Home · 2021 Audi Q8 · Complaints

What 28 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Audi Q8

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (28)Electrical system (13)Engine (6)Fuel system (5)Transmission & drivetrain (4)Backup camera & sensors (3)Driver assistance (2)Lane Departure (2)Steering (2)Brakes (1)Lights (1)

5 of 28 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Sep 15, 2025Fuel system

The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q8. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to operate. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the failure recurred. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V201000 (Electrical System), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed; however, the failure recurred the same day while driving from the dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that while driving 50-55 MPH, the messages "Loss of Power", "Reduced RPMs to 3,000", and other unknown messages were displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11687263

Mar 12, 2024Electrical systemEngineFuel system

I wish to report a critical safety issue with our Audi Q8, which experienced a complete electrical failure while traveling at 65 mph on the freeway on [XXX]. The warning indicators transitioned from yellow to red before the vehicle lost all functionality, including turn signals and emergency blinkers, posing a severe risk to my family and other motorists. We managed to coast to the roadside without incident, but the potential for a catastrophic outcome was alarmingly high. Audi has identified the problem as an alternator defect, which is apparently a known issue covered under an extended warranty for Audi Q8 2019-2022 for 7 years unlimited miles. However, the policy to address this defect only upon failure is unacceptable and dangerous. This malfunction could reoccur at any time, significantly endangering everyone on the road. Importantly, we frequently tow an Airstream trailer with our Q8. Had this failure occurred while towing, the consequences could have been disastrous on a large scale, endangering not only our family but also other road users due to the increased risk of a multi-vehicle collision, tipping over of Airstream or the Q8 if hit by vehicle who didn’t The replacement part's minimum of 3-8+ weeks wait time exacerbates our concern, leaving us without a vehicle or ability to use our Airstream which is one reason why we purchased the Audi Q8. I am aware of similar incidents of this failure in SF Bay Area across the past 4-6 months, underscores the need for immediate investigation and action to prevent future occurrences. We frequently travel on challenging routes like [XXX] in California as we own a home in Santa Cruz highlight the urgent need for a reliable vehicle. The thought of such a failure under those circumstances on a routine drive home or while towing, is unthinkable but could have happened to us at anytime. We urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter thoroughly to ensure the safety of all Q8 drivers public. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11576760

Jan 25, 2023Fuel system

The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q8. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and the contact was informed that the recall could not be serviced for several months. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11503676

Dec 27, 2022Fuel system

The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q8. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11499018

Nov 29, 2022Fuel system

The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q8. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11495244

Working with the data? Download all 28 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2021 Audi Q8 verdict →