2017 Audi S8
reported issues, recalls & what to inspect
This report uses official federal safety records plus VeroRoad’s vehicle × tool evidence. It is a screening tool, not a reliability grade or prediction that your specific car will fail.
NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted allegations, not verified failures. Raw complaint totals are not failure rates because vehicle sales/exposure are not normalized here. A recall is an official safety campaign, but your VIN may or may not be included.
Which systems appear most often in the complaint record?
Use this to prioritize inspection effort, not to label the vehicle “good” or “bad.”
That does not prove the vehicle has no problems. Use the exact VIN, service history and an independent inspection.
Where were mileage-at-failure values reported?
NHTSA did not return enough usable mileage values for a timeline.
Official campaigns returned for this model-year query
Open the exact VIN before purchase to determine whether a campaign applies and whether the remedy was completed.
20V397000STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The seal around the engine compartment may come loose and contact hot engine components.
Why it matters: If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install a retaining plate to prevent the engine compartment seal from loosening. The recall began September 4, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51G6.
Reported 07/07/2020 · Verify exact VIN applicability.22V178000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
Why it matters: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
Reported 23/03/2022 · Verify exact VIN applicability.What I would inspect before money changes hands
The highest reported component groups are converted into inspection tasks. They are not diagnoses.
Baseline vehicle inspection
- Cold start, road test and full-system scan
- Check fluids, leaks, tires, brakes and battery
- Review maintenance, collision and recall history
Make it harder for a recently cleared warning light to fool you.
A clean dashboard is not the same as a clean scan. Readiness monitors, pending codes and permanent codes provide useful context during a pre-purchase inspection.
- Run a full-system scan before clearing anything
- Read current, pending and permanent powertrain codes
- Check readiness monitors; multiple “Not Ready” monitors can be consistent with a recently cleared ECU or disconnected battery
- Save freeze-frame data for any stored emissions/powertrain fault
- Scan ABS, SRS, transmission and body modules when the tool supports them
- Check 12V battery / charging condition because low voltage can create misleading module faults
Look beyond recalls.
Manufacturers submit service bulletins, warranty extensions, repair instructions and other communications to NHTSA. These documents can reveal service procedures and known conditions that are not necessarily safety recalls.
Tools that intersect this inspection path
These recommendations use VeroRoad’s existing exact vehicle/function evidence. Fit comes before price.
Autel MaxiSYS MS908S Pro
Intersects 2 functions used in this inspection path.
Autel MaxiSYS Elite
Intersects 2 functions used in this inspection path.
Autel MaxiCOM MK908Pro
Intersects 2 functions used in this inspection path.
Autel MaxiCOM MK900-BT
Intersects 4 functions used in this inspection path.
Useful supporting equipment
A scanner cannot replace physical inspection and measurement. These tools cover common gaps.
Professional battery and resistance testing with sequence testing for higher-volume work.
Check price on Amazon →Useful for locating abnormal heat in electrical, mechanical and EV-related troubleshooting without assuming it is mandatory for every job.
Check price on Amazon →Adds multimeter and current-clamp measurements for deeper electrical troubleshooting when paired with supported MaxiBAS tools.
Check price on Amazon →Dedicated TPMS workflow plus diagnostics and service functions; strong fit when TPMS is a frequent shop job.
Check price on Amazon →Audi S8 Risk Radar by year
Where these signals come from
Federal data are fetched from NHTSA’s public APIs. VeroRoad aggregates the records into screening signals and keeps complaints separate from confirmed recalls.