CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2024 Audi Q8

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

Owners have filed 23 safety complaints about the 2024 Audi Q8 with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it, covering back-over prevention and the air bags.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 12 complaints, 52% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers February 2024 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

23 complaints on file

23

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 · 52%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 · 35%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 13%
ENGINE 2 · 9%
STRUCTURE 2 · 9%
STEERING 1 · 4%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 23.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 11.

12 9 6 3
24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2024 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2024 Audi Q8, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 15.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

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

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

24V251000 · April 3, 2024

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
The risk
A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 91 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

23V868000 · December 20, 2023

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023-2024 SQ8, RSQ8, Q8, Q7, and 2024 SQ7 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
The risk
An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GA.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 1,001 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · crash · towed

On [XXX] about [XXX], I was driving my 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Premium Plus (VIN [XXX]) in a private parking garage while on the clock for work. I had just left a work meeting and was traveling back to my office. I was backing out of a parking space next to a concrete column when my passenger-side mirror contacted the column. The vehicle’s proximity sensors beeped, which appeared normal. I then pulled forward slowly to straighten the vehicle and assess the mirror. My foot was initially on the accelerator because I was attempting to move forward slowly. The vehicle suddenly jerked and accelerated extremely rapidly and unexpectedly. I immediately moved my foot completely from the accelerator to

NHTSA complaint 11756593, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

Our Audiu Q8 has had a host of safety issues since purchased in December 2023 and we have been denied or delayed on a buyback twice. The vehicle has been unable to be moved 3 times due to battery (12V and relay) issues that left my wife and [XXX] stranded at home. On one occasion the vehicle could not be moved by the tow service whatsoever. The charging system cable (known to cause fire hazard by Audi with open safety bulletins) created a fire in our 240 outlet box and also melted the plug and connected cable. The vehicle also continues to read road signs on exit ramps and hard brake check almost causing accidents while driving on the highway with cruise control. The feature for traffic

NHTSA complaint 11624364, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electrical vehicle started displaying electrical malfunction issue since December 2025, at the time Audi San Juan said there was not fix available at the time. Finally I was told that an issue fix was available, took it back in May and they said it was fixed but it wasn't. Waited for another appointment available for them to have a loner vehicle available. Took it back on June 3rd and finally on June 22nd they said that the issue detected was one of the cells in the battery ha gone bad. Unfortunately the part was on back order and Germany could not confirm when it could be sent. Part was finally received on September 3rd, today I received a call that the part did not fix the issue and they

NHTSA complaint 11764233, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While traveling on a major freeway between 65mph and 70mph, vehicle alarms started sounding and numerous alarm / warning messages appeared on the dashboard display, while at the same time, the automatic door opening mechanism (e-latch system) unlatched and partially opened the driver’s side door. The partial opening of the door at high speed is hazardous, and could also cause a major distraction, resulting in a crash and/or danger to others in the vehicle and/or on the highway. The vehicle is currently being inspected at a dealership. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The warning lamps, messages or other symptoms as described

NHTSA complaint 11757026, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron, VIN [XXX], [XXX]. Vehicle has had four documented electrical/drive system malfunctions in 12 months, all tied to high heat. We regularly drive our [XXX] child in this vehicle and no longer feel safe doing so. XXX: Electrical system malfunction warning while driving. Taken to Audi dealer. XXX: Same malfunction recurred, taken to Audi dealer again. Both times dealer advised waiting for cooler temps rather than repairing the vehicle. Mid-XXX: Charging began degrading in extreme heat. Day before report: Charging stopped completely, leaving vehicle unusable. Day of report: Drive system malfunction error, vehicle would not shift into drive, had to be towed. A dealer service

NHTSA complaint 11754181, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Opened passenger door, then closed it. Door would not latch and could not be closed or secured despite numerous attempts. Had to tie door shut via interior to safely get vehicle to repair shop. No warning or error lights came on besides door ajar warning. The handles and locking mechanism on this q8 etron have already failed and been replaced numerous times.

NHTSA complaint 11750180. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
While operating my 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron at 30 mph, I attempted to slow the vehicle to make a turn. Upon pressing the brake pedal, the regenerative braking system failed to engage properly, and the expected deceleration did not occur. The brake pedal felt very soft and the vehicle continued to move forward with nearly no braking force, despite significant pressure being applied to the pedal. The failure appears to be a total malfunction of the 'brake blending' system—the critical handover between the electric regenerative system and the hydraulic friction brakes. Even as a secondary safety measure, the hydraulic brakes failed to provide adequate stopping power. This resulted in a

NHTSA complaint 11726513, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi Q8

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2021 30 7 —
2020 28 3 —
2019 109 5 —

Other 2024 Audi models

Q4 E-Tron 22 Q5 20 Q3 18

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Audi on this site — 155 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst