CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2020 Audi Q8

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

26

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Audi Q8 have filed 26 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2020 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 7 of them (27%). The typical failure was reported at 26,500 miles, the median across the 4 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V900000 · December 19, 2025

The defect
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."
The risk
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 356,894 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

22V516000 · July 20, 2022

The defect
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.
The risk
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 49,443 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

20V272000 · May 13, 2020

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Audi Q8 vehicles. An insufficient weld on a transmission oil pipe may cause the vehicle to leak automatic transmission fluid (ATF).
The risk
If transmission fluid leaks while driving, the road surface may become slippery, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil pipe and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38C7.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 531 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 26.

ENGINE 7 27%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 19%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 19%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 3 12%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 12%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 8%
POWER TRAIN 2 8%
STEERING 2 8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 4%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 6.

2020 2025 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

crash · towed · 2,500 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q8. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph the steering wheel suddenly turned to the right causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into the curb and dirt. After the crash, the vehicle was undrivable and was towed to the dealer. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. Prior to the crash the passenger side air pressure monitoring system would randomly become activated. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,500.

NHTSA complaint 11450839. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
I am reporting a severe safety hazard on my 2020 Audi Q8 directly caused by the software update for NHTSA Recall 25V900 (Audi 90TV). The recall shows as "completed" on my VIN, but it left the vehicle with an active driver assistance defect that did not exist before. No accident has occurred, but there is a severe risk of a crash. Following the recall, the Audi Side Assist (blind-spot monitoring) behavior changed dangerously. When I signal a lane change while a vehicle is in my blind spot, the mirror LEDs blink only 3 times and then return to a solid, dim state—even though the vehicle is still actively there. If you miss that brief 3-blink window, the dim LED falsely implies the lane is

NHTSA complaint 11743298, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine failed at 78,990 from an manufacturer defect that Audi knows about for the last couple of years. Audi extended warranty due to the failure to 8 years or 80K miles. The engines can lock up due to a piston failure in the scored cylinder walls causing a crash. Oil consumption is very high causing vehicle to burn oil and not pass smoke test. Please investigate these engine failure and manufacturer defects with this engine in multiple vehicles 3.0L turbo gas engine thanks

NHTSA complaint 11712895. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My cameras are not working sometimes. I received a recall notification on my app regarding backup camera. I did a software update at the dealer audi of queens on 1/6/26. Cameras were working fine for a week, but now I started having issues again.

NHTSA complaint 11710994. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Water pump failed coolant leaked all over the vehicle five years old and a $7500 repair vacuum seals and most of the engine is damaged from the coolant. I have the video from the dealership but can’t upload

NHTSA complaint 11693465. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Catastrophic engine failure on Audi Q8 3.0L turbo. Per service manager it a know issue and Audi just sent out a letter extending engine warranty to 80,000 miles. Per Audiworld forum Audi is replacing some engines and charging some owners $27,000 Audi needs to be investigated and held accountable for people that have faulty engines and can make the car crash when engine locks up

NHTSA complaint 11689306. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am reporting a safety defect issue that I believe is an alternator recall waiting to happen. While driving with my children, my Audi suffered a sudden, complete electrical failure caused by what I was later told is an alternator defect. The vehicle shut off without warning. At that moment, I lost braking power, the ability to shift into neutral, and full control of the vehicle’s speed. Because of this defect, I was unable to slow or stop the car safely putting myself, my passengers, and others on the road at serious risk. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this alternator issue constitutes a recall-worthy safety defect under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

NHTSA complaint 11686773. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi Q8

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 22 3
2021 29 7
2019 107 5

Other 2020 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 147 vehicles, 216 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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