YearToAvoid

2019 Audi Q8 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 43 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Audi Q8, 39% of all 109 complaints that year, far more than any other model year. Most describe a dangerous throttle lag tied to the auto stop/start system, with a median mileage at failure of 3,005. No related recall is listed.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
43
39% of 109
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
3,005 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a multi-second delay in acceleration when pulling away from a stop with auto start/stop engaged, sometimes lasting 3-4 seconds.
  • Several describe the vehicle coasting through intersections or turns with no throttle response, then surging or accelerating abruptly once it finally engages.
  • Multiple complaints say the lag is worse when making left turns across traffic, creating a risk of being broadsided.
  • Some owners note the issue occurs inconsistently, appearing only in certain drive modes such as comfort, and disappearing when auto start/stop is disabled or sport mode is selected.
  • A few complaints describe the gas pedal as completely unresponsive for a few seconds even after repeated application.

When 2019 Audi Q8 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 11, 2019, latest Jan 19, 2026.

2019 Audi Q8 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month6Jun 2019Oct 2019Jan 2020Jul 2020Oct 2021Mar 2023Nov 2023
43 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2019 to Jan 2026; peak Jan 2020 (6).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2019 Audi Q8

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Q8 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201943 (39%)
  2. 20202 (7%)
  3. 20215 (17%)
  4. 20220 (0%)
  5. 20230 (0%)
  6. 20240 (0%)
  7. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2019 Audi Q8?
NHTSA logged 43 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Q8, which is 39% of all 109 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Audi Q8 transmission issue?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2019 Q8.
At what mileage do these problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 3,005 miles.
Do other Q8 model years have this same problem?
The 2019 model year accounts for 39% of complaints in this area, compared to 7% for 2020 and 17% for 2021, with 0% reported for 2022 through 2025.
Have these acceleration lag complaints led to crashes?
NHTSA data for these complaints shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.