The 2017 S8 houses Audi's 4.0T twin-turbo V8 in a luxury flagship body, but this generation suffers from catastrophic engine failures due to a fundamental design flaw with cylinder deactivation that causes bore scoring and piston ring failures, often requiring complete engine replacement before 100,000 miles.
Cylinder Deactivation System Failure / Bore Scoring (Catastrophic)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 miles), White/blue smoke from exhaust on cold start, Misfires in cylinders 2, 3, 5, or 8 (the deactivating cylinders), Rough idle that smooths out when warm, Check engine light with cylinder-specific misfire codes
Fix: This is the killer issue with the 4.0T V8. The cylinder deactivation system causes uneven wear patterns that score cylinder walls and destroy piston rings. Fix requires complete engine replacement or rebuild with updated pistons and cylinder honing. Labor is 40-60 hours for removal, machine work, and reinstallation. Many owners opt for Audi remanufactured long blocks.
Estimated cost: $18,000-28,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking from front of engine bay, Low transmission fluid warning on dash, Slipping between gears or delayed shifts, Metal flakes in transmission pan if cooler failed internally
Fix: The hard line from transmission to cooler cracks at weld points due to heat cycling. If it fails internally, metal shavings contaminate the ZF 8HP transmission requiring full replacement. Catch it early (external leak only) and you replace lines and flush. Wait too long and you're buying a transmission. External repair is 4-6 hours; transmission replacement is 18-22 hours.
Symptoms: Rattling noise from engine bay at idle (sounds like diesel), Loss of boost pressure / reduced power, P0299 code (turbo underboost), Whining or whistling under acceleration
Fix: Wastegate actuator arms wear and rattle, or the wastegate flapper itself fails. Eventually leads to stuck wastegate and overboosting or underboost conditions. Requires turbo removal and rebuild or replacement. Each turbo is 8-12 hours labor due to tight packaging. Most shops replace both if one fails since they wear similarly.
Symptoms: Rough idle and hesitation during acceleration, Misfires at startup that clear after warming, Reduced fuel economy, Failed emissions testing in some states
Fix: Direct injection engines have no fuel washing over intake valves, so carbon accumulates. Requires walnut blasting of all 8 cylinders with intake manifold removal. Preventive service should be done every 50k-60k miles. Labor is 6-8 hours for proper cleaning.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Transmission Mounts Collapsing
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Vibration felt through cabin at idle, Excessive drivetrain movement visible during hard acceleration
Fix: The rubber in transmission mounts deteriorates, especially the rear mount. Leads to harsh shifts and driveline vibration. Replacement is straightforward but requires transmission support. 2-3 hours labor for rear mount, 4-5 hours if doing all mounts.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Air Suspension Compressor and Line Failures
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Suspension fault warning on dash, Vehicle sitting low at one or more corners, Compressor running excessively (audible), Harsh ride quality when air system fails to passive mode
Fix: Air struts and supply lines develop leaks; compressor overworks and burns out. Individual struts are 2-3 hours each. Compressor replacement is 3-4 hours. Diagnostic time critical to avoid replacing wrong components. Many owners convert to coilovers ($3k-5k) to eliminate future air suspension issues.
Check oil level every fillup — consumption over 1 qt/1,000 mi means engine damage is already occurring
Walnut blast intake valves every 50,000 miles as preventive maintenance
Use only Audi-approved 5W-40 oil and change every 5,000 miles maximum to slow bore scoring progression
Get a pre-purchase inspection with compression and leakdown tests on all 8 cylinders — anything under 150 PSI or variance over 10% is a walk-away
Budget $2,000-3,000 annually for maintenance beyond the catastrophic engine risk
Only buy if you can afford a $20k+ engine replacement or find one with documented engine rebuild under 60k miles — this is a ticking time bomb, not a question of if but when.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required; located under rear seat or trunk; high-performance application requires premium AGM battery
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Every control module on the 2013-2017 Audi S8 — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Two modules; memory positions lost on replacement. Massage/ventilation functions included.
Rear View Camera Control Module (RVC)0.5 hr R&Raftermarket tool +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Trunk lid, integrated with camera
🔧 VCDS or Autel
⚠️ Calibration lines may need adjustment.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · 22V178000
2022-03-23 · PE21009
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.
Consequence: 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD · 20V397000
2020-07-07
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.
Consequence: 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.
Performance
Horsepower
605hp
Torque
516lb-ft
0–60 mph
3.5sec
Quarter mile
11.8sec
Top speed
155mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
15mpg
Highway
24mpg
Combined
18mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Curb weight
4,795lb
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Wiper blades
D4 generation (2013-2018). Sedan body style has no rear wiper.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2017 Audi S8 4.0L Turbo V8 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.