NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
This page covers 7 recalls, 27 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Audi Q8.
20 mpg combined
11.8 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
The 2019 to 2021 Audi Q8 received NHTSA New Car Assessment Program ratings for US-market vehicles. The model earned five stars overall, with five-star ratings in frontal crash, side crash, and side pole crash tests. The rollover test resulted in a four-star rating. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a redesign occurs, so this rating covers the entire 2019 to 2021 range.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Electrical system complaints make up the largest share of what 2021 Q8 owners report. The most frequently described issue involves the belt starter generator failing and leaving the car undrivable, often accompanied by sudden loss of power steering while the vehicle is moving. Several owners also report the instrument panel cluster going dark or becoming unresponsive at highway speeds. The fuel and engine side draws the next highest volume of complaints, where owners describe unexpected power loss during highway merging, tied in some cases to water pump failure, along with a persistent ticking or knocking from the engine bay that dealers have diagnosed as requiring full engine replacement. A handful of owners report the backup camera or rear detection system malfunctioning. One isolated report describes the panoramic sunroof shattering spontaneously while driving, producing glass fragments that fell onto the closed sunroof shade.
27
Total Complaints
By System
The 2021 Audi Q8 has 7 recalls, the most serious involving a rear axle lock nut that can break and misalign the rear axle, causing the vehicle to handle unpredictably and raising the risk of losing control.
A broken lock nut allows the rear axle geometry to shift out of alignment, which the driver may feel as unusual pulling or instability, particularly during cornering or sudden maneuvers. Related to this, rear axle misalignment can also cause premature or uneven tire wear, which degrades grip over time and raises crash risk in ways that may not be obvious until a tire fails.
On the fuel side, a component inside the fuel pump can break and cause the pump to stop delivering fuel entirely, which stalls the engine without warning. A stall at highway speed or in traffic leaves the driver with reduced steering and braking ability.
Rear seatbelt retractors on certain vehicles may not properly secure a child restraint system, meaning the seat can shift or come loose in a crash rather than staying fixed as intended.
There are also two overlapping rearview camera concerns: a software error can prevent the camera image from displaying at all when the vehicle is in reverse, leaving the driver with no view of what is directly behind them. A separate software fault in the instrument panel display can cause the speedometer, warning indicators, or other critical readouts to go blank while driving, removing information the driver depends on to respond to changing conditions.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying on the screen as intended.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the vehicle software at no cost to restore rearview camera display function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the instrument panel module may cause the dashboard display to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the instrument panel module software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue may cause the rearview camera display to show a blank or black screen instead of the camera image when reverse gear is engaged.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the infotainment unit software at no cost to restore rearview camera display functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An internal component in the fuel pump can break, which causes the fuel pump to stop working.
What the fix does
The fuel pump will be replaced at no cost by an Audi dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle alignment was not inspected after previous recall repairs were completed, which could result in improper wheel positioning and uneven tire wear.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect rear axle alignment, adjust if needed, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear middle seat belt's automatic locking mechanism may stop working too early, preventing child car seats from being secured properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the middle-rear seat belt assemblies at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lock nut securing the trailing arm on the rear axle can break due to stress corrosion, potentially affecting rear suspension stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the lock nuts and associated bolts if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.