2019 Audi Q8: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
107 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 107 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 15.29
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I have experienced multiple events in which the there is a central locking system malfunction which renders the fob, door lock button, and at times, the door handle nonfunctional and effectively traps occupants in the vehicle.
Piston slap issues. The manufacturer is aware of the engine failure issues. They extended the engine warranty coverage from 50k to 80k miles knowing that the engine piston slap is an extreme issue but they won’t issue a total and complete recall. Owners have to identify that issue and have to specifically bring it in to have it bore scoped. If an owner isn’t aware of the noise and goes over the 80k miles then they ar…
Faulty water pump → allowed coolant to migrate into the vacuum lines (a place coolant should never be). •This led to turbo underboost faults (loss of power) even though the turbo itself is fine. •The contaminated vacuum system now requires replacement of the vacuum shut-off valve and possibly other vacuum components. •Because of how the parts are placed, the repair requires removing the front bumper, and once it’s re…
Recalls: 5 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 26V125000 | Lane Departure:Software | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8, Audi A7, and Audi A6 vehicles previously repaired under recall number 25V900. |
| 20V149000 | Steering | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles. |
| 25V900000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. |
| 19V114000 | Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Q7, Q8, S5 Cabriolet, and S5 Sportback vehicles. |
| 22V516000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi Q8, and 2020-2021 Audi Q7 vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a large premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $4,000
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System43 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Power Train43 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine31 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Steering11 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Fuel/Propulsion System10 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Unknown Or Other9 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
Other Audi Q8 years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Audi Q8?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (43 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2019 Audi Q8 a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 46/100, computed from 107 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Audi Q8's most common problem?
43 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 Audi Q8 sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2019 Audi Q8 cost to run per year?
About $5,940 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,700 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2019 Audi Q8 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Audi Q8, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/03/2026. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury larges of about the same age.
What will a 2019 Audi Q8 really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 107 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 107 NHTSA complaints on record (15.3/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (6.0/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems