IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2022 Audi R8 (Type 4S)

We've identified 2 known issues that can affect the 2022 Audi R8 (Type 4S). None are considered critical, but they're worth knowing about before you buy.

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 2022 Audi R8 (Type 4S)

  • Check all three DVSA recall campaigns are closed on the specific VIN - the September 2018 gearbox breather fix touched nearly 1,000 UK cars
  • Cold-start the V10 and hunt for oil smell behind the cabin; leaking magnetic-ride dampers and seepage from rear coolant lines are the known drains
  • Ask what the brakes are made of: steel-braked cars squeal and chew discs, ceramic cars are slow but expensive to replace
  • Verify the exact build (Plus, Performance, RWS, Spyder) from the options list - values and repair costs differ sharply
  • Inspect for track abuse: kerbed rims, heat-blued parts and check for knocks between the body and wheels
Check a 2022 Audi R8 (Type 4S) by Registration