Last updated: 2026-10-10

Audi e-tron vs Tesla Model Y: Reliability Compared

Audi e-tron reliability comparison

Audi e-tron

51
MixedReliability score: 51 out of 100, rated Mixed
VS
More ReliableTesla Model Y reliability comparison

Tesla Model Y

55
MixedReliability score: 55 out of 100, rated Mixed

Between the Audi E-Tron and Tesla Model Y, the Model Y comes out slightly ahead because owners file far fewer complaints per car sold. Both rate as mixed. The Model Y's problems, though, are more often linked to crashes, so the lead is narrow.

How Do the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model Y Generations Compare?

Only one generation of the E-Tron was sold in the US, covering the 2019 to 2023 model years. It received a facelift for 2023 and was then renamed the Q8 e-tron. Every E-Tron you find is therefore from that single design, and each year has had time to collect complaints. The Model Y began its first generation in 2020 and received a refresh for 2025. Its earliest cars, 2020 and 2021, rank weakest. The 2025 refresh is the newest and too new to judge fairly, since complaints build up over time.

Verdict

The Tesla Model Y is more reliable than the Audi e-tron, scoring 55/100 vs 51/100.

A slight edge goes to the Model Y. Its owners file far fewer complaints per car sold, and it has fewer recalls on a shorter model-year run. Both land in the mixed range, so the gap is small. The Audi E-Tron's main weakness is sudden loss of power, which shows up in its electrical and power train complaints. The Model Y's complaints are more numerous in total and more often tied to crashes, so the edge comes from frequency, not from how safe the failures are.

Key Differences

  1. 1Tesla Model Y has 56.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  2. 2Tesla Model Y has 23 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Tesla Model Y scores 4 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Audi e-tron
—
3Tesla Model Y
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Audi e-tron vs Tesla Model Y: Which Is More Reliable?

Audi e-tron vs Tesla Model Y at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricAudi e-tronTesla Model Y
Reliability Score51/10055/100
Years Tracked86
Total Recalls10683
Complaints per 10k Sold80.324.3
Safety RatingNHTSA overall
2025 NHTSA
2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins24

What Are the Common Problems With the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model Y?

Sudden power loss defines the E-Tron's problems. Cars shut down at a light or on the road, fail to move from a stop, or drop into a reduced-power mode, and dealers often cannot reproduce it. A brake pedal that sinks to the floor is rare but serious. The Model Y's complaints are spread wider: phantom braking at highway speed, sudden acceleration while parking, worn front suspension links, and sudden loss of power steering assist. Crash-linked reports in steering and vehicle speed control appear for the Model Y and not among the E-Tron's main problem areas.

Audi e-tron vs Tesla Model Y common problem areas comparison
ComponentAudi e-tronTesla Model Y
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38.2High2.4Low
POWER TRAIN12.4Above Avg0.3Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2.3Low6.3Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5.7Average1.7Low
SERVICE BRAKES4Average1.9Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2Low3.1Average
STEERING2Low2.4Low
AIR BAGS2.3Low0.6Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2.7Low—None
ENGINE1.7Low—None
SUSPENSION0.7Very Low0.8Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION0.7Very Low0.3Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER0.7Very Low0.1Very Low
TIRES0.7Very Low—None
VISIBILITY0.7Very Low—None
LANE DEPARTURE—None0.3Very Low
STRUCTURE—None0.2Very Low
WHEELS—None—None

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

How Does Audi e-tron vs Tesla Model Y Reliability Compare by Year?

Audi e-tron vs Tesla Model Y year-by-year reliability scores
YearAudi e-tronTesla Model YEdge
202550/10012R / 19C70/1002R / 69CTesla Model Y
202448/10016R / 23C63/1005R / 254CTesla Model Y
202346/10022R / 30C53/10015R / 997CTesla Model Y
202249/10032R / 52C50/10018R / 783CTesla Model Y
202155/1009R / 32C46/10021R / 991CAudi e-tron
202062/1004R / 1C46/10022R / 264CAudi e-tron

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Audi e-tron scored 62/100 and the 2024 Tesla Model Y scored 63/100 — 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 Tesla Model Y?

Pick the Model Y if you want the lower complaint rate and can accept software-driven quirks. Drive it on a highway before buying and see how you feel about cruise control and Autopilot, since phantom braking is its most common complaint. Avoid the 2020 and 2021 model years, which rank weakest. The 2024 and 2025 years rank strongest, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof they are better. Pick the E-Tron if you value its feel and can tolerate some electrical risk. Target 2020 and 2021, the strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2023, the weakest. Ask the seller whether any recall work is still open, because some owners waited up to 15 months for parts. Have a dealer check for stored fault codes, and skip the car if the owner describes shutdowns or a brake pedal that drops. Long winter trips need extra planning in either car.

Audi e-tron vs Tesla Model Y: Common Questions

Is the Audi E-Tron more reliable than the Tesla Model Y?
No, the Model Y has a slight edge. Its owners file 24.3 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 80.3 for the E-Tron. Both rate as mixed, so the difference is small. The E-Tron's weak spot is sudden power loss, while the Model Y draws more crash-linked reports.
Which has more recalls, the E-Tron or the Model Y?
The E-Tron has more. Federal recall records show 106 across its 8 model years, against 83 across 6 model years for the Model Y. The E-Tron also has two more model years in the count, so check any specific car's VIN for open recall work.
Does the Audi E-Tron lose power while driving?
Yes, it is the top complaint. Owners report cars shutting off at a light or while driving, sometimes after a warning message, and restarting afterward. Others report no response from the accelerator from a stop. Dealers often cannot find a cause, so ask a seller about any past shutdowns.
Is phantom braking a real problem on the Tesla Model Y?
Yes, it is a leading complaint. Owners say the car brakes hard on the highway with nothing ahead while cruise control or Autopilot is on, often shedding 5 to 10 mph. Some say software updates made it worse. Test the driver-assist features on a long highway drive.
Which E-Tron and Model Y years should I avoid?
For the E-Tron, avoid 2019 and 2023, the weakest years, and look at 2020 and 2021. For the Model Y, avoid 2020 and 2021. Its 2024 and 2025 years rank strongest but are newer, with less time to collect complaints.

Related Reliability Comparisons

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How we score the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model Y

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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