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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)

2 of 28 complaints match · Steering · clear filters

Mar 30, 2026SteeringElectrical system

Belt Starter Generator failure rendered car undrivable -- power steering failed while in motion. Issue is subject to Class Action Settlement in USDistrict Court, Case # 3:23-cv-02291-RK-RLS. But this should have been a recall because of danger of Injury or Death. A recall would provide notice that the notice of settlement failed to provide. This failure happened to me on March 29, 2026. Dealer is not able to do the repair work in a timely manner.

NHTSA ODI 11727957

Sep 28, 2023SteeringElectrical systemEngine

Complete loss of electrical power while driving due to faulty alternator at only 35K miles. This resulted in total loss of steering, suspension failure, and any other electrical systems in the car. Making the car almost impossible to control specially for a new driver. Apparently the issue is widespread with any Audi car or SUV equipped with a V6 3 liter engine. The repair requires the replacement of the alternator and the 12v (an in some cases 48v) battery. The issue happens suddenly with no prior warning and completely disables the vehicle while driving. To the best of my knowledge Audi replaces the alternator with the same faulty design, which may lead to the issue to appear again at a later time.

NHTSA ODI 11547234

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 →