If you’re eyeing a 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron, you’ve probably heard mixed things: smooth, quiet, beautifully finished, and also stories about charging headaches and recalls. This guide pulls together what we know so far about 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron problems, from real owner complaints to official recalls, and adds some practical advice if you’re shopping used.
A quick reality check
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron at a glance
Key 2024 Q8 e-tron numbers
Audi’s first-generation e-tron SUV evolved into the Q8 e-tron for the 2024 model year, with efficiency tweaks, a larger usable battery, and updated styling. Underneath, though, it’s still built on the same basic platform as the earlier e-tron, which means some long-term strengths are already known, along with a few recurring trouble spots.
How reliable is the 2024 Q8 e-tron?
Early reliability snapshots from major testing organizations rate the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron as better than average compared with other 2024 vehicles overall. That’s encouraging, but it doesn’t mean trouble-free. Reliability scores roll many systems together, while owner complaints and recalls tend to cluster around a few specific areas: charging, brakes, software and in-car electronics, and camera/visibility systems.
- Overall reliability so far: better than many peers in its model year, but with limited long-term data because it’s still a relatively new refresh.
- No widespread reports of catastrophic battery or motor failures specific to the 2024 model year yet.
- A small but growing number of documented complaints around charging failures that leave the vehicle temporarily inoperable.
- At least one formal NHTSA recall for the 2024 Q8 e-tron related to brake-line assembly, plus a broader camera/software recall that includes Q8 e-tron variants.
How to read early reliability data
Known 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron problems
Main 2024 Q8 e-tron problem areas
Where real owners and regulators are seeing issues
Charging & DC fast charging
Intermittent failures to start sessions, especially on DC fast chargers. Some owners report the car will AC charge at home but refuse multiple DC stations until faults are cleared or settings adjusted.
Brakes & brake vibration
Beyond the small brake-line recall, at least one owner reports repeated rotor/pad replacements within roughly 12,000 miles, along with vibration and inconsistent braking feel.
Software & in-car tech
Glitches with the MyAudi app, Plug & Charge setup, and charge-session handshakes. Occasional complaints about slow or buggy infotainment behavior.
Rearview camera & visibility
A large 2026 camera recall campaign covers multiple Audi models, including e-tron and Q8 variants, for rearview images that can fail or go blank when shifting into reverse.
You won’t necessarily experience all, or any, of these issues. But if you’re buying a used 2024 Q8 e-tron, knowing where the weak spots are lets you ask smarter questions and inspect the car more thoroughly.
Charging issues and DC fast-charging glitches
The most disruptive 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron problems reported so far involve charging. Because this is a pure EV, anything that prevents the car from charging reliably can effectively sideline it.
- Owners reporting that Level 1 and Level 2 charging at home works, but DC fast charging repeatedly fails to initiate on multiple public stations.
- Sessions that time out during the handshake phase, where the car and charger exchange information, before any energy flows.
- Charging faults that persist across different networks, not just one brand of DC fast charger.
- Cases where the charging system faults left the vehicle temporarily unable to charge at all, requiring dealer intervention to clear errors and update software.
What’s causing the issues?
So far, most charging complaints sound like a mix of software quirks and communication problems between car and charger, instead of hardware failures. Owners and technicians have reported:
- Charging “faults” stored in the vehicle that prevent new sessions until a dealer clears them.
- Plug & Charge or MyAudi account settings that confuse public chargers, especially when a previous owner’s subscription is still attached.
- Fast charging limited or refused in extreme heat, as the car protects the battery.
How to minimize charging headaches
- Verify that all software updates have been performed, on both the high-voltage and infotainment systems.
- Clear out any old MyAudi accounts if you’re buying used, and reconfigure Plug & Charge from scratch.
- Test DC fast charging at more than one network before you buy, ideally on a warm day, to see how the car behaves in real life.
- Keep a record of any charging errors or warning messages so the dealer can pinpoint repeating patterns.
Watch for “can’t charge” stories in the history
Brake problems and brake-line recall
Brakes are another hot spot. For 2024 Q8 e-tron models, there are two distinct concerns: a small but serious brake-line recall, and scattered complaints about premature brake wear or vibration.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron brake-related issues
What’s been reported so far and what it means for you
| Issue | What it is | How serious? | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overtightened brake line recall | A batch of 2024 Q8 e-tron and Sportback e-tron SUVs left the factory with brake pressure lines tightened too hard, which can crack and leak fluid. | High – Brake fluid leaks can lengthen stopping distance and trigger warnings. | Run a VIN recall check. Confirm the recall repair (inspection/replacement of brake line) is documented. |
| Repeated brake vibration & rotor wear | At least one owner reports severe brake vibration and multiple full rotor/pad replacements within roughly 12,000 miles. | Medium to high – Hurts confidence and can increase stopping distances if ignored. | During a test drive, pay attention to pulsation under braking. Ask for service records on any brake work. |
| Typical EV brake surface rust | Like many EVs, the Q8 e-tron uses regen heavily, so friction brakes can rust and feel grabby if rarely used. | Low – Annoying but usually not dangerous if addressed. | Occasionally brake more firmly to clean rotors. Have brakes inspected if noise or vibration persists. |
Always check a vehicle’s VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Brakes are non-negotiable
Software and in-car electronics issues
Modern Audis live and die by software, and the Q8 e-tron is no exception. While we’re not seeing meltdown-level failures, there are recurring complaints about glitchy in-car electronics and quirky charging-related app behavior.
- MyAudi app errors when trying to start or monitor charging sessions, sometimes resolved only by deleting and reinstalling the app or calling Audi’s digital support line.
- Plug & Charge failing to initiate sessions at some public fast chargers until the feature is disabled and the session is started manually via app or credit card.
- Infotainment screen lag, occasional system restarts, or intermittent bugs with Bluetooth, navigation, or camera views.
- A broader pattern across Volkswagen Group brands of software-based recalls to fix digital instrument clusters, camera displays, and warning systems.
Expect software updates
Rearview camera and visibility recalls
Rear visibility has become a real regulatory focus, and the Q8 e-tron has been swept into at least one large rearview camera recall campaign affecting various Audi and Porsche models. The core problem: the camera image can fail or go blank when you shift into reverse, due to software or signal interference issues.
- If the rearview camera doesn’t reliably display when you select reverse, the vehicle may not meet U.S. rear-visibility requirements.
- Audi’s fix is typically a software update, sometimes combined with hardware checks or replacement if necessary.
- Owners are notified by mail, but used buyers may never see those letters, another reason to run a fresh VIN check and ask for documentation.
Battery and range: what we are, and aren’t, seeing yet
The 2024 Q8 e-tron uses an updated version of Audi’s existing battery pack, with more usable capacity and better efficiency than the original 2019–2020 e-tron. That’s good news, because it means we’re not starting from scratch on durability.
- We’re not yet seeing widespread, documented high-voltage battery failures unique to the 2024 Q8 e-tron.
- Early-run e-tron SUVs did show faster-than-expected range loss for some drivers, especially in cold climates and at higher speeds. That experience still informs expectations for the Q8 e-tron.
- Real-world range of 285–300 miles is achievable under gentle driving, but frequent highway speeds, winter temperatures, or heavy loads can drag that down noticeably.
- Because the 2024 model is still relatively new, the real story on long-term battery degradation will unfold over the next 3–7 years.
How to sanity-check battery health
What to check before buying a used 2024 Q8 e-tron
If you’re shopping used, you’re in a strong position: the first owner took the steepest depreciation hit, and you get to choose from the examples that have behaved well. Here’s how to stack the odds in your favor.
Used 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron buyer checklist
1. Run a full recall and campaign check
Use the VIN to confirm all <strong>brake-line</strong> and <strong>rearview camera/software</strong> recalls have been completed. Ask for dealer service printouts, not just verbal assurances.
2. Stress-test DC fast charging
On your test drive day, visit at least one DC fast charger. Try starting a session with Plug & Charge (if enabled) and also via app or credit card. Walk away if the car repeatedly fails to charge while other EVs are using the same station successfully.
3. Feel for brake vibration and noise
From highway speed, brake firmly but smoothly a few times. Any steering-wheel shake, pedal pulsing, or grinding noises deserve a follow-up inspection, or a different car.
4. Check all cameras and parking sensors
Shift into reverse several times, test the 360° view (if equipped), and listen for sensor chimes. You want consistent images and alerts every time, not intermittent behavior.
5. Review charging and software history
Ask whether the vehicle has ever been towed or sidelined due to a charging fault. Look for repeated notes like “unable to charge” or “charging fault – software updated” on service invoices.
6. Get an independent EV-focused inspection
Most pre-purchase inspections aren’t EV-specific. Consider an EV-savvy shop, or a marketplace like <strong>Recharged</strong> that already performs <a href="/articles/ev-battery-health-check">battery and charging diagnostics</a> on every car.
How Recharged evaluates used Q8 e-tron models
A luxury EV like the Q8 e-tron can be a fantastic used buy, if you know its history. At Recharged, we’re obsessed with the parts of that history you can’t see in a quick walkaround or a 10-minute test drive.
Inside a Recharged Q8 e-tron assessment
What we look at before a Q8 e-tron ever hits our marketplace
Battery health & range
Every Audi Q8 e-tron gets a Recharged Score battery health evaluation, so you can see how its usable capacity compares with new, and what kind of real-world range to expect.
Charging system & DC fast test
We don’t stop at “it charges in the garage.” Our specialists verify Level 2 performance and attempt DC fast-charging sessions, watching for handshake errors or repeated faults.
Recalls, software & service history
We cross-check VINs for open recalls, confirm completed campaigns, and review service records for repeating notes on brakes, electronics, or charging problems.
A simpler path to a good one
FAQ: 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron problems
Common questions about 2024 Q8 e-tron issues
Bottom line: should 2024 Q8 e-tron problems scare you off?
The 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron isn’t a trouble-free unicorn, but it’s also not the horror story some internet threads make it out to be. Its main problem areas, charging quirks, a targeted brake-line recall, brake vibration for a few owners, and camera/software updates, are serious enough that you should treat them with respect, but they’re also visible and, in many cases, fixable.
If you’re shopping used, the win is in the homework. Verify recalls, demand documentation, test real-world fast charging, and don’t ignore unpleasant brake feel or missing camera images. Or, if you’d rather not play service-bulletin bingo, look for a Q8 e-tron that’s already been through an EV-focused inspection and battery health test, the kind of vetting every vehicle gets before it lands on the Recharged marketplace.
Get that right, and the Q8 e-tron can deliver exactly what drew you to it in the first place: a quiet, confident, long-legged electric SUV that still feels every inch an Audi.
