Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi RS Q8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system2
- Steering1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2021 Audi RS Q8 failed the safety check 0.59% of the time — 38% less often than the average 2021 passenger car (0.95%). Median odometer at inspection: 19,924 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2021
1,512 new Audi RS Q8 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2021; the largest markets were Germany (861), Italy (120), Austria (100).
- Average mass
- 2,390 kg
- Average CO₂
- 305 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 441 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Real-world fuel consumption
318 Audi RS Q8 cars first registered in Europe in 2021 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Petrol hybrid versions use 16.4 l/100 km on the road against 13.4 in the WLTP test (+23%).
| Fuel | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol hybrid | 318 | 16.4 | 13.4 | +23% |
Litres per 100 km from the cars' own fuel meters (OBFCM), collected in 2024; the year is the year of first registration. All years together · European Environment Agency · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
174 first registered in 2021 are on Dutch roads; 97% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €260,335.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde34
- Band onvoldoende profiel11
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm11
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld9
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie werkt niet goed2
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht2
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1
- Lambdawaarde wijkt af1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
216 cars built in 2021 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 13 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
4 2021 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Audi RS Q8 SUV AWD | — | 15.8 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 15.4 L/100 km (about 15 mpg US), CO₂ 360 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| RS Q8 quattro · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Premium gasoline | 18.0 | 12.3 | 15.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2021 Audi RS Q8.
| 2025713 19 Dec 2025 | Visual System Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to appear on the display. Canadian regulations require the rearview i… |
| 2025167 31 Mar 2025 | Lights And Instruments Issue: On certain vehicles, a problem with the instrument cluster (virtual cockpit) could cause it to shut down. If this happens, you may not be able to see … |
| 2022565 5 Oct 2022 | Visual System Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to appear on the display. Canadian regulations require the rearview i… |
| 2022022 26 Jan 2022 | Suspension Issue: On certain vehicles, the rear wheel alignment was not checked during recall 42L1 (Transport Canada Recall 2021-249). As a result, the steering could pu… |
| 2021486 4 Aug 2021 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger seat belt assemblies may contain defective automatic locking retractors (ALR). As a result, the seat belts may not p… |
| 2021279 13 May 2021 | Engine Issue: On a small number of vehicles, the engine block could crack due to a manufacturing error. This could lead to damage of other engine parts, and could re… |
| 2021249 26 Apr 2021 | Suspension Issue: On certain vehicles, the lock nuts for the rear trailing arm bolts may be defective. If a nut breaks, there could be sudden changes in rear wheel align… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
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."
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.
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."
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2021 Audi RS Q8: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011316 | Under this service action, Audi dealers will replace the starter-alternator in affected vehicles at no cost to owners. A defective starter-alternator may inhibit start/stop functionality which could increase CO2 and other emissions while the vehicle is stopped. Emissions still remain within certification standards. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2021 model year. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of the next wave of vehicles. |
| 11011314 | Under this service action, Audi dealers will replace the starter-alternator in affected vehicles at no cost to owners. A defective starter-alternator may inhibit start/stop functionality which could increase CO2 and other emissions while the vehicle is stopped. Emissions still remain within certification standards. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2021 model year. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of the next wave of vehicles. |
| 11011307 | This bulletin provides information when high beam assist, or traffic sign detection limited, DTC C12B3FD may be stored in the DAS control module. |
| 11011303 | This bulletin provides information when the anti-theft alarm activates for no reason, or when the anti-theft alarm does not activate. |
| 11011296 | This bulletin provides service-info relating to lithium-ion high-voltage batteries; determining energy content. |
| 11011285 | This TSB Provides information when parking assistance provides false warnings. |
| 11011282 | This bulletin provides information when speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is noted. |
| 11011277 | This bulletin provides information when the parking brake does not work sporadically; DTC B107BF0 or B10FCF0 stored in the driver assist systems. |
| 11011276 | This TSB provides information when DTCs U142100 and U164200 are stored as passive/sporadic in the gateway. |
| 11011274 | This bulletin provides information when the restricted function icon for Audi Pre sense is displayed after engine starts. |
| 11011273 | This bulletin provides information when DTC B187A00 is stored: Park steer assist cancelation (symptom number 98341). |
| 11011272 | This bulletin provides information when the overhead view camera (TopView) calibration fails. |
| 11011268 | This bulletin pertains to complaints/general information regarding SOS Emergency Assist. |
| 11011263 | This bulletin provides information regarding cleaning exterior glass. |
| 11011256 | This bulletin provides information when the DTCs B200FF0 to B200FF5 are stored in the J775 suspension control unit. |
| 11011253 | This bulletin provides infomraion when there are rumbling/knocking noises from the front suspension. |
| 11011247 | This bulletin provides information when the MIL is on, or the red coolant lamp lights up; DTC P218100 and/or P1BB400. |
| 11011246 | This bulletin provides information when the engine overheats, red coolant temperature warning, MIL on - 4.0 ltr. V8 TFSI; P029900. |
| 11011245 | This bulletin provides information when MIL on and/or Camshaft Position faults P039100, P036600 or P034600 stored in ECM. |
| 11011240 | This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool |
| 11011239 | This bulletin advises that fuel additives are not permitted. |
| 11009990 | Under this service action, Audi dealers will replace the starter-alternator in affected vehicles at no cost to owners. A defective starter-alternator may inhibit start/stop functionality which could increase CO2 and other emissions while the vehicle is stopped. Emissions still remain within certification standards. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2021 model year. Updated parts table in parts section. |
| 11009989 | Under this service action, Audi dealers will replace the starter-alternator in affected vehicles at no cost to owners. A defective starter-alternator may inhibit start/stop functionality which could increase CO2 and other emissions while the vehicle is stopped. Emissions still remain within certification standards. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2021 model year.Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2022 model year. |
| 11009985 | Under this service action, Audi dealers will replace the starter-alternator in affected vehicles at no cost to owners. A defective starter-alternator may inhibit start/stop functionality which could increase CO2 and other emissions while the vehicle is stopped. Emissions still remain within certification standards. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2021 model year. Updated parts table in parts section. |
| 11009984 | Under this service action, Audi dealers will replace the starter-alternator in affected vehicles at no cost to owners. A defective starter-alternator may inhibit start/stop functionality which could increase CO2 and other emissions while the vehicle is stopped. Emissions still remain within certification standards. Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2021 model year.Updated affected vehicle chart & owner notification letters to reflect the addition of 2022 model year. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)