AUDI Complaints

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? TRANSMISSION - GEAR SHIFT How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? THE CAR STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS AND WE WHEN THE CAR INSTRUCTED US TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY IT WASN'T A SAFE PLACE TO STOP THE CAR. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? SO FAR AUDI NOR THE DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. ONLY THAT THEY SEE PIECES OF METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION LINE. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON TWICE AND TAKE YOUR CAR TO THE NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY WARNING CAME ON ONCE.

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 this may be a continuing manufacturing issue arising. My vehicle only has 65k miles on it and Audi admits this is rare. Due to a misdiagnosis in June of 2025 (oil leak), Audi of Seaside Monterey caused the complete failure of the differential in December of 2025 by not doing a deeper diagnosis earlier to resolve the catastrophic failure. This is a safety concern and very expensive. A new differential costs $12k which has been expected to pay with no accountability. I am currently in an active case with Audi Seaside and the BAR to come to a resolution.

Audi mmi safety systems regularly go into failure/ error mode (see photos ) - screen says car can still be driven on screen but all warnings flash continuously and safety systems do not operate until car turned off again, often errors and failure of safety systems to operate continue on next start up -often 1-10x times a day, then no issues for a couple days. Reported to Audi w description and photos, no fix offered accept “bring in for service”. Seems to be a common issue w/ other owners from web search Have not brought in for service.

The engine (internal mechanical failure) malfunctioned. The vehicle developed a persistent ticking/knocking noise from the engine bay, and the authorized Audi dealer diagnosed the issue as requiring a full engine replacement. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. A catastrophic engine failure presents a risk of sudden loss of power, stalling, or engine seizure, which could occur while driving at speed or in traffic. This creates a potential risk of loss of vehicle control, inability to accelerate, or being stranded in unsafe conditions, endangering both the driver and other motorists. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Audi dealership, which diagnosed the vehicle and stated that a complete engine replacement is required. The estimated repair cost provided by the dealer is approximately $26,000 (so far in parts only). The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by an authorized Audi dealership. At this time, it has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Audi corporate has been contacted for review. The primary symptom was a persistent ticking noise from the engine bay, which began around late December 2025 / early January 2026. There were no immediate warning lights or dashboard messages at the onset of the noise. The noise progressively worsened, prompting dealer inspection and diagnosis.

Immediately after taking it home from a dealership, I noticed the MMI system wasn’t turning on. I figured it would fix itself, but it’s been 4 days and nothing has happened. The screen stays black when starting the car. When I reset the MMI by holding the volume knob for 10 seconds, it briefly turns on but shuts itself off right after.

On or December 5th, 2025 (4 days after taking possession of the vehicle, I experienced a sudden and severe steering system failure while driving. When turning the steering wheel (even slightly), the vehicle produced a loud buzzing/grinding noise and the steering effort increased significantly, creating an immediate safety hazard. Because the steering issue worsened quickly and made the vehicle difficult to control, I stopped driving and brought the vehicle to an authorized Audi dealership for inspection. The Audi dealership confirmed the steering failure was caused by a major power steering system defect, including active power steering fluid leakage from the steering rack area consistent with internal seal failure, and the power steering pump being faulty due to fluid loss. The dealership advised replacement of the power steering rack and pump and stated the vehicle was unsafe to test drive due to its condition. During the same inspection, the Audi dealership also identified additional serious safety-related defects, including a brake system condition where the brake pedal slowly sinks toward the floor when pressure is applied (indicating a braking system performance failure requiring brake fluid exchange and further diagnosis if unresolved). The inspection also documented multiple additional mechanical and safety concerns requiring extensive repairs, including suspension and drivetrain defects and other conditions indicating the vehicle was not roadworthy as sold. The vehicle remains available for inspection. This incident involved a sudden loss of steering assist and braking abnormalities that could lead to loss of control, crash risk, and injury to the driver, passengers, and other motorists.

I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a loud gunshot. I got off the exit pulled over and I saw that my sunroof was shattered. On my Audi Q5 2016.

I am writing to report a serious and life-threatening safety incident involving my Audi vehicle following recent service performed by an authorized Audi dealer. Vehicle information: Model: Audi (2015) VIN: [XXX] Servicing Dealer: Audi Lafayette IN Date of Service: 2026-01-14 A few days after the service appointment, my wife was driving the vehicle from Lafayette, Indiana to Chicago on the highway at normal speed when the vehicle suddenly became unstable and difficult to control. The car experienced violent shaking and loss of directional control, creating an immediate risk of a high-speed accident. Fortunately, she was able to safely bring the vehicle to a stop on the highway shoulder. The vehicle was then towed back to the same dealership. Preliminary inspection strongly suggests a wheel / tire installation failure, which occurred less than a week after dealer service. This incident placed my wife’s life — and the lives of other motorists — in serious danger. We are extremely concerned that this failure may be the result of improper installation or torque procedures performed during the dealer service. At this time: We have not authorized any repairs or alterations to the vehicle We are preserving the vehicle condition for documentation and investigation We are requesting Audi of America’s immediate involvement Given the severity of this incident, we respectfully request: A formal Audi of America safety investigation Preservation and review of all dealer service records and technician documentation. This was not a minor inconvenience — this was a near-fatal highway safety failure, and we believe it requires urgent attention at the corporate level. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The starter in my Audi Q7 2019 failed and the car would not start. I was parked in my garage and manually had to put the car in neutral using the tool provided in the trunk and push the car out of the garage until a flatbed tow truck was able to take my car to the shop. If this happened elsewhere, I could have been stranded without the ability to start my car. My car was towed to a certified shop where they confirmed the failure and made the repair by installing a new starter.

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated that on several occasions, while adding fuel to the vehicle, there was a clicking sound before the fuel started spilling onto the ground from the filler neck. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired; however, the dealer stated that the failure might be associated with a breather issue within the fuel tank and that the breather part might need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle suddenly jerked, lost power, and a rattling sound came from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, there was a leak underneath the driver’s side rear wheel and a trail of condensation coming from the fuel tank, extending outside of the vehicle on the floor of the garage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.