AUDI Complaints

The central locking / electronic door lock system on my 2019 Audi A6 intermittently malfunctions, sometimes with a long beep sound and an error message appearing on the screen in front of my steering wheel. The affected system is available for inspection upon request. The issue does not happen all the time, but the door sometimes fails to unlock or appears to re-lock while I am trying to open it. In late April 2026, in the morning, I was leaving YogaSource in [XXX] . As I approached my vehicle in the parking lot, an unstable individual was approaching the area near my car. I attempted to enter the vehicle quickly for safety, but the central locking system malfunctioned. As I tried to unlock and open the door, the vehicle appeared to lock again and the door would not open. I was temporarily locked out of the vehicle during a potentially unsafe situation. The door eventually opened only after I pushed the door inward with force, locked and unlocked the vehicle again, and tried the handle again. This created a very concerning safety risk because I could not immediately access my vehicle when I needed to get inside quickly as the individual approached me. The problem has not yet been fully reproduced or confirmed by a dealer to my knowledge. I previously mentioned the central locking issue during service and asked whether there was a recall. I was told there was no recall and that a lock replacement would cost approximately $850. The issue I have been experiencing appears consistent with Audi Technical Service Bulletin XXX/5, which applies to 2019 to 2024 Audi A6 models and describes central locking / door lock concerns and related fault codes. Because the defect is intermittent, it may be difficult to reproduce, but it creates a safety concern because the driver may be unable to access the vehicle when needed. I tolerated this issue for a while now, but now I realize what a big safety concern it really is and I'm surprised that a recall has not been issued. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious brake-related safety issue involving my Audi vehicle after recent brake service performed by an authorized Audi Meadowland dealership in [XXX] . In December 2025, I brought my vehicle to an authorized Audi dealership for replacement of the brake pads. The repair was completed by the dealership, and I trusted that the vehicle was safe to drive afterward. However, only approximately six months later, and after driving only around 1,000 miles since the repair, the vehicle experienced a dangerous brake-related failure involving the brake pad assembly becoming loose/detached while the vehicle was in operation. This incident occurred while my entire family was inside the vehicle, creating a serious safety hazard and placing all occupants at risk. A brake system component should not fail after such a short period of time and limited mileage following dealership service. In addition to the safety concern itself, I am also extremely dissatisfied with the dealership’s handling of the matter. The dealership did not proactively contact me regarding the repair status, and multiple attempts to contact them by phone went unanswered. I believe this issue may involve improper installation, defective parts, insufficient inspection procedures, or other serious safety-related service failures. I respectfully request that NHTSA review and investigate this matter to determine whether similar incidents may affect other vehicles serviced under similar conditions. Thank you in advance for your review on this matter. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My car is a 2019 Audi Q8 3.0L V6 with only 41,831 miles. My emergency light went on and I brought it my locat Audi Dealer. The inspection revealed that the coolant pump was leaking internally, contaminating the entire vacuum system with coolant. This is not a maintenance failure or the result of owner neglect. It is a well-documented, inherent design defect in the EA839 3.0T engine platform that powers the 2019 Q8, a defect that Audi of America has acknowledged through multiple Technical Service Bulletins. Specifically, the EA839 water pump uses a vacuum-operated diaphragm to control coolant flow. When the pump's internal seals fail — as they predictably do — coolant migrates directly into the engine's vacuum system, contaminating components far beyond the pump itself. Industry experts and Audi forums alike describe this failure mode as inevitable on this platform: not a matter of if, but when. This is a design defect manifesting at a fraction of the mileage at which any reasonable owner would expect a cooling system component to fail. Audi of America has issued multiple TSBs addressing coolant pump failures on this exact engine platform, and previously extended warranty coverage for Q7 and Q8 vehicles, including those built during the same production window as the vehicle in question. Our concern is this issue can cause the engine to seize while driving and Audi's repair costs for this known issue have been quoted minimally at $5,519.76

I was driving out of a parking lot into the feeder road of a highway with the intent of immediately getting on the highway. When I attempted to accelerate the car would not go any faster. I was traveling perhaps 5-10 miles per hour as cars on the feeder road were approaching at 45-50 miles per hour. The lag time before the car would accelerate was about 20 seconds. Luckily, I had not entered the feeder road right as the feeder road traffic was near me, otherwise I would definitely have been hit. This lack of acceleration happened two other times but the lag time was shorter. I took the car to the dealer but they could not find the problem.

Entire MMI including driving information, speed, milage and heads up including potential other systems went dark.

About a year ago, right after the warranty period was over, the water pump and related had to be replaced and car would not run right. This water pump is a well known issue with audi and had a recall already. My car was the year after but it happens to almost everyone at around 50-55k miles. This 2022 Audi SQ8 should be part of the recall process. It is a danger, it is well documented as a problem and should be fixed.

I am reporting that authorized dealer Audi Knoxville (Harper Auto Square) is KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY attempting to force me to operate an unsafe vehicle. Following an intake manifold repair, the dealership’s service staff identified carbon buildup and fouled spark plugs as a necessary repair, while the manufacturer (Audi of America) has reclassified it as 'maintenance' to avoid coverage. Because this critical 'top-end' work remains incomplete, the vehicle is at high risk for catastrophic stalling at highway speeds. Despite this, the dealership refuses to sign a safety certification for the vehicle. Under threat of property auction and a 48-hour ultimatum to seize my loaner car, they are coercing me into taking possession of a vehicle they themselves will not certify as safe. This is a willful disregard for consumer safety and federal motor vehicle standards.

From time to time the driver's door does not latch completely so the door is only partially closing. Dealer was able to duplicate the problem but will not replace (estimated cost for new door latch is just under $800.) at their expense. It appears that others have had the same problem. When driving the car air rushes into the vehicle as the door is not fully shut. I worry that this problem could be very serious should I be in an accident with a partially closed door rather than a fully closed door. The problem first appeared early in the winter and seems to be getting worse.

Coolant leak was detected, multiple cracks in water pump. Once fixed 2 days later coolant got into wiring harness and caused multi system failure, car stalled on the freeway. Cost over $5k to fix at certified Audi dealer. Recall only covered until year 2021 and I have a 2022 model

I am writing to bring to your attention a safety issue regarding Audi windshields that warrants further investigation. I own a 2022 Audi SQ5, purchased in December 2021 from Audi Wilmington. I currently reside in [XXX] where my vehicle has been exclusively serviced by Audi Sarasota since April 2023. Over the past two years, I have experienced four (4) windshield cracks resulting from minor road debris (1/26/24, 5/22/24, 2/27/25, and 5/1/26). In each instance, a small stone—rather than significant impact—caused an immediate, large starburst crack that was not repairable, requiring full replacement. I have attached my repair records including the latest with pictures. In my XXX years of driving all makes and models of vehicles prior to this Audi, I have only had one windshield incident and it was small and able to be repaired by Safelite. In researching this issue, I found that numerous Audi Q5/SQ5 owners report similar experiences with windshields cracking from minimal debris, and in some cases without a clear point of impact. This suggests the possibility of a broader pattern that may merit closer review. (Google Search: “Audi Q5 issues with cracked windshield from minor road debris”) I have reached out to Audi to bring this to their attention. Their reply was the following: "Our windshields are designed and tested to meet all applicable safety requirements, including Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 205. This standard ensures that automotive glass provides appropriate strength, impact resistance, and safety performance under normal driving conditions." I respectfully request that the NHTSA review this matter to determine whether a design review or other corrective action, including a potential recall, is warranted. Beyond the financial burden to customers, this represents a broader safety concern. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)