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U.S. public vehicle records

Audi Q8 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

200 owner complaints analyzed

16 distinct recall campaigns

4,250 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2019 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 200 complaints (38.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues5125.5%
Braking behavior2814.0%
Transmission and shifting189.0%
Steering behavior178.5%
Engine operation115.5%
Fuel system concerns52.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
76
Engine
49
Power Train
49
Unknown Or Other
23
Steering
17
Fuel/Propulsion System
15
Service Brakes
13
Vehicle Speed Control
10
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System76
Engine49
Power Train49
Unknown Or Other23
Steering17
Fuel/Propulsion System15
Service Brakes13
Vehicle Speed Control10

Electrical System: 76; Engine: 49; Power Train: 49; Unknown Or Other: 23; Steering: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15; Service Brakes: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
40
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00040
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 156 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2019
17
2020
20
2021
9
2022
23
2023
45
2024
24
2025
26
2026
36
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201917
202020
20219
202223
202345
202424
202526
202636

2019: 17; 2020: 20; 2021: 9; 2022: 23; 2023: 45; 2024: 24; 2025: 26; 2026: 36

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 51 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11494045 · 2022-11-17 (November 17, 2022)

Alternator / Generator issue causing car to electrical malfunction.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11494045 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11495578 · 2022-12-01 (December 1, 2022)

An "Electrical System Malfunction" warning, check engine light and the battery light came on. Was informed to notify service. Few hours later multiple system failure started to appear. Dashboard went dark and I was unable to tell the speed of the vehicle. The window rolled down on it is own. After coming to a stop the vehicle was unable to start again. Dealer informed me the "affected parts" are being ordered. No further updates were available.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11495578 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11219348 · 2019-06-11 (June 11, 2019)

THE AUTO STOP/START SYSTEM ON THE AUDI Q8 PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN A DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. FREQUENTLY, WHEN I DO THIS (WITH THE AUTO STOP/START ENGAGED - IT'S DEFAULT SETTING) THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-4 SECONDS. WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE, IT FINALLY DOES SO WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN EITHER ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC OR TAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A ROAD. FOR THE DRIVER, IT'S VERY DISCONCERTING AS (1) YOU DON'T GET THE POWER WHEN YOU WANT OR…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11219348 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11302211 · 2020-01-27 (January 27, 2020)

THE VEHICLES AUTO START/STOP FEATURE PUTS THE DRIVER IN COMPROMISING SITUATIONS WHEN POWER IS DEMANDED FROM THE ACCELERATOR AFTER AN ENGINE POWER-DOWN. THE ENGINE DOES IGNITE TIMELY, (AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED) BUT THE DELIVERY OF MOVING POWER IS DELAYED (LAG PERIOD) FOLLOWING AN AUTO "SHUT-OFF AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE IN COMPROMISING SITUATIONS WHERE NO POWER CAN BE DEMANDED FROM THE DRIVETRAIN. WHEN THIS DELAY PERIOD (LAG) HAS PASSED, AND POWER IS FINALLY TRANSFERRED TO THE WHEELS, THE VEHICLE EXPELS THE DEMANDED ENERGY FORCEFU…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11302211 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11219427 · 2019-06-12 (June 12, 2019)

EXCESSIVE AND DANGEROUS DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE DUE TO AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM CAUSING VEHICLE TO COAST WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A YIELD SIGN OR INTERSECTION ETC BEFORE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE IS POWERLESS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS DESPITE APPLICATION OF GAS PEDAL, CAUSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO POTENTIAL COLLIDE WITH "STALLED" Q8. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN DEFECT IN THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM AND OCCURS EVERY TIME THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11219427 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11252778 · 2019-09-02 (September 2, 2019)

DANGEROUS LAG/PAUSE IN THROTTLE RESPONSE WHEN ACCELERATION IS NEEDED. WHEN COMING TO A ROLLING OR ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM IS ENABLED. IF I GO TO TURN/ACCELERATE THERE CAN BE SEVERAL SECONDS OF TIME LAG BETWEEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND ANY THROTTLE RESPONSE. IT IS DANGEROUS AT TIMES WHEN PULLING ONTO A STREET AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND AFTER A FEW SECONDS. ADDITIONAL THROTTLE PRESSURE DOES NOT INDUCE A THROTTLE RESPONSE, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL SURGE AHEAD. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND AND SEEMS REL…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252778 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11489267 · 2022-10-14 (October 14, 2022)

1.STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION: sudden loss of steering control increases risk of crashing. Steering wheel now feels more loose. Issue is listed under recalls for 2019 Audi Q8 SUV's. Yellow warning light (triangle with exclamation point), Loud " dinging" alert. Appeared 10/13/2022. 2. CENTRAL LOCK MALFUNCTION: randomly unable to lock or secure vehicle. Vehicle & belongings open to public theft & damage. Central lock malfunction message appears on dash. Appeared 10/12/2022.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11489267 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11495660 · 2022-12-01 (December 1, 2022)

While driving, all the warnings came on the dash. "Electrical Malfunction", "Child seat belt malfunction", "Start/ stop malfunction", "Steering Wheel malfunction" "Power Brake malfunction" and when I came to a stop, the car completely stopped. I could not put it into neutral to push it out of the road so my car blocked a lane on a highway making it very dangerous. 2 service reps from 2 different Audi dealerships have confirmed that is this a known defect with the v48 generator/ alternator

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11495660 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11492928 · 2022-11-09 (November 9, 2022)

The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q8. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and then stopping at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that he restarted the vehicle several times however, the failure recurred several times. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of …

Owner-reported narrative. 36,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11492928 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11490574 · 2022-10-24 (October 24, 2022)

I was driving yesterday on a highway and the car completely shut down. Got stranded in the left lane with 4 kids in the car - could have been killed. I had previously brought the car into the dealer for a fuel pump related issue. Apparently there is a recall but they don't even have the part to fix it.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11490574 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11638621 · 2025-01-26 (January 26, 2025)

There is helicopter type of noise coming from fuel pump and it’s increasing while driving very annoying and i feel steering is loose and I notice on google same problem with so many Audi q8 and sq8

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11638621 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2019
5
2020
3
2021
7
2022
3
2023
2
2024
3
2025
2
2026
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20195
20203
20217
20223
20232
20243
20252
20261

2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 1

Year-by-year records

Audi Q8 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20191085Not available
2020283-2
2021307+4
202223-4
202372-1
2024223+1
202532-1
202601-1