2021 Audi Sq8 problems
The Audi Q8 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV coupé made by Audi that was launched in 2018. It is the flagship of the Audi SUV line, and is being produced at the Volkswagen Bratislava Plant.
Overview
BMW launched its coupe SUV in 2008, the BMW X6, and Mercedes-Benz followed suit in 2015 with the GLE-Class Coupe. Audi never made a direct competitor but had been planning to once the new body style became a sales success for other brands.
The Q8 is the first SUV model under Audi's new head of design, Marc Lichte, and introduced a new design language for the brand's SUVs. The grill is larger and now has an octagonal shape, with both vertical and horizontal slats. The Q8 features full-laser headlamps and taillamps. The interior features the knob-less MMI system, three touch screens, and an enlarged virtual cockpit which has a fully digital instrument cluster. Additionally, both haptic and acoustic feedback are provided in response to user inputs, although the design can still lead to distracted driving.
The Q8 is slightly shorter than the Q7 in terms of both length and height but is slightly wider. It also has less cargo space than the Q7 due to its sloped roofline, and unlike the Q7, the Q8 is not available with third-row seats. According to the Volkswagen Group's product strategy the Audi Q8 shares its platform with the Lamborghini Urus, among other products.
European models went on sale in July 2018 and arrived at dealers in August 2018. As of 2019, is sold with both a three-litre turbocharged petrol V6 engine outputting 340 brake horsepower (250 kW; 340 PS) and a pair of three-litre turbocharged diesel engines outputting 231 brake horsepower (172 kW; 234 PS) and 286 brake horsepower (213 kW; 290 PS) respectively.
The plug-in hybrid model, marketed as the Q8 TFSI e quattro is based on the Q8 3.0 TFSI (340 PS) model with a 17.9 kWh battery. Pre-sales began in Germany and other European markets in 2020. Early models included 55 TFSI e quattro, 60 TFSI e quattro.
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Common 2021 Audi Sq8 problems
The 2021 Audi Q8, like any vehicle, may encounter certain common problems based on complaints from owners. While there is no specific data for the 2021 model, it is helpful to examine issues reported for the 2019 Audi Q8, as it shares similarities with the 2021 model. Here are some common problems found in the 2019 Audi Q8:
- Transmission Problems: Some owners have reported that the vehicle fails to accelerate when the gas pedal is applied when coming to or from a stop. This delay in response could put drivers at risk when trying to cross traffic, accelerate from a stop sign, or turn left during oncoming traffic. This issue appears to be intermittent but is becoming more prevalent.
- Power Train Complaints: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received 39 complaints about the powertrain of the 2019 Audi Q8. These complaints cover a range of issues that could potentially affect the vehicle's performance and reliability.
- Electrical System Complaints: The NHTSA has also received 28 complaints about the electrical system of the 2019 Audi Q8. One owner claimed to face a scary situation when their car, after flashing multiple warnings, suddenly shut down on the highway. The system failure left them trapped inside as the doors wouldn't open, highlighting the potential risks associated with electrical issues.
- Electronics and Programming: Audi has been criticized for its electronics and programming, with issues such as awkward transmission shifts, poor pedal tip-in response, and frustrating control setups. These problems can affect the driving experience and overall satisfaction with the vehicle.
- Belt Starter Generator (BSG): There is an unknown issue with the BSG, which has been failing prematurely in some 2021 Audi Q8s. This issue may be specific to certain engines, but it is essential to be aware of it when considering a 2021 Audi Q8.
While there is no specific data for the 2021 Audi Q8, it is crucial to consider these common problems reported for the 2019 model, as they may indicate potential issues for the 2021 model. Always conduct thorough research and consider extended warranty options when purchasing a new or used vehicle.
What is the difference between SQ8 and rsq8 engine?
The RS Q8 is the ultimate Audi performance SUV. It builds off the SQ8 Premium Plus, adding a 591-horsepower version of the 4.0-liter V8 capable of returning a zero-to-60 mph time of just 3.7 seconds.
Does the SQ8 have air suspension?
On various road. Conditions. Thank you in addition to the Adaptive air suspension the sq8 is equipped with electromechanical active roll stabilization.
Is the Audi SQ8 comfortable?
In the Comfort drive mode, the standard adaptive suspension dampers and air suspension provide the pillow-like ride you'd expect of a luxury SUV. It doesn't feel floaty either. You can also dial up the Dynamic mode for a firmer feel. The leather upholstery is soft, and the padding is comfortable but supportive.
How many miles per gallon does the SQ8 get?
According to the EPA, the SQ8 is good for 15 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined.
Does the SQ8 have air suspension?
On various road. Conditions. Thank you in addition to the Adaptive air suspension the sq8 is equipped with electromechanical active roll stabilization.
Is the Audi SQ8 comfortable?
In the Comfort drive mode, the standard adaptive suspension dampers and air suspension provide the pillow-like ride you'd expect of a luxury SUV. It doesn't feel floaty either. You can also dial up the Dynamic mode for a firmer feel. The leather upholstery is soft, and the padding is comfortable but supportive.
How much horsepower does a 2021 SQ8 have?
A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 will power the SQ8, and it will provide 500 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. The model comes standard with Quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Where is the Audi SQ8 made?
2024 Audi SQ8
The Audi SQ8 is available in one variant, is classed as a Upper Large SUV and is built in Germany.
2021 Audi Sq8 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Audi Sq8 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Suspension problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Audi Sq8 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2021 Audi Sq8 complaints
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Audi Sq8.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-02
- VIN: WA1CWBF11MD
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: MMI system stops working all of a sudden. This has happened multiple times and especially when it takes updates on its own. When called customer service they referred to the dealer stating they cannot do anything. Right after my call with them the car starts functioning back to normal. When I took it to the dealer for service and the problem, Dealer mentioned Audi has received complaints about the new models being affected and is aware of the problem but there is no software patch released yet. Its dangerous to drive as all functions are are turned off including cameras, Bluetooth, collision warning, blind spot, lane departure, music and more (except the engine running). Another issue is with its auto engine stop function, is when you are at a red light with a complete stop and when the light turns green and you are ready to move, the car takes a second or two to get the engine started and pulls back a little. Also the transmission pulls rough at that time of start. Am not sure why this is happening. The car pulls back even when the auto engine stop function is turned off.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-11-27
- VIN: WA1CWBF19MD
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: This 2021 Audi SQ8 vehicle was purchased new. The vehicle features an automatic engine stop/start feature which is intended to enhance vehicle fuel economy. The incident(s) include: (1) multiple instances when slowing to a stop and the stop/start feature turned off the vehicle engine before the vehicle has come to a stop, leaving the vehicle to "coast" to a complete stop but without the aid of power steering, full braking capacity and ordinary functionality of a running engine; (2) one instance when parking and the /start feature turned off the vehicle engine, in a drive aisle of a busy plaza parking lot, after I stopped and moved the transmission to reverse in order to back into a parking space; and (3) multiple failures to quickly start and permit required fast acceleration when the start/stop feature would not turn on the engine on demand to permit quick acceleration needed to safely cross a 2 lane roadway in front of approaching traffic from the opposite direction.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-30
- VIN: WA1CWBF10MD
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Audi SQ8. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V295000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2021 Audi Sq8 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 2021 Audi Sq8.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
- Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi SQ7, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 AVANT, and SQ8 vehicles. Cracks may develop on the surface of the engine cylinder bore.
- Consequence: Cracks may cause engine damage and a stall or an oil leak, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 10G9.
Positive 2021 Audi Sq8 car reviews
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Audi Sq8 problems:
SQ8 - common issues? - AudiWorld Forums
May 2, 2023 ... Audi Q8 - SQ8 - common issues? - Out of ... Our 2021 SQ8 is being traded for a MB ... problem described in this thread: Electric System Malfunction ...
2021 Audi SQ8 Problems, Issues & Top Complaints - Is Your Car A ...
Jul 5, 2023 ... Recalls · An engine cylinder bore surface may develop cracks that may cause engine damage and stalling or an oil leak. · Seat belt locking ...
More SQ8 issues... - AudiWorld Forums
Audi Q8 - More SQ8 issues... - Well, I hate to be that guy who comes on the forum and just ... beachbumjbs , 02-02-2021 01:11 PM ... I noticed that too on ...
RS6/7 problems and warranty claims - Forum
Jul 6, 2022 ... No other significant issues or rattles. Sent from my iPhone using Audizine Forum. My 2021 RS6 goes into Audi on Monday for the same problem.
Is anybody else having insane issues with their MMI, including ...
May 16, 2022 ... Did you find out it the connection works better wired? I just got my 2021 ... Another issue I only have in the Audi. ... I have a '22 Audi SQ8, ...
Other years of Audi Sq8
Are you having problems with your 2021 Audi Sq8?
Stan Gislason 2024-10-05
This beauty has unbelievable power and makes a statement no matter where you go! I love the interior with upgraded leather seats and sound system. As someone who has owned the Porsche Cayenne, Cadillac Escalade, and many others over the years, I can confidently say that this amazing SUV is hands down the best.
Trevor Mueller 2024-09-07
Congratulations on your new SQ8! It sounds like you made a great choice. The SQ8 offers a luxurious experience with a powerful V8 engine and impressive suspension. The ride quality is almost as good as the Q8, but with better handling. The interior is spacious and comfortable, fitting for a high-end German car. The driver assistance pack is also really good, even better than your previous Q8 and almost as good as a 2022 S Class you recently drove. While there are some cons, such as the storage compartments being hilariously useless and the TPMS not telling you how much air your tires have, the SQ8 is still a great choice. The transmission may not always be at the ready when you stab the throttle, but it's less of an issue in dynamic mode. After putting 40,000 miles on your last Q8 with only minor electrical glitches, the SQ8 offers more of the same experience without having to second guess overtaking the car in front. Enjoy your new ride!
Brendon Christiansen 2024-07-16
This car features the finest materials available, including a suede headliner, Napa massaging seats, and full leather surroundings. The advanced technology provides a luxurious and comfortable driving experience. The 500 hp V-8 engine delivers a powerful and balanced performance, especially with the sports package and all-wheel steering. The double-paned insulating glass on all windows ensures a quiet ride on the highway. The sound system is also impressive, boasting 23 speakers and 2000 W. Overall, this car is a true luxury experience that you will love!
Joshuah Bartell 2024-07-10
Such a fun car to drive! It has a slightly bigger car feel and is smoother than my past SQ5, which I loved. It's so quiet and smooth. But if you smash the gas, it will take off like a slingshot. This thing sounds great and will make you smile every time you start it too! Overall, it's a very nice car. Well done, Audi!
Eddie Stehr 2024-03-13
Short and simple... the SQ8 drives like a tank, and no other car can beat you on the road, regardless of the conditions. While the infotainment system could be a little more responsive, it's not a deal breaker. This review comes from a guy who has been driving BMWs since 2004. Of course, I missed my X5 2019, but the SQ8 is the beast I am in love with driving. I have two kids, two car seats, and I've never run out of space.