Audi S8
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every Audi S8 model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per yearWhich model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2018 is the cleanest S8 year we hold, and the 2021 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2023: best combined mpg 17 → 18
- 2022: best combined mpg 16 → 17
- 2020: added hybrid; dropped gas; best combined mpg 18 → 16
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 S8 vs Lucid Air · Large Sedan | Air +49.2 | |
| 2027 S8 vs Dodge Charger · Large Sedan | Charger +43.6 | |
| 2027 S8 vs Hyundai Sonata · Large Sedan | Sonata +35.7 | |
| 2027 S8 vs Kia K5 · Large Sedan | K5 +30.1 |
Common questions about the Audi S8
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Audi S8 year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2018 S8 comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (92/100), 1 recall and 0 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Audi S8 years should I avoid?
2021 has the weakest recall record in this range. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every S8 model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Audi S8 have?
Across model years 2016–2027, NHTSA has posted 26 recall campaigns for the Audi S8. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.