7 recalls covering model years 2021. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
A software problem can keep the backup camera picture from showing up on the dashboard screen when you shift into reverse. Without that image, you cannot see what is directly behind the car — a person or an object — so you are more likely to hit something while backing up. Audi says the vehicles do not meet the federal rear visibility rule. The dealer will update the software for free.
A software error can make the main dashboard display go blank. That screen is where your speedometer, fuel gauge and warning lights live, so if it quits you will not know how fast you are going or whether the car is trying to warn you about something else. A dealer reloads the instrument panel software at no charge, and no parts are needed. Audi mailed owner letters on April 24, 2025, so the fix is available now.
A software problem in the infotainment system can leave the screen blank or black when you shift into reverse, instead of showing the view from the backup camera. With no picture, you cannot see a person, a child, or an object directly behind the car while you are backing up, so it is much easier to hit something you never saw. The dealer fixes it by updating the infotainment software; nothing needs to be replaced.
These Audis were part of an earlier recall (21V-295) that involved work on the rear axle. Afterward, the shop was supposed to check that the rear wheels were still lined up correctly, and on some cars that check was skipped. If the rear axle is out of alignment, the tires can wear out early or wear unevenly, which increases the chance of a crash. Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment if needed, and replace any badly worn tires at no charge.
In these Audi and Volkswagen models, the rear seat belts have a locking feature you use to hold a child safety seat tightly in place. On these vehicles that lock can switch off too early, so the belt no longer keeps the child seat secure. A child seat that can shift or move means a child is less protected in a crash. Federal occupant protection rules are not met. Dealers will inspect the middle rear seat belts and replace them free if needed.
Cracks can form on the inner walls of the engine cylinders in these high-performance Audis. Those cracks can damage the engine, make it stall while you are driving, or cause an oil leak. Stalling in traffic raises the chance of a crash, and an oil leak raises the chance of a fire. There is no quick patch for this problem. The dealer replaces the entire engine at no cost to you, so plan on leaving the car for a while.
On these Audi cars and SUVs, a lock nut holds part of the rear suspension — the trailing arm — to the rear axle. That nut can corrode under stress and break. If it breaks, the rear axle can shift out of alignment, and the car can become hard to keep straight in a way the driver may not be able to correct. That can lead to a loss of control and a crash. A dealer will replace the lock nuts, and the bolts with them if needed, at no cost.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Audi RS Q8. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: