2019 Audi Q8 Powertrain (other) Problems

Due to a leak in the rear axle that is connected to the differential, it caused the entire differential to fail. The bearing within the differential completely failed due to contaminated oil. The Q8s are known to have this occur but only in year models 2020-2022. My Q8 is a 2019 and Audi is aware of these issues given technical service bulletins available but doesnt want to take responsibility as this may be a continuing manufacturing issue arising. My vehicle only has 65k miles on it and Audi admits this is rare. Due to a misdiagnosis in June of 2025 (oil leak), Audi of Seaside Monterey caused the complete failure of the differential in December of 2025 by not doing a deeper diagnosis earlier to resolve the catastrophic failure. This is a safety concern and very expensive. A new differential costs $12k which has been expected to pay with no accountability. I am currently in an active case with Audi Seaside and the BAR to come to a resolution.

NHTSA ID

11711877

Incident

Jun 4, 2025

Car makes creaking sounds when going over bumps and turning left or right.

NHTSA ID

11572147

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

While driving warning light came on electrical malfunction on highway cat lost all power following a series of light’s indicting multiple malfunction then transmission disengaged I was able to coast to a stop , was unable to get out of vehicle due to car not unlocking

NHTSA ID

11556584

Incident

Nov 22, 2023

Driving vehicle at a low/medium rate of speed, and car completely shut off without warning. Check engine light appeared after restarting the vehicle. This is the second time this has happened to me since November 2022. I filed a report then as well. This car should not be allowed on the road and Audi should be forced to buy it back. The vehicle has less than 35,000 miles. Dealer has not confirmed what the issue is this time.

NHTSA ID

11541673

Incident

Aug 30, 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

48v mild hybrid system failed, car went completely dead in rush hour traffic putting me and other drivers in danger.

NHTSA ID

11515498

Incident

Apr 4, 2023

November 18, 2022 a warning lamp of electric system problem was displayed. There is no local Audi dealer and I decided to take the vehicle to my local automotive repair shop that does non warranty repair on Audis. I drove approximately 6-8 miles after the light came on and was one half mile from the service technicians when within 300 yards the vehicle became sequentially inoperable. First power steering, then transmission, brakes , ended with engine failure. I was in rush hour traffic and unable to steer off the road so I was blocking traffic near an intersection. My flashers and power windows were all that functioned. The doors were locked. When the tow truck arrived he let me out of the car. I was not injured and the vehicle was not hit either. The vehicle was transported to Audi Beaverton Oregon and now 3 1/2 months later is still there because there are no available starter/generator units available in this country. That unit failed and was the cause for my Audi’s complete shutdown. This was a potentially very dangerous situation and needs to be reported for a recall campaign. I have read that there are thousands of similar failures of the starter/generator systems in the USA and no available parts. I still have no estimate from my Audi Beaverton dealer/sevice supervisor as to when I can expect to get my car repaired and returned to me. They have not provided a loaner vehicle and refuse to cover the full cost of a rental car. I am disappointed in Audi’s level of customer service and communication.

NHTSA ID

11510151

Incident

Nov 18, 2022

Got Electrical System Malfunction to start. I called service and they said car was safe to drive. Continued driving got a fault for automatic start/Stop malfunction, followed by: Right lug nut loose Right brake light malfunction Parking brake malfunction Distance indicator malfunction Power Steering malfunction Drive train ,malfunction. Car engine started hesitating and dash went totally blank. Car was hard to steer , luckily I live near the dealership. Dealer said there are 30 cars in their service department with the same problem. I am #3000 on Audis waitlist for parts to fix problem. 48 volt battery and alternator.

NHTSA ID

11503894

Incident

Jan 25, 2023

The Generator (Part #: 4N0903028P) failed causing the car to shutoff while driving. This is a known issue by Audi as it has issued a TSB. Further steps must be taken by the OEM to ensure safe operation of the vehicle by its owners. This is a safety issue that must be resolved soonest!

NHTSA ID

11499927

Incident

Dec 19, 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

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.

NHTSA ID

11496021

Incident

Dec 4, 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

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

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.

NHTSA ID

11317946

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

11 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11317085

Incident

Mar 6, 2020

Mileage

3,010 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11316725

Incident

Mar 3, 2020

Mileage

20,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11316645

Incident

Jan 3, 2020

Mileage

100 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11315940

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

THROTTLE LAG FROM A NEAR (BUT NOT FULL) STOP. IF COMING TO ROLLING STOP, FROM 1-8 MPH, AND THEN HIT ACCELERATOR, THE CAR ENGINE REVS BUT NO ACCELERATION TO VEHICLE. AFTER A 2-3 SECOND DELAY, CAR WILL LUNGE AND ACCELERATE NORMALLY. SCARY WHEN NEED TO ACCELERATE FROM A NEAR ROLLING STOP. LEFT HAND TURNS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. EXPLAINED ISSUE TO DEALER, AND Q8 CAR FORUMS HAVE SAME ISSUE. DEALER SAYS FUNCTIONING "NORMAL", WHICH I DISAGREE IT IS NOT. I HAVE TRIED ALL SETTINGS FOR START/STOP, TRANSMISSION SETTINGS, ETC., AND NOTHING FULLY ALLEVIATES THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT EPISODIC AND A CONSISTENT, REPRODUCIBLE DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11315572

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

11,000 mi

AUTO START/STOP IS TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY STOPPED. IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY TO CLEAR AN INTERSECTION, IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS FOR IT TO START BACK UP AND MOVE THE VEHICLE. LIKE MOST PEOPLE DO, THE THROTTLE GETS PRESSED HARDER IN THE HOPES OF THE VEHICLE MOVING. BY THE TIME THE VEHICLE STARTS BACK UP I'M 3/4 TO THE FLOOR WITH THE THROTTLE WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF LIKE A ROCKET. THIS IS OVERLY AGGRESSIVE START STOP IS DANGEROUS. IT SHOULD OPERATE LIKE OTHER SYSTEMS AND NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE UNTIL IT IS AT A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE TAKEN MY CONCERNS TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED.

NHTSA ID

11311677

Incident

Feb 26, 2020

Mileage

15,000 mi

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG IN THE POWER TRAIN OF THE AUDI Q8 AFTER BREAKING TO A COASTING SPEED AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE GAS PEDAL IS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE FOR 2-3 SECONDS DURING THIS TIME. DANGEROUS DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE DUE TO AUTO START/STOP OR MILD-HYBRYD SYSTEMS AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO COAST WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A YIELD SIGN OR INTERSECTION ETC BEFORE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE IS POWERLESS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS DESPITE APPLICATION OF GAS PEDAL, CAUSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO POTENTIAL COLLIDE. ALREADY REPORTED TO AUDI SERVICE BUT THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL, WHICH I TOTALLY DISAGREE

NHTSA ID

11311404

Incident

Feb 25, 2020

Mileage

2,000 mi

SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THROTTLE DELAY FROM DEAD STOP TO GET GOING; DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE; AUDI CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS - MULTIPLE PAST COMPLAINTS. I WOULD NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. IT WILL KILL SOMEONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11302799

Incident

Jan 24, 2020

Mileage

200 mi

AUTO START/STOP FEATURE KILLS ENGINE PRIOR TO VEHICLE BEING COMPLETELY STOPPED RESULTING IN THE DRIVER NOT APPLYING ENOUGH BRAKE "FORCE" TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STATIONARY AFTER THE ENGINE'S RE-IGNITION. WHEN THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY STARTS, THE THE VEHICLE IS JERKED FORWARD AND THE DRIVER NEEDS TO RE-APPLY ADDITIONAL BRAKE FORCE TO THE PEDAL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STATIONARY. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE DRIVER IS MISLEAD TO HAVE "COMPLETE CONTROL" OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BRINING IT STATIONARY THE FIRST TIME, THEN SUBSEQUENTLY HAVING TO RELY ON "QUICK REFLEXES" TO COUNTERACT VEHICLE BEHAVIOR TO AVOID COLLISION (FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU, OR FROM INTERSECTING TRAFFIC). AUDIO DEALERSHIP PERFORMED SEARCH OF OPEN CAMPAIGNS & RECALLS. NONE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL. SERVICE CENTER PAPERWORK INDICATES "COULD NOT REPLICATE CUSTOMERS CONCERN", BUT I WAS PROVIDED EXTENSIVE TRAINING ON HOW TO 'DISENGAGE' THE AUTO START/STOP FEATURE (IF THERE'S NO PROBLEM, WHY DISENGAGE IT?). AUDI CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE (1-800-822-2834) IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AND RELIES ON THEIR SERVICE CENTERS TO HAVE THE FINAL WORD IN VEHICLE ISSUE RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

11302224

Incident

Dec 20, 2019

Mileage

4,500 mi