicle back at the shop, which he did. My local Audi then came back and said that my lower left control control arm had to be replaced. I had them replace it, but the problem was not resolved. …
2011 Audi A8 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Audi A8 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 A8 rates average: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the A8 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Audi A8?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (4) and suspension (3).
How many recalls does the 2011 Audi A8 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2011 Audi A8, the most recent from August 24, 2016 (engine). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi A8?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2022 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2015, 2019, 2014 and 2004. See the full Audi A8 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Audi A8 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.