Last updated: 2026-10-10

Audi Q8

Audi Q8 Years to Avoid

8 scored model years (2019–2026) · model average 64/100

Skip the 2019 model year. Owners report acceleration lag and sudden shutdowns tied to the 48-volt starter generator, and it draws far more complaints than any later year. The 2023 is the year to buy, with very few complaints on file.

Verdict

Avoid
2019 53/100
Buy
2023 67/100
Model average
64/100
See years to avoid ↓See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

Audi Q8 Years to Avoid

These model years score significantly below the Audi Q8 average of 64/100.

#YearScoreRatingRecallsComplaintsTop Issue
1201953/100Mixed5103Power Train (38)

Why These Years Should Be Avoided

53
MixedReliability score: 53 out of 100, rated Mixed

2019 Audi Q8

Owners filed 103 complaints, mostly about the power train and electrical system. Acceleration lags for a few seconds from a stop, and the starter generator can fail so the SUV shuts down while moving. Parts are often back ordered, so repairs drag on for weeks or months. Some owners also describe heavy steering after the shutdown.

5 recalls103 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Power Train (38), Electrical System (29), Steering (11), Engine (9), Unknown Or Other (4), Seat Belts (2)

View full 2019reliability report →

What Are Common Audi Q8 Problems?

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

54 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2021, 2024

2019: The starter generator in the 48-volt mild hybrid system fails, and the SUV shuts down while moving, sometimes on the highway.

POWER TRAIN

43 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2021, 2020

2019: Acceleration lags from a rolling stop or at low speed, often for 2 to 5 seconds, then the SUV lurches forward.

STEERING

15 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2021, 2020

2019: Heavy or unresponsive steering follows an electrical failure that shuts the engine down.

ENGINE

15 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020

2019: Piston slap makes the engine noisy, and dealer inspections find scratched cylinder walls.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

9 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020, 2024

2019: In one report, coolant from a failed water pump gets into the vacuum lines.

FUEL SYSTEM

9 complaints

Most reported in 2021, 2020, 2019

2021: Few of these reports describe an actual failure.

Best Audi Q8 Year to Buy Instead

67
GoodReliability score: 67 out of 100, rated Good

2023 Audi Q8

The 2023 has only 2 owner complaints, against 103 for the 2019, and 3 recalls in federal records. Its complaints are about brakes and unspecified issues, not the generator shutdown that dominates older years. It has also been on the road long enough to show a real record, unlike 2025 and 2026.

Score: 67/100 (Good)3 recalls2 complaints
View full 2023reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2023 Audi Q8 has 3 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Audi Q8 Years by Generation

Audi Q8 Reliability Scores by Year

Excellent Good Mixed Risky

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Audi Q8 years should I avoid?
Avoid the 2019. It has 103 owner complaints, far more than any other year, centered on power train, electrical, and steering faults. Most of them involve the starter generator failing and the SUV shutting down while moving.
Which Audi Q8 years have transmission or power train problems?
The 2019 has the most power train complaints by far, at 38. Owners describe acceleration that lags for 2 to 5 seconds before the SUV lurches forward, and the transmission dropping into neutral during a shutdown. The 2021 shows only a few.
Is the 2021 Audi Q8 a good year?
It rates good, but it is among the lower-rated years. It has 28 owner complaints, with electrical issues leading at 12, and 14 recalls in federal records. It is a step up from the 2019 but not as clean as the 2023.
Is the 2026 Audi Q8 the most reliable year?
Do not treat it that way. The 2026 has no complaints or recalls on file, but that mostly reflects how little time it has had on the road. The 2023 is the safer recommendation because it has a longer record.
Are the 2024 Audi Q8 problems serious?
The 2024 rates good, but it has 16 owner complaints, led by electrical system and service brakes. It also has one fire report and 8 recalls in federal records. Check that every open recall has been completed before buying.

How we score every Audi Q8 model year

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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