MODELYEARINDEX

Which Audi Q8 years to avoid

Across 3 scored model years, the 2019 model year carries the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Audi Q8 Full report
F
Grade 2019–2021
2019 vs model median 3.9×
Model median3× median
Drivetrain 40
Electrical 30
Engine 22
Avoid

2019

Best

2020 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2019
3.89× 123 F
2020
0.80× 22 B
2021
1.00× 37 C
2024 P
0.92× 29 C

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2019 F 123 reports · median 5,900 mi

  1. Drivetrain 40

    The auto stop/start system on the audi Q8 presents a dangerous situation when a driver attempts to accelerate from a complete stop. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 30

    After most recent software update, the backup camera does not automatically engage or displays a black screen. The backup camera previously worked fine. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 22

    Excessive and dangerous delay in throttle response due to auto start/stop system causing vehicle to coast when slowing down at a yield sign or intersection etc before transmission re-engages. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

2 crash · 3 injuries

2021 C 37 reports · median 3,500 mi

  1. Electrical 12

    Oct 15, 2022 lights began flashing. Electrical malfunction came up. Said to pull over safely as soon as possible. Dealership said it is not safe to drive. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Driver Assist 8

    When my car is placed 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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 4

    The contact owns a 2021 audi Q8. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle shutoff as the electrical problem, see local dealer warning message appeared on the instrument panel. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

The best year for the Q8

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2020 is the best-scoring Q8 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 72.4 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2020 0.80× 22 B
2021 1.00× 37 C
2019 3.89× 123 F

Recalls

13 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
25V900000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2019–2024 356,894
22V742000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION 2021 170,296
22V516000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019–2021 49,443
21V606000 SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR 2021 45,496
25V201000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 2021 44,387
21V295000 SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY 2021 40,993
22V034000 TIRES 2021 31,058
26V125000 LANE DEPARTURE:SOFTWARE 2019 1,620
23V868000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW 2024 1,001
20V272000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES 2020 531
20V149000 STEERING 2019 229
24V251000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER 2024 91

+ 1 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2019 were reported at a median of 5,900 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Audi Q8 years should you avoid?
2019 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Audi Q8 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Audi Q8?
2020 is the best-scoring Audi Q8 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 72.4 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Audi Q8 have?
13 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Audi Q8 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2019 Q8
Complaints in window
123
Severity-weighted
179
Model median (weighted)
46
vs model median
3.89×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
5
Open investigations
0
Score 12.5 F