2019 Audi A8: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
24,526 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 14 complaints (57.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 42.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Electrical System: 8; Engine: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1; Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection: 1; Power Train: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (1). 12 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 8; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11352660 · 2020-09-01 (September 1, 2020)
I OWN A 2019 AUDI A8 WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. THIS NEARLY HAS CAUSED ME ACCIDENTS AND OTHER AUDI A8 OWNERS ARE ALSO VOICING COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF IT BUT SAID AUDI ENGINEERS WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLES DOES NOT RESPOND FOR THREE OR FOUR SECONDS AND THEN ABRUPTLY TAKES OFF. THERE IS A MAJOR HESITATION AND CAN BE DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE PULLING OUT IN AN INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC APPROACHING. AFTER THE 3-4 SECOND DELAY, IT THEN DANGEROUSLY SPEEDS AHEAD. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11352660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11382693 · 2020-11-17 (November 17, 2020)
INADVERTENT ACCELERATION. CAR A AGAINST WALL AT LOW SPEED (EST. 3 MPH). WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH BEHAVIOR OF STOP-START FEATURE. ENGINE WAS STOPPED, BUT VEHICLE IGNITION WAS NOT TURNED OFF. DRIVER DID NOT ANTICIPATE RESTART OF VEHICLE WHEN LIFTING FOOT OFF OF BRAKE. MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE FRONT END.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,052 miles reported. Look up ODI 11382693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11452496 · 2022-02-17 (February 17, 2022)
Vehicle engine would suddenly stop working, warning, "drive system malfunction: stop vehicle safely." It has happened 3 times within 3 days in the middle of the intersection. Dealers wouldn't take this issue seriously and they asked me to make an appointment online, which is scheduled to be 1 month away. The issue almost caused an accident twice. Adaptive cruise is also malfunctioning, engine random misfire, sunroof rattle, etc. This car is just so problematic it only has 20,000 miles on it and had scheduled maintenance performed just a mon…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11452496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11502629 · 2023-01-19 (January 19, 2023)
Message appeared on display Jan 7 2023: "Electrical system: Malfunction! Please contact service" The trunk lid opened while I was driving, the a/c quit (I am in Key West!), the auto start/stop quit. I had heard of many other Audi owners whose car just quit, so I scooted home and parked. I had it towed to Coral Gables FL at my expense, and the dealer told me it was an alternator problem that needed to be replaced. None available in the US, could be months before it's repaired. Car is 2019 Audi A8 with 42,000 miles.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11502629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11503613 · 2023-01-25 (January 25, 2023)
The contact owns a 2019 Audi 8. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the message "Electrical Malfunction" was suddenly displayed before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the alternator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available. The failure mileage was 45,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11503613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11503884 · 2023-01-26 (January 26, 2023)
Alternator/Start stop generator is bad. Car stopped dead in the intersection.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11503884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11515953 · 2023-04-07 (April 7, 2023)
Hello, On April 6th, 2023, at 12 pm, my car experienced a electrical malfunction within the Start/Stop system, which didn’t posed an immediate threat to my life. Later that day, the car stalled on me while driving, causing a highly dangerous situation on a busy street during peak traffic hours. Multiple error codes appeared, and the transmission failed, leaving me in a perilous position. It is alarming that AUDI is aware of this life-threatening issue, yet no recall has been issued thus far. I urge NHTSA to take swift action and hold AUDI acc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11515953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11516179 · 2023-04-09 (April 9, 2023)
The sunroof on my 2019 Audi A8 spontaneously exploded around 445 pm on Friday, April 7, 2023. The car was traveling around 55 MPH and the sunroof just exploded out. The sunscreen was closed at the time. It was not hit by a rock or a tree limb or any other item. It just exploded. Sounded like a gunshot when the car was brought to a stop, there was a large hole in the sunroof and glass scattered all around the hole.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11516179 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V415000 · Seats
Reported: 2019-06-05 (June 5, 2019)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Audi A8 vehicles equipped with rear relaxation seats. The front passenger seat track rivet may fail and cause the spindle bracket to separate.
Consequence: A failure of the seat track rivet increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger seat tracks, free of charge. The recall began July 25, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72J3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V111000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm) | Engine
Reported: 2021-02-24 (February 24, 2021)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A8 and 2020-2021 Audi S8 vehicles. A missing sealing pin may allow moisture to enter the engine control module connector, possibly causing a control module malfunction.
Consequence: An engine control module malfunction may cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine control module connector for a missing sealing pin, and install it, if necessary. The connector will also be inspected for corrosion, and replaced as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 12, 20121. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EV.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V900000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2025-12-19 (December 19, 2025)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
NHTSA campaign record ↗