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2003 Audi A8/S8

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 A8/S8.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2003 Audi A8/S8 is a full‑size passenger car built on Audi’s flagship platform and equipped with the brand’s automatic S5 transmission, delivering the modest fuel‑economy figures of 15 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Its V8 power‑train is serviced with 7.9 qt of oil and accepts 5W‑30, 5W‑40 or 10W‑30 viscosity grades, underscoring the maintenance rigor required for this generation. In the broader reliability record, the model registers only eight owner complaints—most of which cluster around the power‑train—and a single recall, placing the 2003 year toward the more dependable end of the A8/S8’s history.

Model year2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2003 2002 2001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7.9 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 850 CCA battery, OE oil filter 021115562A. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and cabin air filter are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 49 · 850 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turn1OEM · verified

Tire size245-45R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	021115562A
Engine air filter	077129620D discontinued
Fuel filter	441201511C discontinued
Spark plug	101905615A
Battery	000915089J alt 000915089K
Front wiper blades	4A0955425B alt 4B0955425
Thermostat	077121113D
Cabin air filter	4D0898438A discontinued · alt 4D0819647

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S5)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 23 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	100 cu ft
Cargo volume	18 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7.9 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.9 Pints
Engine Oil Capacity	7.9 qt
Engine Oil Capacity	7.9 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE AUDI PART NO. G002000 OR G004000

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	26.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	9 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.2

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	140 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.3-0.5 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	VW
Spark Plug Gap	0.028-0.035 in
Spark Plug Torque	22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.65-1.76 lbs
Oil Capacity	8.50-9.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	850 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	95R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	850 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	49

Service checks

Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188 °F
Pressure Test	14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	17-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	179 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	58.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	52.0 psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	89 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	89 ft-lbs
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.181 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.102 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.181 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.102 in / 0.787 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	26 ft. lbs.	26 ft. lbs
2	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees	90 degrees
4	90

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 40,000 mi.

Every 10,000 mi	Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Headlamp (inspect alignment) · Sunroof Assembly (lubricate) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 40,000 mi	Air Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Final Drive (leak inspection) · Power Steering System (inspect fluid level) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 80,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2003 Audi A8/S8 lead in one area — the power train, 2 of 8 reports (25%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the power train are also the target of recall 08V-397 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

134

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Power Train2

Exterior Lighting2

Suspension1

Steering1

Tires1

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V397000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 14/08/2008

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 13,900 MY 1996-2003 AUDI A8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE LOCKING CABLE MAY MOVE OUT OF POSITION OVER TIME. WITH THE LOCKING CABLE OUT OF POSITION, THE SHIFTER CAN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKING CABLE BY INSTALLING AN ADJUSTING PIECE THAT WILL SECURE THE LOCKING CABLE IN PLACE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 134 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
A0023742052680_4	2023-10-04	Equipment	This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety…
A4021312024318_1	2021-12-22	Wheels	This technical service bulletin provides instructions for correcting a clicking sound…
A0021482021205_6	2021-06-25	Structure	This informational bulletin explains how to order replacement VIN plates, Safety…
A4020052024318_9	2020-05-13	Wheels	This technical service bulletin provides instructions for correcting a clicking sound…
A0020362002047_1	2020-04-16	Equipment	This information bulletin contains instructions for technicans on how to ensure their TAC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific A8/S8. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 49 battery Vehicles taking 7.9 qt Engine oil filter 021115562A Engine air filter 077129620D Fuel filter 441201511C Spark plug 101905615A

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 A8/S8 take?

7.9 qt of ENERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API SL, EXCEPT ENGERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-50, 10W-50, OR 10W-60 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 A8/S8 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the A8/S8 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.