Like many car enthusiasts, the allure of German engineering and refined power drew me to Audi. My journey with the brand culminated in the purchase of a 2020 Audi A8L, a vehicle I eagerly anticipated owning. This wasn’t just any car; it was meant to be my most luxurious and sophisticated Audi yet, following two previous positive experiences with the brand. Boasting a potent twin-turbo 4.0L V8 engine, coupled with features like four-wheel steering and massaging seats, the Audi Audi A8 promised an unparalleled driving experience. Initially, it delivered on that promise, but unfortunately, my honeymoon phase with this flagship sedan was short-lived, giving way to a cascade of electrical and mechanical issues that transformed my dream car into a source of immense frustration.
The purchase itself was a smooth experience. After meticulous research and financial planning, I located the perfect audi audi a8 at Audi of Gulf Coast in Alabama. The dealership seemed as enthusiastic about the sale as I was about the purchase. Driven by anticipation, I embarked on a road trip from Houston in my trusty Audi A6 to collect my new prize. The transaction was seamless, and the car was exactly as advertised. My plan was to stay overnight, but impending severe weather with hail prompted an immediate departure westward, hoping to outrun the storm and get my new audi audi a8 home safely.
The initial days with the audi audi a8 were blissful, despite an early setback of picking up a nail and a week-long wait for a tire replacement – a minor inconvenience blamed on COVID-related supply chain issues. The car’s Sport Plus Package, with its rear-axle steering and road-reading suspension, provided a truly exceptional ride. For about a year, ownership was everything I had hoped for. I even began contemplating upgrading to the performance-oriented Audi S8, the higher-performance variant of the A8, further solidifying my satisfaction with the audi audi a8 platform. However, this period of automotive bliss was about to abruptly end.
The Onset of “General Electrical” Issues
In June 2022, subtle yet concerning electrical glitches began to surface, marking the beginning of a long and frustrating ordeal. The first sign was a dramatically reduced range for the garage door opener. While my previous Audi A6 and my wife’s vehicles could activate the garage door from the street, the audi audi a8 required near physical contact with the door. Multiple dealership visits yielded no solution. Frustrated, I invested in a new garage door opener system, a costly $1,600 attempt to resolve the issue. While initially appearing to help, the problem soon returned. I resorted to a simple, clip-on LiftMaster remote – a decidedly un-luxury workaround in my high-end audi audi a8.
Simultaneously, the power steering motor malfunctioned, requiring a dealer “reset.” It was during this visit that the service department first mentioned “General Electrical” issues – a vague and unsettling diagnosis that would become a recurring theme in my audi audi a8 ownership experience. These seemingly minor electrical gremlins were just the tip of the iceberg.
Overheating and Repeated Shop Visits
The situation took a serious turn after two years of ownership and less than 20,000 miles. The engine of my audi audi a8 began to overheat – an alarming and unexpected event, especially considering my positive experiences with previous Audis. The car issued a warning, and I promptly took it to the dealership. Initially, the service advisor dismissed it as a fluke, advising me to return only if it happened again. Foolishly, I accepted this explanation.
The very next day, the overheating recurred, this time with a more urgent warning. The car advised that I could continue driving but immediate service was needed. The air conditioning shut off, blowing hot air into the cabin. Engine temperature rising rapidly, I managed to pull over on the side of the highway. It was a scorching 108 degrees Fahrenheit, and my young daughter was with me, becoming understandably frightened by the roadside ordeal and the uncertainty of getting home in our incapacitated audi audi a8. Audi roadside assistance was called, and the car was towed to the shop, marking the beginning of an extended period of repairs and frustrations.
After a week or two, the audi audi a8 was returned, supposedly repaired. However, just five days later, while driving home with my daughter again, the overheating issue resurfaced. This time, the warning was even more dire: pull over immediately to avoid engine damage. In the Texas summer heat, we were stranded again. Audi roadside assistance informed me of a multi-day wait for a tow truck. My wife had to once again retrieve us.
During this repair, the dealership also discovered a malfunctioning left front strut and claimed to have “fixed” it as well. However, as of December 2023, the car was back in the shop for the same strut issue, highlighting the recurring and unresolved nature of the problems plaguing my audi audi a8.
This particular round of repairs stretched on for so long that it encompassed the 4th of July holiday and a three-week vacation to Europe. Communication with the dealership became an international affair as I tried to get updates on my audi audi a8 from overseas.
Upon my return, the dealership finally delivered the audi audi a8 to my garage on August 12th. By this point, I was on a first-name basis with the service manager, a testament to the frequency of my visits.
However, the relief was short-lived. The very next day, I discovered that in the process of repairs, the door seal had been damaged, causing the door to no longer sit flush with the car body. Another issue to add to the growing list of problems with my audi audi a8.
The service manager apologized and promised to fix it, but the part was backordered, adding further delay. As of December 23rd, the door seal remained unfixed, a constant reminder of the ongoing saga with my unreliable audi audi a8.
“General Electrical” Returns with a Vengeance
Just three days after getting the car back, the ominous “General Electrical” issues resurfaced. A seemingly minor “subsystem malfunction” warning appeared. I initially dismissed it as a sensor glitch, but it proved to be a harbinger of much larger problems.
The service manager was perplexed, especially since the sensors had supposedly just been aligned. It was clear something was fundamentally wrong with the electrical system of my audi audi a8.
Then, three days later, “all hell broke loose.” A barrage of warnings flashed across the dashboard. “General Electrical” and its “merry troop of truculent miscreants” had returned with full force, unleashing a cascade of system failures on my audi audi a8.
Warnings included disabled pre-sense, air suspension malfunction, and potential starting issues – effectively indicating a complete system meltdown.
The air conditioning failed, and the air suspension deflated, turning my luxury audi audi a8 into a bouncing lowrider. It was a comical yet deeply frustrating situation – a far cry from the refined driving experience I had expected.
Another call to the dealer, another tow, and another loaner car with broken Bluetooth – a recurring theme in this ongoing saga. The audi audi a8 was back in the shop, again.
On September 5th, I picked up the car, hoping against hope that this time, the repairs would be successful. However, the very same day, the proximity sensors malfunctioned again.
Restarting the car temporarily cleared the warnings, but two days later, a more alarming incident occurred. The proximity sensors, while broken, were still active and hallucinating phantom obstacles.
Driving slowly, the car suddenly slammed on the emergency brakes and violently tightened the seatbelts, reacting to nonexistent threats. At highway speeds, this malfunction could have been catastrophic. The audi audi a8 went straight back to the dealership.
Picked up again on September 22nd, the reprieve lasted barely a day before “General Electrical” and its cohorts returned, triggering the same sensor warnings.
By this point, I had initiated a buyback request with Audi. It was clear that the dealership, despite repeated attempts, was unable to reliably repair the audi audi a8. My family’s safety and my own sanity were at stake. I needed a reliable vehicle, not a constant source of stress and shop visits.
Yet again, the car returned in early November, only for the familiar warnings to reappear within days.
A week later, new issues surfaced, including a coolant/ammonia smell from the AC and a parking brake failure – adding to the already extensive list of malfunctions plaguing my audi audi a8.
As of December 2023, nearing Christmas, the audi audi a8 was back in the shop, facing a laundry list of unresolved and new problems. By this point, the car had spent more time at the dealership than in my garage since May, a stark indictment of its reliability.
The Buyback Process: A Further Disappointment
Driven to desperation, I initiated a buyback request with Audi of America. Given the sheer volume and persistence of the problems, I anticipated a straightforward and amicable resolution. However, the buyback process proved to be as frustrating and disappointing as the car itself.
Googling “audi buy back” and “audi lemon law” yielded mostly lawyer advertisements, with little guidance on initiating the process directly. A call to Audi of America connected me with Destiny, a brand support manager who, while polite, outlined a lengthy and paperwork-intensive process that could take up to 45 days. Required documents included repair orders, loaner agreements, payment history, purchase agreement, vehicle registration, and my driver’s license.
After gathering the necessary documents, the 45-day window passed without any response. A follow-up call revealed that Audi meant “45 business days,” and a decision was promised by December 6th. December 6th came and went with continued silence.
Another call on December 7th led to defensiveness from another brand support manager, Sammy, who seemed incredulous that I would be upset with Audi. Eventually, he promised leadership involvement and a response within five business days – more waiting.
Then came an email from “Steve Z” offering a paltry $5,000 settlement – a far cry from a full buyback and a profound insult given the extensive troubles and wasted time.
A subsequent call with Steve Z was equally unproductive. He was dismissive and defensive, failing to acknowledge the severity of the situation. He promised to review the case further but remained unresponsive.
Conclusion: A Brand Reputation Tarnished
In a fittingly modern twist, I used ChatGPT to personify the source of my audi audi a8 woes, creating an image of “General Electrical” – the mischievous gremlin responsible for the car’s relentless malfunctions.
My experience with the audi audi a8 and Audi of America has been profoundly disappointing. The vehicle proved to be unreliable, and the customer service inadequate. Audi’s inability to repair the car and their dismissive handling of the buyback request have significantly tarnished the brand’s reputation in my eyes. The slogan “truth in engineering” feels particularly hollow in light of my experience.
Update – December 27th:
Following public sharing of my ordeal, there was a notable response.
Audi increased their settlement offer to $8,000, but this still felt insufficient, especially considering the diminished value of the vehicle. Trade-in evaluations reflected a significant loss due to the documented service history.
I also learned about Texas Lemon Laws and the missed deadline for filing a state complaint due to Audi’s drawn-out buyback process. This added further frustration to the situation.
Ultimately, I rejected the revised offer and filed a Lemon Law complaint with the state. The state intervention prompted a call from the dealership, claiming the car was finally “fixed.” Skeptical, I instructed them to prepare the car for sale.
I sold the audi audi a8 and replaced it with a Mercedes, an immediate and welcome improvement in driving experience and reliability. Hopefully, this new vehicle will provide a more dependable and less stressful ownership experience.
This experience serves as a cautionary tale for potential audi audi a8 owners and highlights the importance of understanding lemon laws and pursuing direct state intervention when facing persistent vehicle issues and unsatisfactory manufacturer responses.
