There are 6 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2011 Audi A8in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The coolant is leaking out and onto engine. My safety was at Risk due to the car overheating and smoking. This is a on going problem that many AUDI’s had a recall for except mines. Yes the vehicle was inspected and the warning that came up was “coolant level low turn off engine”
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.
TAKATA RECALL COOLANT FAILER AND MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI OF FAIRFIELD (435 COMMERCE DR, FAIRFIELD, CT 06825, (203) 951-6570) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PLUG WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A8. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND THE "DO NOT EXCEED 4,000 RPMS" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE COOLANT VALVE CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY ON RAMP WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A "COOLANT VALVE LEAK. THE COOLANT MIGRATED THROUGH A HARNESS TO THE ECM AND TO MULTIPLE CONNECTORS THOUGHOUT THE ENGINE HARNESS". THE WORST PART OF THIS SITUATION IS THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION I COULD HAVE BEEN IN. WHAT IF THE CAR STOPPED WHILE IN THE FAST LANE, OR EXPRESS LANES OF THE FREEWAY? THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT OF THIS NATURE ON THIS MODEL OF AUDI. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS I AM SURE IT WILL CAUSE A FATALITY SOMEDAY.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026