- The problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The sunroof glass on the affected vehicles may not be properly secured to the sunroof frame. As a result, the sunroof glass may detach from the car while driving.
- The risk
- If the glass detaches from the sunroof frame it could be come a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install additional adhesive between the sunroof glass and frame, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in August 4, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60C3.
Vehicle safety record
2009 Audi A8 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2009 Audi A8 with NHTSA, most often about the visibility & wipers (1) and the body, doors & structure (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in June 2016 for the sun / moon roof assembly. For comparison, the 2008 has 8 and the 2010 has 1.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical A8 year, for its age
#261 most complained-about 2009 vehicle
- Complaints
- 5
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2009 Audi A8 problems
Share of all 5 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2009 Audi A8 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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5 complaints about the 2009 Audi A8
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A8. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof glass detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the sunroof glass frame had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 133,878.
1: My passenger door sensitive door closing sensor is not working 2: my sunroof is off track and makes noises 3: battery cord is corroded. There is no where in the world to get 1 right now apparently. I bought a brand new battery and car still doesn't pull energy from the battery so I'm scared the car won't start very soon
Multiple component failures relative to tail light assemblies. Both trunk mounted tail light assemblies were replace in 12/11 under manufacturers warranty. Sealed tail light assemblies were not water tight which caused failure of circuit boards and led lights. One of the two replacement units has also failed again (18 mo. In service and 6000 miles) lights have failed in this unit as well, causing potential hazard due to lack of illumination experienced identical failure on my 2007 audi s8 which is the same...
Read the full complaint
chassis platform as the vehicle above. A total of four of these tail lights have failed on these two vehicles. There were no collisions or events that would have caused damage or affected the integrity of the lighting unit . Appears to be a design or manufacturing defect. In reviewing some of the audi chat boards, this is a common failure on this d3 platform. *Tr
Car handling system went out of directional control and steering control causing vehicle to be sent into oncoming traffic and then off the road. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 audi a8. When he turned the vehicle on the engine began vibrating and whenever the contact began to slow down the vehicle the transmission shifted to a lower gear and then surged forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on 4 occasions and each time they were unable to diagnose the failure. The failure has occurred since the vehicle was purchased. The current and failure mileages were 9033.
Audi A8: every year compared
All A8 years2009 Audi A8 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Audi A8 | 5 | 1 | B | |
| 2009 Audi A4 | 142 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet | 142 | 4 | C | Compare |
| 2009 Audi A4 Avant | 122 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2009 Audi A3 | 47 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 2009 Audi Q5 | 31 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2009 Audi A6 | 21 | 4 | B | Compare |
| 2009 Audi A6 Avant | 21 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 2009 Audi Q7 | 21 | 3 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2009 Audi A8
Does the 2009 Audi A8 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Audi A8: sun / moon roof assembly (June 2016). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Audi A8?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the visibility & wipers (1), body, doors & structure (1), driver assistance (1).
How many complaints has the 2009 Audi A8 had?
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on August 19, 2009 and the latest on April 25, 2025. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2009 Audi A8 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 65 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Audi A8 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Audi A8 years have the most complaints?
2013 (50), 2015 (32), 2014 (18). See every Audi A8 year compared.
What should I do if my 2009 Audi A8 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data