Audi SQ8: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Audi SQ8: 2 model years scored from 4 NHTSA owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns. Worst year 2021, best year 2021.
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | BUY | $5,551 | 3 | 6 |
| 2020 | 92 | BUY | $5,683 | 1 | 1 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the SQ8, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Audi SQ8
Across every SQ8 model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Power Train2 complaints across all SQ8 years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Suspension1 complaints across all SQ8 years · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle$780–$1,580
- Engine1 complaints across all SQ8 years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System1 complaints across all SQ8 years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the most common Audi SQ8 problem?
2 of the complaints filed against the SQ8 across all its model years sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04