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2019 Audi Q8 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2019 Audi Q8 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 5safety recalls
- 110owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 10%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about Audi Q8 year on file: 110 complaints, against an average of 21 for the other 4 model years.
Every Audi Q8 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2019 Audi Q8?
The components named most often in the 110 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2019 Audi Q8 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 110 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does the auto start-stop system act up on my 2019 Audi Q8?19 owners · 17.3%
- Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?10 owners · 9.1%
- Has the 2019 Audi Q8 had engine failures?7 owners · 6.4%
- Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 idle rough, misfire or hesitate?7 owners · 6.4%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2019 Audi Q8?4 owners · 3.6%
- Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 accelerate unexpectedly or surge?4 owners · 3.6%
- Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 lose all electrical power?4 owners · 3.6%
Has the 2019 Audi Q8 been recalled?
5 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Lane Departure: Software 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 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."
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump 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.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Steering 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.
Risk: A sudden loss of loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Suspension: Front: Shock Absorber 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.
Risk: Loose shock absorbers may impair vehicle steering, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: 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.
Is the 2019 Audi Q8 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAFollowing a previous campaign the toe and/or camber values on the rear axle may in certain circumstances incorrectly be changed without…FOLLOWING A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN THE TOE AND/OR CAMBER VALUES ON THE REAR AXLE MAY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES INCORRECTLY BE CHANGED WITHOUT THIS BEING NOTICED
Risk: Following a previous campaign the toe and/or camber values on the rear axle may in certain circumstances incorrectly be changed without this being noticed.
Fix: The wheel alignment must be checked and if necessary the suspension must be serviced on the affected vehicles.
UK DVSARear axle suspension links nuts do not meet specifications
Risk: One or more nuts which do not meet the specifications may have been fitted on the rear axle suspension links.
Fix: The affected nuts on the rear axle will be replaced on affected vehicles.
UK DVSAGear oil may escape due to a faulty welded joint on the gearbox oil line
Risk: It is possible that gear oil may escape due to a faulty welded joint on the gearbox oil line.
Fix: The production date of the gear oil line must be checked first on the vehicles affected and the gear oil line must be replaced if necessary.
UK DVSABolted connection between steering shaft and steering rack may come loose
Risk: The bolted connection between the steering shaft and the steering rack may not have been tightened to the required torque
Fix: The bolted connection between the steering shaft and the steering rack will be checked and if necessary replaced.
UK DVSAAn error in the casting process may affect the rigidity of the shock absorber fork
Risk: A casting process error may affect the rigidity of the front shock absorber fork.
Fix: Replace the affected shock absorber forks.
EU Safety GateThe cell modules of the high-voltage battery could overheat during charging which can lead to a fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateAlteration of the rear axle’s toe and/or camber values lead to increased and uneven wear on the rear tyres, and if worn down to its…Alteration of the rear axle’s toe and/or camber values lead to increased and uneven wear on the rear tyres, and if worn down to its carcass may suffer a sudden loss of pressure. This can lead to loss of traction and may affect vehicle handling, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe nuts on the eccentric bolt of the rear-axle spring-link control arm may break due to stress corrosion.As a result, the rear axle could move in the wrong direction, in an uncontrollable manner at high speeds.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateAn oil line in the automatic gearbox may have a manufacturing defect.Consequently, oil may leak out onto the road, posing a riskto the following traffic.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe screw connection between the steering shaft and the steering box may not have been tightened sufficiently and may loosen over time.This will impair the vehicle’s steerability, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA component of the wheel suspension may not be strong enough and could break over time.As a consequence, the tyre may press against the wheel arch which poses a risk of accidents.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2019 Audi Q8 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2019, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2019 Audi Q8 owners report?
12 of the 110 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint – 2019 Audi Q8 Prestige, 3.0L Turbocharged V6 I am reporting a serious engine defect involving piston damage and cylinder wall scoring in my 2019 Audi Q8 Prestige equipped with the 3.0L turbocharged EA839 engine. Audi of America has previously acknowledged a piston-skirt concern affecting certain vehicles equipped with this engine and issued U82 warranty-extension letters to affected consumers, extending piston-skirt coverage to 8 years or 80,000 miles. Despite this known concern, my vehicle has developed significant internal engine damage requiring major…
Engine overheated and dash warning light did not illuminate until coolant was completely overheated. i followed the light, pulled off the road and let the engine idle until the light when away as directed and proceeded to drive approx 10 miles total distance to work from first warning light to full engine failure with electrical system failure due to being melted and three of my cylinders were misfiring. Audi states i need a full engine replacement at my expense and is not taking ownership of failed warning system. Engine for car quoted 25-30k for replacement. total car value with approx. 80k…
I own a 2019 Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI that has been regularly maintained and serviced through authorized Audi dealerships. The abnormal engine ticking/knocking did not suddenly begin at 91,000 miles. A similar noise could be heard earlier, but it was not identified by Audi service as an internal engine/piston problem. Because the vehicle continued to be serviced by Audi, I believed the sound was related to the fuel injectors or normal engine operation. At approximately 91,000 miles, the noise became noticeably worse. At 91,623 miles, Audi San Jose diagnosed the knocking as related to the engine…
- Vehicle: 2019 Audi Q8, VIN [XXX] - Recall: Campaign 25V900 (90TV), Rearview Camera Software - Dealer: Audi Marin, 700 Francisco Blvd W, San Rafael CA, BAR# XXX - What happened: Recall attempted April 1, 2026. Technician logged Error 005A — communication failure with front driver assistance — on RO #XXX. Vehicle returned with rearview camera non-functional and driver assistance systems unavailable. - Current status: Dealer claims recall was performed. Rearview camera remains non-functional. The specific defect the recall addresses is present in the vehicle. - Dealer conduct: Dealer is…
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…
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…
There is helicopter type of noise coming from fuel pump and it’s increasing while driving very annoying and i feel steering is loose and I notice on google same problem with so many Audi q8 and sq8
2019 Audi Q8 3.0T quatro with 34,102 miles incurred broken left rear coil spring. Right rear most likely will have to be replaced soon. A SUV of this age and mfg shouldn't be having broken coils. This defect appears to be happening quite often. From the dealer's quote... "Recommended service: Coil Spring Replacement - Rear: LEFT REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING IS BROKEN (SEE VIDEO ATTACHED) RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS AT THIS TIME. Suspension coil springs support the weight of the vehicle and determine the height at which it sits on the road. The springs allow the…
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…
Car makes creaking sounds when going over bumps and turning left or right.
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
Car showed “electrical system malfunction” while driving. Said that the start/stop system failed. Proceeded to say that the rear brake light not functioning while driving, which would pose a safety risk to all drivers and myself.
2019 Audi Q8: questions owners ask
Is the 2019 Audi Q8 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Audi Q8; the most common categories were electrical system (44, 40%), power train (43, 39.1%), engine (34, 30.9%). There are 5 safety recalls. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 2 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Audi Q8?
Across 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (40% of complaints), power train (39.1% of complaints), engine (30.9% of complaints), steering (10% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (9.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2019 Audi Q8 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 Audi Q8; the most recent (campaign 26V125000, 2026-03-04) concerns Lane Departure: Software. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does the auto start-stop system act up on my 2019 Audi Q8?
19 of the 110 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Audi Q8 (17.3%) describe problems with the automatic start-stop system. One owner wrote: "Car showed “electrical system malfunction” while driving. Said that the start/stop system failed. Proceeded to say that the rear brake light not functioning while driving, which would pose a safety risk to all drivers and myself." (NHTSA complaint 11554725, November 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
10 of the 110 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Audi Q8 (9.1%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Faulty water pump → allowed coolant to migrate into the vacuum lines (a place coolant should never be). •This led to turbo underboost faults (loss of power) even though the turbo itself is fine." (NHTSA complaint 11690639, September 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2019 Audi Q8 had engine failures?
7 of the 110 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Audi Q8 (6.4%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "Engine overheated and dash warning light did not illuminate until coolant was completely overheated. i followed the light, pulled off the road and let the engine idle until the light when away as directed and proceeded to drive approx 10 miles total distance…" (NHTSA complaint 11766823, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
7 of the 110 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Audi Q8 (6.4%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "Engine overheated and dash warning light did not illuminate until coolant was completely overheated. i followed the light, pulled off the road and let the engine idle until the light when away as directed and proceeded to drive approx 10 miles total distance…" (NHTSA complaint 11766823, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2019 Audi Q8?
4 of the 110 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Audi Q8 (3.6%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11541673, August 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 accelerate unexpectedly or surge?
4 of the 110 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Audi Q8 (3.6%) describe unexpected or sudden acceleration, or surging. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11315940, March 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2019 Audi Q8 lose all electrical power?
4 of the 110 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Audi Q8 (3.6%) describe a sudden loss of electrical power: dash, lights and screens going dark. One owner wrote: "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…" (NHTSA complaint 11556584, November 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Q8
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2019 only.