Last updated: 2026-10-10

Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQE: Reliability Compared

Audi e-tron reliability comparison

Audi e-tron

51
MixedReliability score: 51 out of 100, rated Mixed
VS
More ReliableMercedes-Benz EQE reliability comparison

Mercedes-Benz EQE

59
MixedReliability score: 59 out of 100, rated Mixed

Clear reliability edge goes to the Mercedes-Benz EQE over the Audi E-Tron. The E-Tron has 106 recalls across 8 model years, against 15 across 2 for the EQE, and its owners report repeated sudden shutdowns and long waits for recall parts.

How Do the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQE Generations Compare?

Each car sits in a single generation, so shoppers are choosing among years of the same basic design. The E-Tron's first generation covers US model years 2019 to 2023, and it was facelifted in 2023 and renamed the Q8 e-tron. Its strongest years, 2020 and 2021, fall inside that run, while 2023 and 2019 rank weakest. The EQE is in its first generation, called V295. Its used market is young, and its small complaint count partly reflects how little time these cars have spent on the road.

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz EQE is more reliable than the Audi e-tron, scoring 59/100 vs 51/100.

A clear edge goes to the EQE. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold, and federal recall records show a much lighter load. Both cars carry a mixed standing, and both have reports of sudden power loss while driving. The EQE has only two model years behind it, so its record is short. Even so, the E-Tron's repeated shutdowns, recall repairs held up by missing parts, and brake pedals that sink to the floor put it behind.

Key Differences

  1. 1Mercedes-Benz EQE has 91 fewer total recalls
  2. 2Mercedes-Benz EQE has 61.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  3. 3Mercedes-Benz EQE scores 8 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Audi e-tron
—
3Mercedes-Benz EQE
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQE: Which Is More Reliable?

Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQE at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricAudi e-tronMercedes-Benz EQE
Reliability Score51/10059/100
Years Tracked82
Total Recalls10615
Complaints per 10k Sold80.318.6
Year Wins02

What Are the Common Problems With the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQE?

Sudden power loss shows up on both cars, but the E-Tron has it at scale. Its electrical complaints describe cars shutting off at a light, a reduced-power SAFE mode, and a rearview camera lost to screen crashes. Its brake pedal sometimes sinks to the floor with no warning. The EQE stalls too, often at 40 to 45 mph, and its failures appear early. The EQE also has crash-linked airbag complaints, including no deployment in a severe frontal crash, which the E-Tron does not list. EQE owners also report tire blowouts and an unintended acceleration crash.

Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQE common problem areas comparison
ComponentAudi e-tronMercedes-Benz EQE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38.2High5.1Average
POWER TRAIN12.4Above Avg1.3Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5.7Average4.7Average
SERVICE BRAKES4Average1.3Low
AIR BAGS2.3Low1.3Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2.7Low—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2.3Low—None
STEERING2Low—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2Low—None
ENGINE1.7Low—None
TIRES0.7Very Low0.8Very Low
WHEELS—None0.8Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION0.7Very Low—None
SUSPENSION0.7Very Low—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER0.7Very Low—None
VISIBILITY0.7Very Low—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQE Reliability Compare by Year?

Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQE year-by-year reliability scores
YearAudi e-tronMercedes-Benz EQEEdge
202448/10016R / 23C61/1005R / 14CMercedes-Benz EQE
202346/10022R / 30C56/10010R / 30CMercedes-Benz EQE

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Audi e-tron scored 48/100 and the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE scored 61/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Audi e-tron vs the Mercedes-Benz EQE?

If you want the lower-risk purchase, pick the EQE. Its complaint rate is far lower, and its recall count is a fraction of the E-Tron's. No EQE year earns a recommendation over the other, because both model years are new and have had little time to collect complaints. Before you buy, ask whether stall warnings, brake pedal softness, and tire problems were ever looked at. If you plan long winter drives, know that one owner reported range dropping about 40%. Pick the E-Tron only if you want an SUV and can find the right year. Target 2020 or 2021, its strongest years. Avoid 2023 and 2019, its weakest. Ask for proof that every recall repair was finished, since some owners waited up to 15 months for parts. Test the brakes after the car has sat parked for hours. Expect shorter range in cold, wet weather.

Audi e-tron vs Mercedes-Benz EQE: Common Questions

Is the Audi E-Tron more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz EQE?
No. The EQE has a clear edge. Owners filed 18.6 complaints per 10,000 EQEs sold, against 80.3 for the E-Tron. The EQE has only two model years of history, so its record is short, but the E-Tron's shutdowns and recall delays weigh heavily against it.
Which has more recalls, the E-Tron or the EQE?
The E-Tron, by a wide margin. Federal recall records list 106 recalls across its 8 model years. The EQE has 15 across 2 model years. The E-Tron has had more time on the road, but its total is still much larger.
What is the most common problem with the Audi E-Tron?
Electrical trouble leads, with 114 complaints. Cars lose all power at a light or while driving, sometimes after a warning message, then recover after a restart. Other owners report SAFE mode, battery drain while parked, and screen crashes that disable the rearview camera.
Are there safety concerns with the Mercedes-Benz EQE?
Yes. All three airbag complaints involve crashes and injuries. One describes no airbag deployment in a severe frontal crash. The other two describe unintended acceleration into a wall. Owners also report stalls around 40 to 45 mph and tire blowouts on Pirelli tires.
Which Audi E-Tron model years are best to buy used?
The 2020 and 2021 model years are the strongest, based on owner complaints and recall records. The 2023 and 2019 years are weakest. Whatever year you choose, confirm all recall repairs are done, since some owners waited up to 15 months for parts.

Related Reliability Comparisons

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How we score the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQE

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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