EA888 Gen 2
Audi · 2.0L Turbo I4
2009–2012
"Same oil + tensioner flaws as Gen 1. CR: rebuild by 100-150k mi."
Mileage Risk Timeline
When problems typically appear — enter your mileage to see your risk zone
Known Issues 3
Oil consumption (slightly improved but still bad)
▸Oil level drops, blue smoke on hard acceleration
Slightly better than Gen 1 but CR recommends rebuild by 100-150k miles. Not fixed.
AVOID. Same core issue as Gen 1. Consumer Reports verdict: rebuild by 150k miles.
Timing chain tensioner (same as Gen 1)
▸Chain rattle, timing issues, catastrophic failure risk
Same plastic tensioner. Same class-action. Same verdict.
AVOID entirely. Do not buy Gen 1 or Gen 2 EA888.
Severe carbon buildup
▸Rough idle, hesitation, misfires at cold
Worse than Gen 3 due to DI-only system and oil burning.
If already owned: walnut blast every 40k km minimum.
Models with EA888 Gen 2 5
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Tuning Potential
Risky
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Audi EA888 Gen 2 reliable?
The Audi EA888 Gen 2 scores 38/100 with a verdict of AVOID. It has 3 documented issues with total repair costs between €1,900 and €7,300.
What are the common problems with the EA888 Gen 2?
The most common issues are:
- Oil consumption (slightly improved but still bad) — critical, repair cost €0–€3,000, 20,000 km–100,000 km
- Timing chain tensioner (same as Gen 1) — critical, repair cost €1,500–€3,500, 60,000 km–130,000 km
- Severe carbon buildup — high, repair cost €400–€800, 40,000 km–80,000 km
What cars use the Audi EA888 Gen 2?
The EA888 Gen 2 is found in:
- A5 (2009–2016)
- A4 (2009–2015)
- Q5 (2009–2016)
- A6 (2011–2018)
- A3 2.0 TFSI (2003–2012)
How much does it cost to repair the EA888 Gen 2?
Total potential repair costs for all 3 known issues range from €1,900 to €7,300. The most expensive issue is typically .
What years was the EA888 Gen 2 produced?
The Audi EA888 Gen 2 was produced from 2009 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.