Audi Q8 Best and Worst Years (2019–2025)
Avoid 2019 and 2024 Audi Q8 model years, which carry the highest complaint index scores (100 and 83) among the 2019-2025 lineup. 2023 is rated Good with a complaint index of 33. No Q8 year earns a Best verdict; 2020 and 2021 rate Caution.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- Model years
- 7
- 2019–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 202
- Recall campaigns
- 16
- Crashes reported
- 6
- Fires reported
- 1
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Q8 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Audi Q8 problems and recalls by year
Q8 years to avoid: what went wrong
2019 Audi Q8 Index 100 · 109 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2019 Q8 has the highest complaint index (100) of any model year and 109 total complaints, the most in the lineup. Electrical System complaints lead at 45 (41%), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 43 (39%) and Engine at 35 (32%). Owners report lane-keeping and lane-centering systems that fail to recognize lane markings or swerve unexpectedly, plus an auto stop/start system that hesitates several seconds before accelerating from a stop, which owners describe as dangerous in intersections. Median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain was 3,005 and for Engine 3,505, indicating problems surfaced early. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this year, including a fuel pump replacement campaign and camera and lane departure software fixes.
2019 electrical system problems →2019 transmission & powertrain problems →2019 engine problems →
2024 Audi Q8 Index 83 · 23 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2024 Q8 has a complaint index of 83 with 23 total complaints. Electrical System issues dominate at 12 complaints (52%), followed by Brakes at 8 (35%). Owners report 12V battery and relay failures that left vehicles unable to move, sometimes even when a tow truck attempted to relocate the car, and one report describes a fire. Others describe the automatic braking system triggering unexpected hard stops during left turns with no nearby traffic. One engine complaint describes a total loss of power at highway speed. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this year, covering airbag mounting, camera software, and prior electrical campaign delays.
Most common Audi Q8 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Electrical System80 (40%)
- Engine56 (28%)
- Transmission & Powertrain50 (25%)
- Fuel System24 (12%)
- Other23 (11%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras19 (9%)
- Steering17 (8%)
- Brakes13 (6%)
- Structure & Body8 (4%)
- Lane Departure3 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What Audi Q8 model years should I avoid?
- NHTSA complaint data points to 2019 and 2024 as the years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 100 and 83, the two highest in the Q8 lineup.
- Which Audi Q8 year is best?
- No Q8 year earns a Best verdict. 2023 is rated Good, with the lowest complaint index (33) among years with a verdict.
- Is the 2019 Audi Q8 reliable?
- The 2019 Q8 has the highest complaint index (100) and the most total complaints (109) of any Q8 year, with Electrical System and Transmission & Powertrain issues topping the list.
- Does the Audi Q8 have recalls?
- Across all model years, NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the Q8, including fuel pump, airbag mounting, and camera and lane departure software issues.
- What is the most common problem area for the Audi Q8?
- Electrical System complaints are the most common across all Q8 years, accounting for 80 of 202 total complaints (40%), followed by Engine (28%) and Transmission & Powertrain (25%).