2018–2025 Audi Q8 · common problems & known faults

Air spring and compressor failures

Typically appears

60,000+ miles

What to inspect

Raise and lower the ride height fully on the drive

48V mild hybrid and battery management warnings

Typically appears

50,000+ miles

What to inspect

Scan for stored faults and check start stop behaviour

Heavy front disc and pad wear from kerb weight

Typically appears

30,000+ miles

What to inspect

Inspect disc lips and pad thickness through the wheels

Carbon build up on direct injection petrol V6

Typically appears

70,000+ miles

What to inspect

Check for lumpy idle and misfire codes

Hesitation or harsh clunking when shifting down from 3rd to 2nd or pulling away from junctions on 50 TDI models.

Typically appears

30,000-50,000 miles

What to inspect

Test drive at low speeds, specifically coasting to a near stop and accelerating abruptly to check for gearbox shunt or delay.

Unexplained coolant loss, sweet smell from the engine bay, or crusty pink residue deep in the engine V on V6 TDI models.

Typically appears

50,000-70,000 miles

What to inspect

Shine a torch down the centre of the engine block under the acoustic cover looking for pooled pink fluid or dried crystalline deposits from a leaking EGR cooler.

Wind whistle at motorway speeds or windows juddering when dropping the required 10mm for door opening.

Typically appears

4-5 years

What to inspect

Open and close all four doors, ensuring the frameless glass drops and raises smoothly. Check the top edge of the window seals for pinch marks or dampness.

High-pitched whistling sound at idle, rough running, and excessive crankcase vacuum on the 4.0 TFSI V8 (SQ8/RSQ8) models.

Typically appears

40,000-60,000 miles

What to inspect

With the engine idling, attempt to unscrew and lift the oil filler cap. If it requires significant force to pull off against vacuum, the PCV valve has failed.