Electric System Mal Function. The Car was flashing all signals. It asked to pull over and said there is a danger of car turning over. We called audi assistance. The tow truck driver could not load the car as the wheels were all locked up.
2019 Audi Q8
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Q8 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
34 reports with mileage · 74 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
43 reportsI purchased a used 2019 Audi Q8 Prestige Plus, with Sportline Pkg on 9/7/21. Car had approx. 18,500 miles. The car attempts to shut off when deaccelerating at any speed below 3000 rpm. There is also a significant throttle delay between the time you push the gas pedal and when the engine responds. To be clear the car is in Dynami…
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I purchased a used 2019 Audi Q8 Prestige Plus, with Sportline Pkg on 9/7/21. Car had approx. 18,500 miles. The car attempts to shut off when deaccelerating at any speed below 3000 rpm. There is also a significant throttle delay between the time you push the gas pedal and when the engine responds. To be clear the car is in Dynamic mode and the Start/Stop mode is deactivated. It appears that under certain conditions the car is trying to determine if it should shut down or continue running. The Audi 37M6 update has been performed on my car which was supposed to correct the problem. The Audi Knoxville Shop Foreman drove the car and experienced the problem, contacted Audi Technical Assistance center (case# HS-822562) and was told that the car had the latest software correction. The Shop Foreman wanted to erase the transmission clutch adaptations to see if the car could relearn the shift process but was advised by Audi Technical Assistance not to erase the transmission clutch adaptations and would not allow the Shop Foreman access to the car software in an effort to diagnose the problem. Note: there was a class action lawsuit in May 2020 for this problem that was dismissed because the car manual states the car can experience a delay when restarting from the Start/Stop mode. However, my issue occurs when the Start/Stop system is turned off. There is no continuous throttle response below 3000 rpm with the Start/Stop system turned off. I was given a 2021 Q7 with a 2.0 as a loaner car while my Q8 was in service and I did not experience any of the issues I have with my Q8. I was advised by my dealership to also write a letter to Audi USA as the dealership acknowledges there is a major problem and they want to try fix the issue but will not be given access to the car software to troubleshoot the issue. This is a dangerous problem.
I'M VERY UPSET WITH NHTSA AND AUDI. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA ON 10/22/20 AND THE COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 11365744. AGAIN AS STATED IN MY COMPLAINT THIS IS AN ACTUAL SAFETY ISSUE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. WELL IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD A…
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I'M VERY UPSET WITH NHTSA AND AUDI. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA ON 10/22/20 AND THE COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 11365744. AGAIN AS STATED IN MY COMPLAINT THIS IS AN ACTUAL SAFETY ISSUE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. WELL IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE MINE. IT ALSO TURNS OUT THAT AUDI HAS A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE FIX IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE 37M6. I'M GLAD THE ISSUE HAS BEEN FIXED ON MY VEHICLE BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT NHTSA AND AUDI ARE AWARE OF THIS FIX BUT BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES ARE NOT REQUIRING THE FIX TO BE MADE VIA A GOV'T ISSUED RECALL. AUDI CALLS THIS FIX A "CAMPAIGN". AUDI IS AVOIDING THE STANDARD PRACTICES OF NHTSA BY REFERRING TO THIS PROBLEM AND FIX AS A CAMPAIGN WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND SAFETY RECALL PROCESS. HAS NO ONE AT NHTSA OR AUDI LEARNED THE LESSONS OF THE GM DEBACLE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS COVER UP BY NHTSA/DOT AND AUDI IS A COMPLETE AN UTTER DISGRACE. TO ALLOW AUDI TO OPERATE OUTSIDE OF THE NHTSA SYSTEM IS A COMPLETE FAILURE. NHTSA NEEDS TO MANDATE AUDI ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ASAP!
OUR A8 HAS ISSUES WITH LAG TIME WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR A SLOW SPEED OF LESS THEN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO STOP RUNNING PRIOR TO A FULL STOP AND IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED NOTHING HAPPENS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LEAVES US AT RISK OF BEING INJURED OR KILLED. THIS ISSUE STARTED JUST A…
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OUR A8 HAS ISSUES WITH LAG TIME WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR A SLOW SPEED OF LESS THEN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO STOP RUNNING PRIOR TO A FULL STOP AND IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED NOTHING HAPPENS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LEAVES US AT RISK OF BEING INJURED OR KILLED. THIS ISSUE STARTED JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND HAS GOTTEN CONTINUALLY WORSE. WE HAVE ALSO ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE EVEN AFTER A FULL STOP AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A FULL STOP. IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DELAY IN ACCELERATION IS VERY DISCONCERTING AND DANGEROUS TO SAY THE LEAST.*DT*JB
I LEASED THIS 2019 AUDI Q8 IN DECEMBER 2018 FROM MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND IT HAS HAD SO MANY TECHNICAL ISSUES FROM THE START. I'VE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE ISSUES 5 OR 6 TIMES. IT KEPT SHOWING THE OIL SYMBOL AND SAID THERE WAS TOO MUCH OIL AND WAS CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A COMPUTER ISSUE. THEN THEY REPLACED A PART AND IT …
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I LEASED THIS 2019 AUDI Q8 IN DECEMBER 2018 FROM MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND IT HAS HAD SO MANY TECHNICAL ISSUES FROM THE START. I'VE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE ISSUES 5 OR 6 TIMES. IT KEPT SHOWING THE OIL SYMBOL AND SAID THERE WAS TOO MUCH OIL AND WAS CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A COMPUTER ISSUE. THEN THEY REPLACED A PART AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN NOT LONG AFTER. THEY THEN CLAIM THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS FAULTY. SINCE THE BEGINNING, IT HAS HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING WHEN IT IS IN THE ENERGY SAVING MODE, WHICH IS DEFAULT AND YOU HAVE TO DISABLE IT EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU USE THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LINE HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED MULTIPLE TIMES AND WHEN SERVICED, THEY CLAIM IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT AUDI IS WORKING ON A COMPUTER FIX TO THIS PROBLEM. NOW THE "DRIVE SYSTEM: MALFUNCTION! PLEASE CONTACT SERVICE" LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATING AS IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (PICTURE ATTACHED). THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR I HAVE EVER HAD AND IT HAS HAD MORE ISSUES THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE HAD. I'M NOW VERY CONCERNED THAT I AM PUTTING MYSELF AT RISK FOR DRIVING THIS CAR.
THE CAR WILL UNPREDICTABLY LOSE ALL POWER FOR 2-3 SECONDS. THIS HAS MORE THAN ONCE NEARLY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT!!!!!!! THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT UNABLE OR REFUSING TO FIX IT. PLEASE SAVE LIVES TODAY AND RECALL THE CAR.
WHEN DRIVING IN ANY STANDARD DRIVING MODE, WHEN YOU START TO COME TO A STOP WITH AUTO S/S ENABLED (E.G. SLOW DOWN) TO LESS THAN 6MPH, THEN ACCELERATE AGAIN, THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE LAG FOR THE VEHICLE TO START ACCELERATING AGAIN (ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS). THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS WHEN THERE IS CROSS TRAFFIC…
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WHEN DRIVING IN ANY STANDARD DRIVING MODE, WHEN YOU START TO COME TO A STOP WITH AUTO S/S ENABLED (E.G. SLOW DOWN) TO LESS THAN 6MPH, THEN ACCELERATE AGAIN, THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE LAG FOR THE VEHICLE TO START ACCELERATING AGAIN (ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS). THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS WHEN THERE IS CROSS TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE OFTEN DRIFTS INTO THE INTERSECTION AND YOU CAN'T QUICKLY ACCELERATE AWAY. HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS AND THE ISSUE IS EASILY REPLICABLE ON ANY 2019 Q8.
AUTO START/STOP IS SO LAGGY WHEN RE'STARTING THE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY AT LARGE CROSSINGS W HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ROUNDABOUTS. I HAD ALMOST 5 ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST YEAR BECAUSE YOU ANTICIPATE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND FROM EXPERIENCE YOU KNOW YOU CAN EASILY TURN OR GO, AND THEN YOU JUST ROLL A BIT AND THERE IS NOTHING HAPPENING AND YOU HAVE…
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AUTO START/STOP IS SO LAGGY WHEN RE'STARTING THE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY AT LARGE CROSSINGS W HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ROUNDABOUTS. I HAD ALMOST 5 ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST YEAR BECAUSE YOU ANTICIPATE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND FROM EXPERIENCE YOU KNOW YOU CAN EASILY TURN OR GO, AND THEN YOU JUST ROLL A BIT AND THERE IS NOTHING HAPPENING AND YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING.
WHEN START/STOP SYSTEM IS ENABLED, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. IF YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT TAKES 2-3 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON LEFT HAND YIELD TURNS WHERE THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED BY TURNING OFF THE START/STOP SYSTEMS OR PUTTING THE TRANS…
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WHEN START/STOP SYSTEM IS ENABLED, THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. IF YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT TAKES 2-3 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON LEFT HAND YIELD TURNS WHERE THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED BY TURNING OFF THE START/STOP SYSTEMS OR PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO SPORT MODE WHICH WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF THE START/STOP SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE CAR DOES NOT REMEMBER YOUR SETTING WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. SO EVERYTIME YOU START THE VEHICLE YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE START/STOP SYSTEMS. AUDI DEALER ASKNOWLDEGED THE ISSUE AND PERFORMED UPDATE, BUT THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS.
THE VEHICLE HAS MAJOR THROTTLE LAG FROM A STOP STATE OF THE CAR, IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE, THE VEHICLE WILL LAG ON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN JERK FORWARD AT FULL SPEED WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. THE TURBOS TAKE TOO LONG TO SEND POWER TO THE WHEELS AND RESULT IS SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
Official recalls
526V125000 · Lane Departure:software
Mar 4, 2026
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8, Audi A7, and Audi A6 vehicles previously repaired under recall number 25V900. Due to a software error, the lane departure warning system may be deactivated.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The driver may be unaware that the lane departure warning system is deactivated and rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 6, 2026.
25V900000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Dec 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 & remedy
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.
22V516000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Jul 20, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi Q8, and 2020-2021 Audi Q7 vehicles. A component inside the fuel pump may break, causing the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DR.
20V149000 · Steering
Mar 16, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles. The bolt connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear may loosen, possibly resulting in a loss of steering control.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A sudden loss of loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering shaft bolt, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 36A1.
19V114000 · Suspension:front:shock Absorber
Feb 20, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Q7, Q8, S5 Cabriolet, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The front shock absorber forks may develop cracks allowing the shock absorbers to loosen.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Loose shock absorbers may impair vehicle steering, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the shock absorber forks, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 40O4.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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