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
Other Audi Engines
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 (2007–2016)
- A4 (2008–2015)
- Q5 (2008–2016)
- 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.
Verdict and scores are editorial opinions based on aggregated data. Learn about our methodology. Not a substitute for professional inspection.