The Audi maintenance schedule is simpler than most owners expect. On recent models, the first service is due at 10,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first. After that, your Audi alternates between a minor and a standard maintenance service every 10,000 miles or every year. A few items, such as brake fluid, spark plugs and S tronic transmission fluid, run on their own clocks.
This guide walks through the Audi maintenance schedule mile by mile, explains what each service includes, and shows where it differs by model. The intervals below come from the 2022 Audi Maintenance Schedule for all models. Your owner’s manual or service booklet is the final word for your exact car.
Quick Summary: Key Takeaways
- Every 10,000 miles or 1 year: your Audi is due for a service, alternating minor and standard maintenance.
- Minor maintenance (10,000, 30,000, 50,000 miles): oil and filter change, brake pad check and a multi-point inspection.
- Standard maintenance (20,000, 40,000, 60,000 miles): everything in the minor service plus a full inspection and a road test.
- Brake fluid: every 2 years, regardless of mileage.
- Spark plugs and S tronic fluid: intervals depend on the engine and model.
The Audi Maintenance Schedule at a Glance
| Mileage or time | Service | Also due |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 miles / 1 year | Minor maintenance | — |
| 20,000 miles / 2 years | Standard maintenance | Dust and pollen (cabin) filter |
| 30,000 miles / 3 years | Minor maintenance | — |
| 40,000 miles / 4 years | Standard maintenance | Cabin filter |
| 50,000 miles / 5 years | Minor maintenance | — |
| 60,000 miles / 6 years | Standard maintenance | Cabin filter; engine air filter (most models) |
| Every 2 years | Brake fluid change | Regardless of mileage |
The pattern continues every 10,000 miles. Spark plugs and S tronic fluid are added at the intervals for your engine and model, covered below.
What Happens at an Audi Minor Maintenance Service
Minor maintenance is the lighter of the two services. Audi’s schedule lists:
- Engine oil and oil filter change
- Brake pad thickness inspection
- A multi-point inspection
- Resetting the service reminder
It is due at 10,000 miles or one year after delivery, then every 20,000 miles or two years after the last minor service, so it falls at roughly 10,000, 30,000 and 50,000 miles.
What Happens at an Audi Standard Maintenance Service
Standard maintenance includes everything in the minor service and adds a full inspection of the brake system, lighting, suspension, tires, belts, cooling system and underbody, finished with a road test. It is due at 20,000 miles or two years, then every 20,000 miles or two years after that, so it lands at 20,000, 40,000 and 60,000 miles. The dust and pollen filter is replaced on the same 20,000-mile, two-year cycle.
Audi Service Items With Their Own Intervals
- Brake fluid: every 2 years, regardless of mileage. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, so this one runs on the calendar, not the odometer.
- Engine air filter: every 60,000 miles on most models, and every 20,000 miles on the RS 6 Avant and RS 7.
- Spark plugs: anywhere from every 30,000 miles or 3 years to every 80,000 miles or 6 years, depending on the engine.
- S tronic transmission fluid: every 40,000 or 80,000 miles, depending on the model.
Because these items vary by engine and model year, check the schedule for your exact car, or ask us and we will look it up for you.
Why Following the Audi Maintenance Schedule Matters
Warranty protection. Keeping to the schedule and keeping the records protects your factory warranty. You do not have to go to the dealer: under federal law, routine maintenance can be done at an independent shop as long as it follows Audi’s specifications, as the Federal Trade Commission explains.
Safety. Every service includes a brake check, and every standard service inspects the brakes, tires, suspension and lighting, so worn parts get caught before they become a problem on the road.
Longevity. Fresh oil, clean filters and fresh brake fluid are cheap compared with the repairs that follow when they are skipped.
Resale value. A complete service history is one of the first things a buyer asks for when looking at a used Audi.
Audi Maintenance in Encinitas at California Autohaus
We have serviced European cars in Encinitas since 2005, from our nine-bay shop at 386 Encinitas Blvd. Our ASE-certified technicians follow the Audi maintenance schedule for your model, and every repair carries our 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. For more on what we do for Audi owners, see our Audi repair page, our factory scheduled maintenance service, oil changes and brake repair, or our German auto repair page.
- ASE-certified technicians
- Courtesy shuttle service
- AAA Approved Auto Repair facility
- 3-year/36,000-mile warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often does an Audi need maintenance?
A: Every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first, on recent models. The services alternate between minor maintenance at 10,000, 30,000 and 50,000 miles and standard maintenance at 20,000, 40,000 and 60,000 miles.
Q: What is the difference between Audi minor and standard maintenance?
A: Minor maintenance is an oil and filter change, a brake pad check and a multi-point inspection. Standard maintenance includes all of that and adds a full inspection of the brakes, lighting, suspension, tires, belts, cooling system and underbody, finished with a road test.
Q: How often should Audi brake fluid be changed?
A: Every two years, regardless of mileage.
Q: When does an Audi need new spark plugs?
A: It depends on the engine. Audi’s schedule ranges from every 30,000 miles or 3 years to every 80,000 miles or 6 years.
Q: Will servicing my Audi at an independent shop void the warranty?
A: No. Federal law lets you have routine maintenance done at any shop, as long as the work follows Audi’s specifications and you keep the records.
Book Your Audi’s Next Scheduled Service
Not sure where your Audi is on its schedule? Call us or send us a message with your mileage, and we will tell you which service is due next.
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM; closed Saturday and Sunday
