Short answer
Among Audi S8 model years through 2024, 2002 and 2003 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2021 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Audi S8: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 18 (2002–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 16
- Fewest recalls
- 2002 and 2003 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Back over prevention (9)
Audi S8 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2023 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2022 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2021 | 8 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2020 | 4 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling, Suspension |
| 2018 | 1 | Not rated | Structure |
| 2017 | 2 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Structure |
| 2016 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2015 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling, Structure |
| 2014 | 5 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling, Structure |
| 2013 | 5 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling, Structure |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2008 | 1 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2003 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20251 recall
- 20241 recall
- 20232 recalls
- 20223 recalls
- 20218 recalls
- 20204 recalls
- 20181 recall
- 20172 recalls
- 20163 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20145 recalls
- 20135 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20081 recall
- 20071 recall
- 20030 recalls
- 20020 recalls
Audi S8: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Audi S8 recalls are back over prevention (9), engine and engine cooling (7), fuel system, gasoline (7), structure (6) and visibility (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Audi S8 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Audi S8?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002 and 2003 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Audi S8 model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "S8", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy