AUDI S8 (2016) recall — Structure
Volkswagen recalls 2013-2018 Audi S8 vehicles with potential engine seal fire risk. Owners must contact Audi for a free retaining plate fix.
Use caution until it’s fixed
If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Volkswagen is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S8 vehicles because the engine compartment seal may loosen and contact hot engine parts, creating a fire risk. This affects vehicles purchased between 2013 and 2018. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1226558-audi-s8-2016-recall-engine-seal-fire-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1226558-audi-s8-2016-recall-engine-seal-fire-risk · Updated October 5, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #20V397000
Cite this page
“Audi S8 (2016) Recall: Engine Seal Fire Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 5, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1226558-audi-s8-2016-recall-engine-seal-fire-risk. Based on NHTSA recall #20V397000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=20V397000).
Why it’s dangerous
The seal around the engine compartment can loosen over time. If it contacts hot engine parts, it may cause a fire due to heat buildup.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2013-2018 Audi S8 vehicles are affected. Drivers with the specific engine seal issue face a fire risk if the seal contacts hot engine components.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your vehicle is a 2013-2018 Audi S8. The recall covers vehicles with a potentially loose engine compartment seal.
- Brand
Audi- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Audi
Call Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 to schedule the retaining plate installation.
What NHTSA says to do
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.
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
The seal around the engine compartment may loosen and contact hot engine components, increasing fire risk.
How do I know if my vehicle is affected?
This recall covers 2013-2018 Audi S8 vehicles with a potentially loose engine compartment seal.
What should I do if I have this vehicle?
Audi will notify owners and dealers will install a retaining plate to prevent the seal from loosening.
Contact Audi
We’ve drafted a message you can send Audi to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 20V397000 — Audi Audi Hello, I own a Audi that is covered by recall 20V397000 from Audi. The official recall notice states: 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. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #20V397000 (July 7, 2020)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 5, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.