Back over prevention, electrical, and issues relating to a fuel pump recall are the cause of top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Launched in late 2018 as a 2019 model, the all-new Q8 SUV commanded on-road presence, the press releases said. But with 5 recalls, all of which increase the risk of a crash or risk of injury during a crash, owners are questioning the type of presence it commands. They are complaining that the rear-view camera malfunctions, electrical problems shut the vehicle down, and the parts to repair the faulty fuel system were not available months after a recall.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2020
If on-road presence means good looks, Audi may be vindicated. But the problems aired in consumer complaints are a cause of concern, especially those that affect safety.
Between April 19, 2021, and December 27, 2022, 6 consumers filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). These implicate 5 components and systems: back over prevention, the engine, powertrain, seat belts, and the fuel system (gasoline).
There is also a complaint that the seat belts, which are, of course, a vital safety feature of any vehicle, malfunctioned, injuring a driver. An owner from Florida states that when he stopped at a red light, he leaned forward “and the front driver’s seat belt shoulder harness tightened.” This caused chest pain and shortness of breath. He later received medical treatment. He was told by the dealer that the harness “tightened as a part of the safety feature of the vehicle.” But they were going to verify whether the “safety feature” could be disabled or not.
In addition to these complaints, there are 5 recalls. These affect SUVs with back over prevention, fuel system, seat belt, suspension, and tire problems. Ironically, the seat belt problem that prompted the recall is not the one that caused the chest injury mentioned above. Rather, it warns that rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early. This can prevent the child restraint system from securing correctly and can increase the risk of injury if the SUV crashes.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| Back Over Prevention | |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Lane Departure: Assist | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | |
| Lane Departure: Warning |
An owner from Georgia states that when the SUV is in reverse, the parking assist system is activated. “The cameras are supposed to turn on to give me visibility and warnings if cars or people are approaching.” Instead, the screen goes white and starts blinking. “This results in an inability to safely maneuver and no camera visibility.” The complaint, dated June 22, 2022, goes on to say that this happens often and he has been able to record it happening twice. “I have reported the issue to the dealership twice and because it cannot be replicated, the issue has not been resolved.”
But Audi did eventually identify the problem, and they issued a recall, NHTSA Campaign Number 22V742000, on October 5, 2022. It confirms what this owner reported, stating that “due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rear view camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear.” Of course, when this happens, the typical result is that it reduces the driver’s rear visibility, the recall warns. And this increases the risk of a crash.
The recall affects an estimated 170,296 Audi vehicles, including the 2021 Audi Q8. Owners were notified in October 2022 that dealers would update the infotainment unit software free of charge.
An owner from California discovered the recall when she took her Q8 into a dealer for scheduled maintenance in October. The dealer told her about the recall and said they repaired the problem. But 2 hours after picking up her SUV, “while in reverse, the rear-view camera failed to operate.” Despite knowing that this is the problem that resulted in the recall, the dealer couldn’t duplicate the failure.
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NHTSA Campaign Number 22V516000 warns that the fuel pump of 2020-2021 Audi Q7s and 2019-2021 Audi Q8s may fail. A component inside the fuel pump may break and cause the failure. As many as 49,443 vehicles may be affected. The danger is that if the fuel pump fails it can cause an engine stall that will increase the risk of a crash.
The recall, dated July 20, 2022, states that dealers will replace the fuel pump free of charge. However, when the recall was issued on July 20, 2022, replacement fuel pumps were not available. Audi expected them to be available in late December 2022.
More than 4 months after receiving the recall notification owners started complaining that the recall repair wasn’t available. The most recent of these complaints was filed by an owner in New York on December 27, 2022.
Even though an owner from Florida has posted a complaint under engine and powertrain, it is more pertinent to the electrical system.
While traveling at 70 mph the Q8, with about 3,500 miles on the clock, shut off. A warning message appeared on the instrument panel showing that it was an electrical problem. The SUV was towed to a local dealer, and at the time of the complaint, the owner was waiting for a diagnosis.
If you think your 2021 Audi Q8 might be a lemon, you can do something about it. Lemberg Law will assess your problems and advise you free of charge.
Every year automakers agree to settle lemon law claims, either by trading the vehicle in, buying it back, replacing it, or paying out cash. It won’t cost you anything because the law says that Audi must pay the legal fees for lemon law cases.
So, if your Q8 has defects or malfunctions that affect your use of the SUV or its value, call the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out a contact form.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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