Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Audi S5 problems

Owners filed 3 complaints about the 2008 Audi S5 with NHTSA between Jan 2013 and Apr 2019. The most-cited component is power train (1).

Complaints
3
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train1
  2. Air bags1
  3. Visibility1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20131
20140
20150
20160
20170
20181
20191

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

1 report
“WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SYNCOS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY CAUSING GRINDING INTO GEARS AND FAILURE TO ENGAGE GEARS WICH CAN CAUSE STALLS OR SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED. IV BEEN TOLD ITS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE VEHICLES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2019Power trainODI 11196026

Air bags

1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V376000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY TO THE DEALER (AUDI OMAHA, 808 N 102ND ST, SUITE B, OMAHA, NE 68114, 402-393-7000) AND THE TECHNICIAN DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE EXISTED PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2018Air bagsODI 11089135

Visibility

1 report
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI S5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE SUNROOF SHOULD HAVE DRAINED THE EXCESS WATER BUT IT WAS ENTERING THROUGH THE AIR BAG INSTEAD. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUNROOF CONNECTION WOULD NEED REPAIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 32,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2013VisibilityODI 10490759
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.