Vehicle lost all power and control while driving 45mph. First electrical system failure warning came on. Within 2 minutes the transmission slipped into neutral and 15 seconds later the vehicle lost power and I coasted to a stop. I was told by Audi dealership service that the starter generator failed. They mentioned they currently have over 20 vehicles in their shop and over 25 at their other…
2019 Audi Q8 powertrain problems
moderate 38 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
38
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 38 powertrain complaints filed for the 2019 Audi Q8, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 36% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 38 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Vehicle will have a delay (1-3 seconds) when pressing the gas pedal while the car is idle, causing a dangerous situation and leaving the vehicle vulnerable to cross traffic, as it rolls forward into traffic. Vehicle then jolts forward as it finally engages. Has continuously happened since purchasing the vehicle. We have reported it on multiple occasions to our dealership, yet they basically…
This vehicle as a serious intermittent issue with throttle lag. When pulling out of parking lots if you do not come to a complete stop the throttle seems to lag 1-3 seconds. Then it surges forward when it finally does move. As others have said it does not happen 100% of the time which makes it even worse. You never know if it's going to go or wait a second or two before it moves. Being in sport…
Electric System Mal Function. The Car was flashing all signals. It asked to pull over and said there is a danger of car turning over. We called audi assistance. The tow truck driver could not load the car as the wheels were all locked up.
On multiple occasions, q8 will not accelerate when gas pedal applied for roughly 1-3 seconds when coasting to a stop or immediately coming out of a stop, causing the vehicle to remain stationary although gas pedal is applied. Once the vehicle responds to the depressed accelerator, after a delay, then the auto can accelerate beyond the requested acceleration. It feels like the vehicle is trying…
The car has a several second delay when pressing the gas pedal in the engine idle auto on/off feature. I have not heard of any recalls or fixes to this problem. Dealer has no fix for problem.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 Audi Q8?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2019 Audi Q8?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 38 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 3,010 and 11,000 miles, with the median around 4,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,010; a quarter make it past 11,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Audi/Q8.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.