2019 Audi Q8 Safety Report
2019 Audi Q8 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2019 Audi Q8
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2019 Audi Q8. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (103) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2025 | Compare against the 2025 Audi Q8 with 1 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2021 | Check the 2021 Audi Q8 before buying across this generation. |
Audi Q8 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Audi Q8 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Audi Q8 | 25 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Audi Q8 | 26 | 7 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2024 Audi Q8 | 18 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2025 Audi Q8 | 1 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2019 Audi Q8 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2019 Audi Q8, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
23 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Audi onlyElectrical System
17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Audi onlyEngine
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyPower Train,Engine
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Audi onlyUnknown Or Other
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Audi onlySteering,Power Train,Electrical System
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Power Train,Electrical System issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2019 Audi Q8
Reliability Score
The 2019 Audi Q8 receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2019 Audi Q8
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2019 Audi Q8
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2019 Audi Q8:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Failure Piston slap issues have been reported, leading to engine failures. The manufacturer has extended the engine warranty to 80k miles. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Issues Steering problems have been reported, including loose steering and noise from the steering system. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel System Failures Fuel pump failures have been reported, leading to issues like misfiring and engine light coming on. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Delamination The leather dashboard is experiencing severe delamination, pulling away from the substrate. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2019 Audi Q8:
Issues with the power train, including engine and power train components, are the most common problems.
Electrical system failures, such as dash delamination and steering issues, are also frequent.
Engine issues, including misfiring and engine light coming on, are reported.
Suspension problems, particularly with shock absorbers, have been reported.
Recall Details for the 2019 Audi Q8
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2019 Audi Q8 by NHTSA:
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8, Audi A7, and Audi A6 vehicles previously repaired under recall number 25V900. Due to a software error, the lane departure warning system may be deactivated.
Consequence: The driver may be unaware that the lane departure warning system is deactivated and rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 6, 2026.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi Q8, and 2020-2021 Audi Q7 vehicles. A component inside the fuel pump may break, causing the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DR.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles. The bolt connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear may loosen, possibly resulting in a loss of steering control.
Consequence: A sudden loss of loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering shaft bolt, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 36A1.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Q7, Q8, S5 Cabriolet, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The front shock absorber forks may develop cracks allowing the shock absorbers to loosen.
Consequence: Loose shock absorbers may impair vehicle steering, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the shock absorber forks, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 40O4.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2019 Audi Q8
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2019 Audi Q8 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
Piston slap issues. The manufacturer is aware of the engine failure issues. They extended the engine warranty coverage from 50k to 80k miles knowing that the engine piston slap is an extreme issue but they won’t issue a total and complete recall. Owners have to identify that issue and have to specifically bring it in to have it bore scoped. If an owner isn’t aware of the noise and goes over the 80...
Dash Delamination: The leather dashboard is experiencing severe delamination and pulling away from the substrate, specifically in the area surrounding the passenger-side airbag. I believe this condition poses two significant safety risks: Airbag Interference: The detached and warped material may obstruct, delay, or alter the deployment path of the passenger-side airbag during a collision. Visibi...
Due to a leak in the rear axle that is connected to the differential, it caused the entire differential to fail. The bearing within the differential completely failed due to contaminated oil. The Q8s are known to have this occur but only in year models 2020-2022. My Q8 is a 2019 and Audi is aware of these issues given technical service bulletins available but doesnt want to take responsibility as ...
I was having noise from engine and and I received a letter from extended warranty for an production defect in piston skirt. I sent my car for an evaluation in the Audi of Manhattan and I was told that my car falls under the engine piston skirt defect.i have the pictures from Audi Manhattan inspection that the engine piston walls have scratches.i was denied coverage under extension warranty because...
Faulty water pump → allowed coolant to migrate into the vacuum lines (a place coolant should never be). •This led to turbo underboost faults (loss of power) even though the turbo itself is fine. •The contaminated vacuum system now requires replacement of the vacuum shut-off valve and possibly other vacuum components. •Because of how the parts are placed, the repair requires removing the front bump...
engine begin to misfire and felt like it was ready to stall. within a minute of the misfiring the engine light came on. i was in the middle of highway struggling to get my vehicle to the dealership where purchased which thankfully was only 5mins away. tech heard noise coming from fuel pump near the engine and recommended replacing along with spark plug. after replacing tech advised me to take my v...
being quality Engineer, why is this thing failing , and why are there no recalls? Amazing how they design these things to fail right at 50k miles. From what I hear, the audi's are notorious for not making these replacements simple and specialized tools are needed. I wouldn't change anything engine related unless you have issues like engine shaking, or rattling sounds stemming from the engine moun...
There is helicopter type of noise coming from fuel pump and it’s increasing while driving very annoying and i feel steering is loose and I notice on google same problem with so many Audi q8 and sq8
Wheel arch on the front passenger side flew off on the highway. There was no visible issues that the piece was loose as it’s been on the car securely for 45k miles.
2019 Audi Q8 3.0T quatro with 34,102 miles incurred broken left rear coil spring. Right rear most likely will have to be replaced soon. A SUV of this age and mfg shouldn't be having broken coils. This defect appears to be happening quite often. From the dealer's quote... "Recommended service: Coil Spring Replacement - Rear: LEFT REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING IS BROKEN (SEE VIDEO ATTACHED) RECOMMEN...
I was smelling fuel from my car so stopped to have it checked and was told there is a significant spray of fuel coming from the fuel rail and hitting the electrical wires. I was told that it could go on fire at anytime and the car cannot be driven. Audi has a recall for this exact issue for 2016-2018. This is clearly the same issue but they are not issuing a recall for 2019 models and it’s extreme...
Air conditioning failure, evaporator failure; known issue with Audi Q7, Audi Q8 not included in limited extended warranty
The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q8. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a central locking malfunction warning sign was displayed. The contact stated that later when a rear passenger attempted to exit the vehicle, the door failed to open. The driver’s and passenger’s side rear doors failed to open. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a failure relat...
The alternator failed causing the vehicle to shutdown in the middle of traffic. I was on a surface road not the highway so I was able to get local police to assist. When it failed there was no car electrical system function, so I could not even turn on my emergency blinkers. This is apparently very common on Audis, as the same part was used to replace the alternator…. It took a month for the deal...
I was driving home from work when all of a sudden I got error messages: Electrical system malfunction! Please contact service; Start/ stop system: malfunction! Function unavailable. Please contact Service, yellow battery light and the car died. None of the safety features, locks, engine, or air condition worked and the car had to be towed to the dealership. Within 1 mile of the lights appearing t...
Car makes creaking sounds when going over bumps and turning left or right.
While driving down the freeway to the dealership a electrical system malfunction message came across the display. I continued on to the dealership and suddenly started getting system failures. One by one it popped up and said every single system failure including brakes and steering system malfunctions. Then it said transmission malfunction and I immediately lost all forward propulsion. The e...
My 2019 Q8 has less than 35K miles and has had breaks and rotors repaired three times and needs them again. The breaks pulsate and wear down at an excessive rate, the stock breaks are not a good enough product for the weight of the vehicle. I’ve raised this issues with the dealership multiple times and this is my 2nd Audi SUV with break issues.
Electrical malfunction displayed on dashboard with every system in the car shutting down within seconds. I was stranded on the freeway shoulder. Maybe an issue with the alternator.
While driving warning light came on electrical malfunction on highway cat lost all power following a series of light’s indicting multiple malfunction then transmission disengaged I was able to coast to a stop , was unable to get out of vehicle due to car not unlocking
Showing 20 of 103 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2019 Audi Q8
Has the 2019 AUDI Q8 been recalled?
Yes, the 2019 AUDI Q8 has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2019 AUDI Q8 have?
The 2019 AUDI Q8 has 103 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. 2 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2019 AUDI Q8?
The 2019 AUDI Q8 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 AUDI Q8?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2019 AUDI Q8 involve power train (23 complaints), electrical system (17 complaints), engine (6 complaints). Other affected components include power train,engine, unknown or other, steering,power train,electrical system.
How many crash reports does the 2019 AUDI Q8 have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2019 AUDI Q8 out of 103 total complaints (1.0% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2019 AUDI Q8 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2019 AUDI Q8 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2019 AUDI Q8?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 AUDI Q8.
How many injuries are reported for the 2019 AUDI Q8?
2 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 AUDI Q8. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2019 AUDI Q8?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 AUDI Q8 is acceptable with caveats. It has 103 complaints, 5 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2019 AUDI Q8?
The components with the most failures on the 2019 AUDI Q8 are: 1. POWER TRAIN (23 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (17 complaints), 3. ENGINE (6 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (5 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 23 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2019 AUDI Q8?
Be aware of common issues with the power train, electrical system, and engine. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent unexpected failures. The 2019 AUDI Q8 has 103 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2019 AUDI Q8?
The 2019 AUDI Q8 receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 103 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Failure and Steering Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2019 AUDI Q8?
Known issues with the 2019 AUDI Q8 include: Engine Failure, Steering Issues, Fuel System Failures, Electrical System Delamination. These are based on patterns found across 103 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2019 Audi Q8?
Power train and engine issues are the most common, followed by electrical system and steering problems.
Are there any recalls for the 2019 Audi Q8?
Yes, recalls have been issued for power train, engine, and electrical system issues.
What should I do if I notice unusual noises or vibrations in my 2019 Audi Q8?
Have the vehicle inspected by a professional to identify and address the issue promptly.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of common issues with the power train, electrical system, and engine. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent unexpected failures.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2019 Audi Q8
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2019 Audi Q8. The data includes 103 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 2 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2019 Audi Q8 an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13