EA888 Gen 1/2
Audi · 2.0L Turbo I4 (early)
2006–2012
"Notorious oil burning, plastic timing chain tensioner failure. Multiple class-actions. Avoid unless already rebuilt."
Mileage Risk Timeline
When problems typically appear — enter your mileage to see your risk zone
Known Issues 2
Excessive oil consumption — design flaw
▸Oil level drops rapidly, blue smoke, burning oil smell
Fundamental design flaw. Some examples consume 1L per 1,000 km. No proper fix — Audi lost class-action.
AVOID. If already owned: check oil every 2k km, budget €2,000-3,000 for potential rebuild.
Plastic timing chain tensioner failure
▸Catastrophic engine failure without warning, timing chain jump or snap
Plastic tensioner fails. Chain jumps or snaps destroying engine. Class-action won by owners.
AVOID this engine entirely in Greek market. Do not buy EA888 Gen 1 regardless of price.
Models with EA888 Gen 1/2 16
Related Guides
Other Audi Engines
Tuning Potential
Risky to tune
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Audi EA888 Gen 1/2 reliable?
The Audi EA888 Gen 1/2 scores 35/100 with a verdict of AVOID. It has 2 documented issues with total repair costs between €1,500 and €6,500.
What are the common problems with the EA888 Gen 1/2?
The most common issues are:
- Excessive oil consumption — design flaw — critical, repair cost €0–€3,000, 20,000 km–100,000 km
- Plastic timing chain tensioner failure — critical, repair cost €1,500–€3,500, 60,000 km–130,000 km
What cars use the Audi EA888 Gen 1/2?
How much does it cost to repair the EA888 Gen 1/2?
Total potential repair costs for all 2 known issues range from €1,500 to €6,500. The most expensive issue is typically .
What years was the EA888 Gen 1/2 produced?
The Audi EA888 Gen 1/2 was produced from 2006 to 2012. It is a 1984cc I4 petrol turbo engine.
Scores are calculated from documented issues, repair costs, and failure patterns across thousands of owner reports and technical sources. Learn about our methodology. Always inspect before you buy.