AUDI Complaints

Sudden complete loss of propulsion while driving, with no opportunity to safely leave the travel lane; failure repeated again seven miles later after vehicle restart. Once propulsion is lost the driver has 1 to 2 seconds before multiple loud banging noises and the vehicle shuddering to an immediate stop without the driver using the brake pedal. The warning on the dash was "High Voltage Electrical System Fault" all in red.

I am reporting a recurring problem with the front passenger-side window on my 2020 Audi Q8. This issue began when the vehicle was approximately two years old and has continued intermittently. When attempting to close the front passenger window, the window will sometimes automatically reverse direction and go back down instead of closing. On September 7, 2026, after the vehicle was parked and turned off, the passenger window lowered and would not close normally. Each time I attempted to raise it, the window would reverse and lower again. I was eventually able to close the window only by repeatedly operating the switch in very small increments until the glass finally reached the fully closed and sealed position. I have previously cleaned the window and window-channel area and attempted to resolve the problem, but the condition continues to return. Because the window can unexpectedly lower and can become extremely difficult or impossible to close normally, I am concerned about the reliability and safety of the window regulator, anti-pinch system, door control module, or related software/electrical components. This has been an intermittent problem for several years and is not normal wear or a one-time occurrence. I am reporting it so NHTSA can determine whether other owners of 2020 Audi Q8 vehicles are experiencing similar front-window failures and whether further investigation is warranted.

Piston skirt extended warranty calls for replacement of the pistons. This does NOT fix the issue if the vehicle was driven long term with damaged pistons. In my case the vehicle started knocking 1000 miles after replacement. Unsafe to drive and I now how to pay for a new engine on my own.

I am filing this safety complaint regarding my 2025 Audi S5, VIN [XXX]. Since taking delivery on [XXX], the vehicle has experienced repeated and intermittent malfunctions involving the driver-assistance and steering systems. On numerous occasions, the Lane Departure Warning/Lane Assist system has applied unexpected and excessive steering input. When attempting to change lanes, including while using the turn signal, the vehicle has at times attempted to steer back toward the original lane. The system has also made intrusive steering corrections while I am already traveling within my lane. These events can be unpredictable and create concern that the vehicle may unexpectedly alter my intended steering direction. The vehicle also repeatedly displays warnings stating that driver-assistance systems are currently limited or unavailable. These warnings have occurred in both rainy and clear/dry conditions and have occurred while the vehicle is being driven at highway speeds. In addition, I have repeatedly experienced a clunking sensation/noise through the steering/front axle area during sharp turns, full-lock steering, parking maneuvers, and roundabouts. The vehicle has been presented to an authorized Audi dealership multiple times for these recurring concerns. A software update was performed in August 2026. The vehicle initially appeared improved, but the driver-assistance and steering symptoms returned shortly afterward and have continued. These are recurring, intermittent safety-related problems, not a single isolated event. I am concerned that unpredictable steering intervention and repeated driver-assistance system failures could contribute to loss of vehicle control or a collision. I am requesting that NHTSA document and investigate these recurring safety concerns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle has a recurring electrical failure involving the camshaft position sensor circuit (DTC P0365). The sensor itself is functional, but the wiring harness leading to the sensor develops internal copper fatigue due to a design flaw in the factory routing. The harness is bent tightly behind the passenger-side cylinder head, causing vibration-induced internal wire breakage that is invisible externally. This failure is well known to Audi dealers and has been reproduced and confirmed by multiple service centers. The problem is not caused by the sensor, plug, or engine components. It is caused by the wiring harness design, which repeatedly fails in the same 6–10 inch section. The defect causes intermittent loss of camshaft signal, illumination of the check engine light, and inability to pass emissions. Repair requires cutting open the harness and splicing in new wire, costing approximately $700–$1,200 each time. This is a repeated electrical defect caused by poor harness routing and inadequate wire durability. This issue affects safety indirectly because the vehicle cannot reliably report camshaft position to the ECM, and the failure is unpredictable. The defect is widespread among vehicles using the same engine and harness design.

While driving, the vehicle displayed three simultaneous warnings — “Drive system malfunction, safely stop vehicle,” “Electrical system malfunction, restart not possible, contact service,” and “All-wheel drive malfunction, limited stability” — and lost propulsion completely. This occurred on at least two separate occasions while driving. After each event, the vehicle would not restart for approximately 15 minutes, after which it began working again temporarily. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Audi dealer, which found no coolant in the front drive motor and diagnosed a fault in the SX6 high-voltage battery switching module, which controls connection of the high-voltage battery. The SX6 module was replaced. This followed a separate repair approximately three months earlier for a failure of the J1050 high-voltage battery charger control module, which had to be replaced twice due to communication failures with the vehicle’s electrical system. I am concerned this represents a recurring high-voltage electrical system defect that creates a risk of sudden loss of vehicle control/propulsion while driving.

This report is on a new vehicle. The incident occurred within one week of purchase. While driving on a freeway at constant speed, with the closest vehicle in front of me approximately 25 yards away and with no warning, the car slammed on the brakes in an emergency fashion and aggressively tightened the seat belt shoulder harness. This was followed by a notice "emergency call cancelled". It is clear that the Audi pre sense malfunctioned and caused the system to think a rear end collision was imminent, when clearly it was not. The internet is littered with complaints about this. Fortunately, this did not result in an accident, but I would classify it as a near miss safety incident since if someone had been close behind me it likely would have resulted in a rear end collision. I have reported this to the Audi dealer that I purchased it from. Given that I haven't had a car accident in forty years, I consider this system more of a safety hazard than a help.

The vehicle went in for a software update. After purchasing the vehicle, the software update was part of a recall. Since that recall was performed, my vehicle has a lot of electronic glitches and a lot of issues. My external Morty just got done, paying $4500 to track down a central locking issue on top of the electronic issues. Did not fix the issue. I am out of town going to see family in California. The vehicle central locking air came back up. I could not get out of the vehicle lock and unlock went out work. Also, the door handles would not work me and my daughter had to climb out of the car windows to get out. So like, you know what? And then we had to try to access the battery compartment to do a hard reset. The vehicle is scheduled to go back to the manufacturer dealer to look at it again next week. However, I will be contacting audi u s a again. Since I told him I had all these issues, they refused to help me out in any way. This is a very big safety issue.

On September 2, 2026, I purchased a used 2020 Audi Q5 with disclosed Lemon Law Buyback title branding. Approximately two hours after taking delivery, the vehicle began exhibiting a pronounced vibration/judder in the drivetrain when turning the steering wheel at low speed, approximately 1-5 mph. Initially occurring only at full steering lock, the symptom has progressively worsened and now occurs during slighter turns as well, with increasing frequency. The vehicle operates normally in a straight line. This is consistent with Audi Technical Service Bulletin 2059057 (Quattro Ultra AWD vibration/binding in tight turns), applicable to 2018-2020 Audi Q5 vehicles. Given this vehicle's disclosed prior manufacturer buyback history, this may represent a recurring, unresolved drivetrain defect.

I placed my child into the back seat of my 2025 Audi Q7 and secured the child in the car seat. The key fob was inside the vehicle in the back seat, and the vehicle was turned off. After placing my child in the vehicle, the Q7 unexpectedly locked with both my child and the key fob inside. I did not intentionally lock the vehicle. I attempted to regain access to the vehicle, but the doors remained locked and I was unable to access my child. The vehicle did not appear to recognize or respond appropriately to the fact that the key fob was located inside the passenger compartment. My child remained trapped inside the locked vehicle for more than three minutes while I attempted to gain access. Because the vehicle was off, my child was restrained in a car seat, and I had no reliable way to open the vehicle, I became increasingly concerned for my child's safety. After repeated attempts to gain entry failed, I determined that I could not safely wait any longer. I was forced to break one of the vehicle's windows to gain emergency access and remove my child. The window was not broken because of an accident, collision, vandalism, or a misplaced key. It was intentionally broken solely as an emergency measure because the vehicle unexpectedly locked with a child and the key fob inside the passenger compartment and I could not regain access. I subsequently reported the incident to my Audi dealership and requested an investigation of the vehicle's central-locking, key-detection, convenience-access, and related electronic systems. I am reporting this incident to NHTSA because I believe a vehicle unexpectedly locking while the key fob and a restrained child are inside, combined with the inability to regain access, represents a serious potential safety hazard. Because the vehicle was turned off, this type of malfunction could be particularly dangerous during hot or cold weather. I am requesting that NHTSA document and investigate this incident and determine whether similar unin