What R8 Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

R8 Generations

The R8 has 2 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 1st generation (2008–2015).

R8 Key Numbers

  1. 1 complaint

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 670 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 3 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

R8 Class-Action Lawsuits

The R8 has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

  • Anzhelya Makaryan, et. al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

    2:2017cv05086
    1. Case Filed

      An Audi timing chain lawsuit alleges Audi and Volkswagen vehicles have defects that cause the timing chains to suddenly fail without warning, causing the engines to fail.

    2. Dismissed

      The case was voluntarily dismissed in November 2017 after a motion to dismiss by Audi was filed earlier that same month.

    Problem
    Start-Stop Defects
    Class Vehicles
    • 2013-2017 A3
    • 2013-2017 A4
    • 2013-2017 A5
    • 2013-2017 A6
    • 2013-2017 A7
    • 2013-2017 A8
    • 2013-2017 S3
    • 2013-2017 S4
    • 2013-2017 S5
    • 2013-2017 S6
    • 2013-2017 S7
    • 2013-2017 S8
    • 2013-2017 RS 5
    • 2013-2017 RS 7
    • 2013-2017 allroad
    • 2013-2017 Q3
    • 2013-2017 Q5
    • 2013-2017 Q7
    • 2013-2017 SQ5
    • 2013-2017 TT
    • 2013-2017 TTS
    • 2013-2017 TT RS
    • 2013-2017 R8
    Location
    California

Recent R8 News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Audi and Volkswagen are recalling 119,000 vehicles to replace dangerous Takata airbag inflators.

    This campaign is part of an industry-wide effort involving more than a dozen automakers and 1.7 million vehicles. The chemical inside of Takata airbag inflators can become unstable over time, leading to violent and sometimes deadly airbag deployments. The recall is for both driver and passenger side inflators in the 2017 R8 and 2016-2017 TT.

    keep reading article "Takata Inflator Recall for TT and R8 Vehicles"
  2. Audi is recalling 1,900 R8 vehicles to stop transmission fluid leaking onto gearbox ventilation hoses and starting fires.

    The 2017-2018 Audi R8 Spyders and R8 Coupes are more likely to leak transmission fluid during racetrack driving or extreme sharp turns at high speeds. The fire risk comes into view if the transmission fluid hits hot exhaust parts.

    keep reading article "It’s Time to Stop Track Racing Your R8 Until You Get Its Transmission Fixed"
  3. The lead plaintiff in Anzhelya Makaryan, et. al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. says a design defect in Audi's start-stop system allows vehicles to rollaway.

    The rollaways happen because the start-stop system won't deactivate if the driver takes off their seat belt for any reason while the vehicle is stopped.

    To make matters worse if that the system won't work even if the driver re-buckled their seat belts.

    keep reading article "Does Audi's Start-Stop Technology Allow Vehicles to Accidentally Roll Away?"