2019 Audi Q8 Engine Problems

My car is a 2019 Audi Q8 3.0L V6 with only 41,831 miles. My emergency light went on and I brought it my locat Audi Dealer. The inspection revealed that the coolant pump was leaking internally, contaminating the entire vacuum system with coolant. This is not a maintenance failure or the result of owner neglect. It is a well-documented, inherent design defect in the EA839 3.0T engine platform that powers the 2019 Q8, a defect that Audi of America has acknowledged through multiple Technical Service Bulletins. Specifically, the EA839 water pump uses a vacuum-operated diaphragm to control coolant flow. When the pump's internal seals fail — as they predictably do — coolant migrates directly into the engine's vacuum system, contaminating components far beyond the pump itself. Industry experts and Audi forums alike describe this failure mode as inevitable on this platform: not a matter of if, but when. This is a design defect manifesting at a fraction of the mileage at which any reasonable owner would expect a cooling system component to fail. Audi of America has issued multiple TSBs addressing coolant pump failures on this exact engine platform, and previously extended warranty coverage for Q7 and Q8 vehicles, including those built during the same production window as the vehicle in question. Our concern is this issue can cause the engine to seize while driving and Audi's repair costs for this known issue have been quoted minimally at $5,519.76

NHTSA ID

11736636

Incident

Apr 12, 2026

I own a 2019 Audi Q8. The vehicle was in the dealership’s possession for approximately three (3) weeks for service. During that time, I was not informed of any significant mechanical concerns or issues. After retrieving the vehicle, it displayed an oil pressure warning while in operation. I immediately returned the vehicle to the dealership for evaluation. At that time, the dealership added oil (“topped off” the vehicle) and released it back to me without identifying or addressing the underlying cause of the warning. Following this, I made multiple attempts to have the vehicle properly diagnosed. I experienced difficulty obtaining assistance, including calls being disconnected, and I was not provided meaningful support or a thorough evaluation of the issue. Shortly after leaving the dealership, the vehicle began producing abnormal knocking noises and rapidly became unsafe to operate, requiring it to be towed. This situation presents a significant safety concern, as a sudden loss of power or drivability while driving can increase the risk of an accident, particularly in traffic conditions where maintaining speed is necessary. The condition has since been confirmed by a service provider as a major mechanical failure. Additionally, I have received documentation from the manufacturer indicating a known issue related to piston skirt defects associated with this vehicle. Despite the vehicle being in the dealership’s possession for an extended period, this issue was not identified, diagnosed, or addressed. I was also not provided clear assistance or guidance regarding potential warranty consideration related to this known issue. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11734916

Incident

Apr 6, 2026

Piston slap issues. The manufacturer is aware of the engine failure issues. They extended the engine warranty coverage from 50k to 80k miles knowing that the engine piston slap is an extreme issue but they won’t issue a total and complete recall. Owners have to identify that issue and have to specifically bring it in to have it bore scoped. If an owner isn’t aware of the noise and goes over the 80k miles then they are not held responsible for the complete and utter engine destruction.

NHTSA ID

11715703

Incident

Nov 7, 2025

I was having noise from engine and and I received a letter from extended warranty for an production defect in piston skirt. I sent my car for an evaluation in the Audi of Manhattan and I was told that my car falls under the engine piston skirt defect.i have the pictures from Audi Manhattan inspection that the engine piston walls have scratches.i was denied coverage under extension warranty because my car was over 1752 mile over the extension warranty.this is and production engine defect and can be stranded any time soon in the high way or any other street putting me and My family in danger and any other people driving around my car if that engine stops in the middle of the street. My car has 81752 miles and the extension warranty was up to 80000 mile or 8 years. The extension warranty came to late almost after 6 years ,as this is an known problem with those engines EA839 that is found in audis Porsche VW Tuareg ect.

NHTSA ID

11698834

Incident

Oct 10, 2025

engine begin to misfire and felt like it was ready to stall. within a minute of the misfiring the engine light came on. i was in the middle of highway struggling to get my vehicle to the dealership where purchased which thankfully was only 5mins away. tech heard noise coming from fuel pump near the engine and recommended replacing along with spark plug. after replacing tech advised me to take my vehicle to audi to perform a software update that will correct the misfire and prevent the MIL from illuminating. Got that done to only be presented with a knocking noise again a month or two later. Took my car back to Audi to run a full diagnostic to find out my engine is in early engine failure due to metal shavings in the oil filter. tech states shavings in the oil could originate from the fuel pump failure and the debris would have traveled into the engine oil causing critical damage to the engine.

NHTSA ID

11688191

Incident

Jun 27, 2025

being quality Engineer, why is this thing failing , and why are there no recalls? Amazing how they design these things to fail right at 50k miles. From what I hear, the audi's are notorious for not making these replacements simple and specialized tools are needed. I wouldn't change anything engine related unless you have issues like engine shaking, or rattling sounds stemming from the engine mounts. And if you get major work done, it is probably best to go to the dealers and pay the extra to make sure it will be taken care of properly! numerous same issues engine mounts after 50k MIles

NHTSA ID

11669188

Incident

Jun 24, 2025

The alternator failed causing the vehicle to shutdown in the middle of traffic. I was on a surface road not the highway so I was able to get local police to assist. When it failed there was no car electrical system function, so I could not even turn on my emergency blinkers. This is apparently very common on Audis, as the same part was used to replace the alternator…. It took a month for the dealership to get the part in stock.

NHTSA ID

11582506

Incident

Oct 22, 2023

I was driving home from work when all of a sudden I got error messages: Electrical system malfunction! Please contact service; Start/ stop system: malfunction! Function unavailable. Please contact Service, yellow battery light and the car died. None of the safety features, locks, engine, or air condition worked and the car had to be towed to the dealership. Within 1 mile of the lights appearing the car died, putting my safety and those on the road at risk. I left in the middle of the street and had it towed a few hours later. I spoke to the dealership and was diagnosed and confirmed as a alternator- starter-generator issue and reading the Audi threads it is a common issue. The car has about 38,000 miles. I am the second owner and have had the car for less than 6 months and it has been well maintained.

NHTSA ID

11578605

Incident

Mar 17, 2024

May 19th water pump cooling system pump my wife driving right on a highway on a left lane car start streaming and engines suddenly shut off thank God she make it to the left on hwy we throw the car to dealer they says engine went because of water went to engine and after that I have a big issue with the dealers and everything even my insurance pay for the new engine and everything and this is the issue a woman driving this car this is so much risk audi not doing anything about it

NHTSA ID

11550858

Incident

May 19, 2023

Electrical system malfunction caused the car to come to a stop in the middle of a busy highway. The vehicle needed to be pushed off to the side of the road by other parties as steering became increasingly difficult to navigate to the side of the road. The vehicle was stuck in neutral and could not start the engine to drive again. The vehicle needed to be towed to the closest dealership for further investigation.

NHTSA ID

11534710

Incident

Jul 23, 2023

Car started flashing all kinds of warnings, then cut off and had to coast to the side of the highway. Then could not get out of the car and the entire system was in complete failure so the doors would not open. Absolutely terrifying experience. Audi knows this is a bad issue and it keeps happening to thousands of Audi owners with the mild hybrid system.

NHTSA ID

11528756

Incident

Jun 24, 2023

2018 AUDI Q8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11516658

Incident

Apr 12, 2023

Electrical malfunction illuminated on the dash than brake malfunction illuminated than the vehicle lost all power no power to windows locks but I was able to roll off an exit and waited for a tow truck to tow to nearest dealer

NHTSA ID

11515694

Incident

Apr 5, 2023

On 12/12/2022 I was driving and the Q8 lost power and I coasted to a stop. All lights on driver panel were flashing or sequencing through. After sitting on the side of the road for 5 or so minutes I tried starting the car again. This time it started and I drove another 8 miles almost to my home when the car again just died in the road. This time I couldn't get it to restart. I had to have it towed to my local garage as my dealership was an hour and fifteen minutes away. The car has been diagnosed with needing an alternator, which no one including the dealerships have because this is a problem with many vehicles. It has now been over two months without my car.

NHTSA ID

11507752

Incident

Dec 12, 2022

In September 2022, I contacted the dealership to schedule my 50k service after observing a yellow battery light indicator flash on and then resolve itself by turning off. The mileage on my Q8 was approximately 44K at this time. I was also experiencing a passenger seatbelt warning issue despite no one in the passenger seat. The soonest the Audi service department could get me scheduled was on February 14, 2023. This has been an issue with Audi service departments at least the past 2 years. Since scheduling, I've experienced the warning issues several times On Thursday, February 2, 2023, I got a flashing yellow battery light in addition to other warnings that flashed on and then off. Because of this, I decided to take my car to the dealership for an emergency service on Friday, February 3, 2023, before traveling out of town the next week. While enroute to the dealership, the instrument panel alerted to an electrical system malfunction by displaying a yellow and then red battery icon. Multiple other warning lights for other systems malfunctioning displayed and the car stopped in traffic. My car was towed to the dealership. Once at the dealer, I was told that this was due to the generator failing and the part is on backorder due to being manufactured in Ukraine. The dealership stated this failure is apparently widespread, citing 56+ cars at this dealership and 100+ at the other with the same issue. Based upon this, the dealership informed me I qualified for the Audi USA buyback program and to contact them for a case number. When I called, I was told I had to wait 10 days to file or have had 3 reported incidents on record. On Februrary 14, 2023, I was told I did not qualify because my car was over 50k at the time it broke down. My mileage is 54,128. The issue began before 50k. I learned from the dealership, I qualify for the buyback because Audi extended the factory warranty on 1/31/2023 to include unlimited miles. I have an audio recording.

NHTSA ID

11507469

Incident

Sep 6, 2022

Generator failure. Car has been at the dealership for 45 days. Waiting for a replacement at a cost of $4000??

NHTSA ID

11502830

Incident

Dec 9, 2022

While driving in heavy traffic on 12/23/22 the entire electrical system shut down and all power was lost. Fortunately I was not hit by another vehicle and coasted into a parking lot with no power. This is very dangerous. Per conversations with the dealership and with Audi (1/10/23), alternators on thousands of vehicles are failing (possibly due to a software issue). The vehicles are sitting on dealer lots and in driveways useless. Audi online forums confirm this as well. There are no alternators available. No recall has been issued and no warning of this unsafe situation has been made by Audi. Per the dealership, they are largely in the dark as well as there has been no meaningful communication by Audi. Someone will get hurt when their car dies on a highway. People are paying thousands for their cars to be undrivable. Audi dealers will not trade the vehicles because they are effectively worthless until repaired.

NHTSA ID

11501011

Incident

Dec 23, 2022

Vehicle lost all power and control while driving 45mph. First electrical system failure warning came on. Within 2 minutes the transmission slipped into neutral and 15 seconds later the vehicle lost power and I coasted to a stop. I was told by Audi dealership service that the starter generator failed. They mentioned they currently have over 20 vehicles in their shop and over 25 at their other location with the same problem. They also said over 1,000 cars nationwide had same problem and the part to repair is back ordered and no reasonable estimate of repair time.

NHTSA ID

11498809

Incident

Dec 21, 2022

Driving down the road when sensors stopped working. Car read electrical system malfunction and engine shut down. Had to coast to the shoulder. This is a known safety issue, and should be completely recalled.

NHTSA ID

11496095

Incident

Nov 28, 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.

NHTSA ID

11490574

Incident

Oct 23, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11435174

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

The auto start/stop feature of this vehicle is horrible, on several occasions I've almost gotten into an accident turning at an intersection. The engine loses power for 2-3 seconds despite pushing the gas pedal all the way down. I've also scared pedestrians at cross walks on several occasions when the vehicle is at a full stop but then suddenly lunges forward at them. The sensors on this vehicle are also very faulty. The ones that are supposed to open the rear hatch do not work despite me waving my feet and hands under them for several seconds at a time. The key fob also doesn't open the rear hatch like it's supposed to. And the sensors to detect objects around the perimeter go off all the time without any apparent reason. I've had the vehicle in for multiple service visits and none of these issues have been resolved.

NHTSA ID

11423768

Incident

Jul 7, 2021

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!

NHTSA ID

11373792

Incident

Nov 5, 2020

Mileage

8,130 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11365744

Incident

Oct 22, 2020

Mileage

4,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11342369

Incident

Jul 28, 2020

Mileage

8,950 mi