2023 Audi Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron

2023 Audi Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron SUV AWD

Overall

★★★★★

Front Crash

★★★★☆

Side Crash

★★★★★

Rollover

★★★★☆

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

On Friday, XXX, I stopped my vehicle in a parking spot, exited, and returned to my vehicle. I put it in drive, moved from the parking spot, and before I could reach 10 mph, the vehicle began to shake/vibrate violently, and the dash lit up with electrical system malfunction warning. On Saturday, XXX, my [XXX] daughter, who was driving my [XXX] and [XXX] daughters home, called me to tell me that the vehicle failed and that she had "safely pulled into someone’s driveway". We had been out of town, and she was caring for her sisters and my vehicle has the carseats. My [XXX] daughters frequently drive my car. She was a mile away from home, so she did “the routine”. She had to do this 5 times - with me on the phone - just to get the vehicle home and her sisters to safety. After my husband and I returned home Saturday, XXX, we got in the vehicle so that we could possibly get it on video. We were able to finally get video evidence of the problem so that we can no longer be turned away from Audi with the excuse of “no evidence” of a problem. The history: XXX, I had my vehicle towed to Audi, because the electrical system malfunctioned in our driveway not in motion. I was told that the problem could not be replicated and, therefore, not resolved and that Audi “requests vehicle to be released to the customer”. On XXX, we contacted Audi once again to report two instances of the same problem, both which occurred while in motion. The vehicle then went limp and brought me to a stop on the side of the road, on a sharp bend, with, again, my two youngest children in the back seat. Then, my husband and I were in the vehicle and had stopped at a traffic light on a 55 mph road. XXX diagnosis: “Could not duplicate customer concern during several test drives, found no relevant fault codes” and “no obvious electrical or mechanical failures during hoist inspection at this time” were the notes in the report back to us. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The air conditioner warning light came on in April 2026. I took it to dealer to be checked. Dealer said no problem. That warning light went on intermittently through May, June and July. By end of July I took it back to dealer. The evaporator was indeed malfunctioning and emitting carbon dioxide into the cabin when the air conditioner was on. While repairing the evaporator system, the plastic cover over the ground stud broke and required replacement. The vehicle was out of service for 10 working days.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I am reporting a severe safety recall compliance failure and fraudulent reporting by an authorized dealership regarding a 2023 Audi electric vehicle. On May 30, 2024, under Repair Order 227719, the dealership officially certified to the NHTSA and Audi that Safety Recall 93U6 (Compact/Portable Charging System Cable) was fully completed. The dealership never actually removed or replaced the hazardous, fire-prone charging hardware. The original recalled cable (Part Number: 8V4.971.675.BB) remains in my home and is available for inspection. The dealer falsely reported a federal safety remedy as remedied while leaving a fire-hazardous component in a consumer's possession. The vehicle suffers from chronic, sporadic overnight charging failures where the vehicle indicates it is charging via a green indicator light but fails to draw power overnight. The vehicle was returned to the same dealer in July 2026 for this defect, at which point the false historical recall reporting was discovered on the printed history report

SUSPENSION

Front suspension ball joint failure occurred while driving approximately 70 mph on an interstate highway, resulting in sudden loss of vehicle control and requiring immediate emergency response. The vehicle is a 2023 Audi e-tron A5. Two weeks prior to the sudden failure, an Audi dealership inspected the same front corner of the vehicle following earlier damage and stated that the front suspension and wheel components were safe and the vehicle was fit to drive, replaced the rear right tire and recommended replacing the rear wheel housing after not being able to get the full car alignment to spec. I told them I wanted to defer that service until later in February unless it was catastrophic when we discussed the findings. They told me that the car was safe to drive and proceeded with the wheel alignment and replacement on the rear. The ball joint failure was catastrophic and presents a serious safety concern, particularly given the recent dealer inspection and the short time between inspection and failure. Warranty coverage was later denied by the dealership, despite having just inspected the car for damage and claimed that the failure of the front ball joint was caused by deferring the rear wheel housing service. I am submitting this complaint due to the safety implications of a suspension component failure at highway speed and concern that the defect may have existed and should have been detected during the prior inspection.

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

As I began to move the car, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. I attempted to brake before reaching the stop sign, but the car continued to gain speed. I estimate the vehicle reached approximately 60 mph. Within seconds, I collided with two vehicles and then a palm tree, sustaining a frontal impact. The entire incident occurred within approximately two to three seconds, during which the vehicle accelerated rapidly. Despite the collision, the airbags did not deploy, the seat belt did not lock, and neither the brake system warning nor the automatic braking system activated.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

I purchased the Audi Q4 Etron new. The issue that I'm bring up is 'self-acceleration' I had the intial incident 10/2025 where the car self accelerated (Audi Case open) but can't reproduce which almost pin a kid between my vehicle and another vehicle. I was able to react quickly to prevent a death. Second time 'self-acceleration" was on 3/27/25. My son pulling into garage with my sitting next to him, the car self accelerated after coming to complete stop, jumped a pakring block and crashed into my garage wall. Dealer had the car for 2-3 weeks and still couldn't replicate. Third incident was 10/30/25 while at a complete stop in traffic leaving a parking lot, the car was at complete stop and 'self-acclerated' into the vehicle in front. This incident caused my vehcile to be total-loss by insurance. Audi case was also open and they said no fault and told me it's an insurrance matter. I believe there are many cases like mine and they are aware. There are lots of discussion on the defective 'self-accelreation' on Audi Q4 Etron. take a look at this link "https://www.reddit.com/r/etron/comments/16ta6qe/beware_of_the_q4_etron_sudden_acceleration/"

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Primary issue is electric shock hazard and limb dismemberment. It was confirmed by an Audi service tech that all Audi Q4s have dangerous gaps in every door. My child 8 years old got her finger caught between the panel and door frame. She could have cut or worse lost her finger should the door rapidly open or close. Wires are exposed leaving the easy situation of access to wires with sharp metal objects that a kid could do. Open door panels have sharp edges leading g to easy cuts. As the wires are colorful and visually appealing a kid would be enticed to try to acquire. The techs will not close the panel to frame since this is Audi’s deliberate design. Tech claims to have fixed but clearly was not touched. Audi should be required to redesign door paneling and reinstall proper paneling. All door paneling to the door frames should be closed and secured with zero gaps. Video claiming this normal is found here [XXX] &section=RECOMMENDATIONS&shouldOpenInspectionsReport=true INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS

See attached document for complaint.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

Car alarmed that my EV had a major electrical issue and made sirens outside as to warn others to not come close and keep distance as if the car will catch fire or explode. I replicated this warning again sitting in the car. Fearing the car will catch fire I had it moved out of my garage. My Audi Service Center was not able to replicate the issue and I provided video and photo evidence of the danger. They claim that car works normal. In the photo is the battery light and sos light on. In addition, all safety features failed to work. Audi Q4 Etron regularly crashes and driver lose federally required safety features. For example additional photos show the loss of speedometer reading stuck on 8 mph and other safety features. These crashes happen at least once a week.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

In several occasions I have noticed my Audi Q4 windows and tailgate are open the next day in the morning in my garage, after I made sure all windows and doors are properly closed and locked, thank God hasn’t happened when parking in open public parking lots and or in raining days. Also many times after locking doors and applying brake properly (after double checking before getting out of my car) I receive on myAudi App the notification that “is not locked “, and after checking my car it’s “unlocked “. Sorry I don’t have pictures for this issue.