IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2019 Audi R8 (Type 4S)

The 2019 facelift (revealed 2018) raised outputs to 562bhp (V10) and 611bhp (renamed V10 Performance), sharpened the front end and interior, and the RWS entered the standard range with 562bhp in January 2020; the final V10 GT ran to 2023 before production ended in early 2024.

What changed for 2019

  • •540hp car became the 562bhp base; V10 Plus became V10 Performance at 611bhp
  • •Sharper LED headlights (laser option) and revised bumpers
  • •Updated interior switchgear and infotainment generation
  • •RWS rear-drive model became a regular production variant from January 2020

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Ceramic braking cars with glazed, unbedded discs still attract brake advisories
  • !Late-registration Performance models carry soft service history despite low mileage
2
Known Issues
0
Serious
1
Moderate
1
Minor

All Known Issues

Magnetic-Ride Damper Leaks and Rear Wishbone Failures

ModerateSuspension & Chassis

Auto Express' used guide warns the R8's magnetic-ride dampers can leak fluid, with owners tempted to fit pattern parts while rebuild specialists exist precisely because the Audi units give up; Autocar's buying guide goes further on the suspension: steel nuts and bolts seize, and a lower rear wishbone can fail in a way that needs a whole new unit - an expensive fix - on both generations. R8s are sensitive to worn bushes and tyre wear, so a knocking or drifting R8 is telling you something rather than being 'just low'.

Est. Repair Cost: £250-£450 per rebuilt damper, £600-£1,500 a new axle pair; rear wishbone repair into four figures
Warning Signs:

Oily crust or wet streaks down a damper body, Uneven or harsh rebound after dips and speed cushions, Knocks from the rear corners over joints, Steering that wanders on camber changes

What to Inspect:
  • Shine a torch down each damper behind the wheel arch liners for fresh oil
  • Accelerate and brake firmly during the test drive, listening for knocks from the rear
  • Check the seized-steel-fastener area on any car that has lived outside the UK salt belt, and ask what wishbone work was done
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Steel Brake Squeal and Disc Wear

MinorBrakes

On non-ceramic cars, Auto Express' used guide reports persistent squeal from the standard steel brakes until they bed in, while Autocar notes brake discs are costly to replace and pads should be changed at 50% to protect them - plus oxidisation where steel hardware meets the aluminium structure. In UK use, R8s that do school runs rather than track days corrode discs and callipers, so brake noise is not something to dismiss as supercar character: it tells you what the car has been doing and what needs budgeting.

Est. Repair Cost: £400-£800 per axle for discs and pads (steel setup)
Warning Signs:

Constant squealing from cold that does not fade after the first hard stop, Rusted lip on disc edges of low-mileage cars, Pulsing through the pedal from warped or glazed discs

What to Inspect:
  • Drive the car from cold and note whether squeal persists after three or four firm stops
  • Look at the disc face through the wheels for pitted corrosion or a deep step at the edge
  • Ask whether the car is steel or ceramic braked - ceramic sets are a five-figure-cheap mistake to buy blind
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 2019 Audi R8 (Type 4S)

  • The 2019+ Performance engine is the keeper spec; prices for the two generations have not diverged as much as the equipment
  • Ask for evidence the car has had a post-2020 oil-separator/breather inspection where applicable
2016–20182020–2024
Check a 2019 Audi R8 (Type 4S) by Registration