The most-documented Audi Q4 e-tron problems are high-voltage battery fire recall 26V698 on 2024–2025 models, on-board 12-volt charger recall 25V125 (loss of drive power), gear-indicator recall 25V120, curtain airbag recall 23V189 and headlight software recall 24V361, plus a 2024 bulletin on AC charging failures.
CarWhere lists 8 documented Q4 e-tron issues, including 7 NHTSA safety recalls, each with affected years, powertrains, symptoms, pre-purchase checks and a source.
Q4 e-tron generations at a glance
Audi Q4 e-tron generations and the known issues listed for each
Head curtain airbag can tear on the door seal (recall 23V189) (2022–2023)
Safety recall
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2022–2023
Powertrain:
Electric
During deployment, the head curtain airbag on 2022–2023 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron can deform the door seal and expose a metal inlay that may tear the airbag, failing ejection-mitigation standard FMVSS 226. Dealers apply cloth tape at the B-pillars.
Symptoms
No symptoms before a crash
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Instrument panel may not show the selected gear (recall 25V120) (2022–2023)
Safety recall
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2022–2023
Powertrain:
Electric
The instrument panel on 2022–2023 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron (and VW ID.4) may not display the gear position properly, failing FMVSS 102 and raising rollaway risk if the parking brake is not set. Dealers update the brake control unit software.
Symptoms
Gear indicator missing or wrong on the display
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Parking lights may not work as intended (recall 24V361) (2022–2024)
Safety recall
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2022–2024
Powertrain:
Electric
Incorrect headlight control module software on 2022–2024 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron can stop the parking lights from operating as intended when the headlights and turn signals are on, failing FMVSS 108. Dealers install a new data set.
Symptoms
Parking light goes out when signaling with headlights on
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
240V portable charging cable can overheat outlets (recall 23V842) (2022–2024)
Safety recall
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2022–2024
Powertrain:
Electric
Using the compact 220V/240V charging cable at the 100% setting can overheat some home outlets or the cable on 2022–2024 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron and other plug-in Audis. Owners were told to stop using it, and dealers supply a new cable with a temperature sensor.
Symptoms
Hot or discolored outlet or plug
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Ask whether the replacement portable cable came with the car
On-board DC charger can stop charging the 12V battery (recall 25V125) (2024–2025)
Safety recall
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2024–2025
Powertrain:
Electric
The on-board charger (OCDC) on 2024–2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron (and 2024 ID.4) may fail and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can lead to a loss of drive power. Dealers replace the OCDC.
Symptoms
12-volt battery warnings
Car will not go into drive
Loss of drive power while driving
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
HV battery won’t charge on AC (Audi bulletin) (2024)
Moderate
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2024
Powertrain:
Electric
Audi bulletin TSB 2073560 covers 2024 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron that cannot charge on AC power and cannot be driven, with symptoms such as the key fob not unlocking the car and the charge flap or connector staying locked. Audi traces it to a hardware issue in the high-voltage charging control unit (specific software version) and the workshop finding includes a discharged 12-volt battery.
Symptoms
Car will not charge on a home or Level 2 charger
Charging cable stuck in the port
Drive system unavailable
Check before buying
Test AC charging before buying
Ask whether the charging control unit was replaced under TSB 2073560
High-voltage battery may fail and catch fire (recall 26V698) (2024–2025)
Safety recall
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2024–2025
Powertrain:
Electric
Audi recalled 2024–2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron because the high-voltage battery may fail and cause a fire. Owners are told to charge to no more than 80% until repaired; the remedy was still under development, with interim owner letters due December 18, 2026.
Symptoms
High-voltage battery warning
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Set the charge limit to 80% until the remedy is done
Ask the dealer whether remedy parts are available yet
Front seat belt retractor torsion bar may be damaged (recall 25V638) (2026)
Safety recall
Generation:
F4 (2022–present)
Years:
2026
Powertrain:
Electric
The torsion bar in one or both front seat belt retractors of some 2026 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron may have been damaged in production and could fail in a crash.
Symptoms
No symptoms before a crash
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Owners filed 73 complaints about the Audi Q4 e-tron with NHTSA for the model years below, the most for the 2023 model year (30). The components cited most often are electrical system, service brakes and vehicle speed control. Counts are raw filings, not rates: newer and higher-volume years naturally collect more, and a complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.
NHTSA owner complaints for the Audi Q4 e-tron by model year (all US body styles and S/RS variants, de-duplicated by NHTSA complaint number), as of November 2026
Model year
Complaints
Crash or fire reported
Injury reported
Safety-critical component
2025
8
2
0
4
2024
27
2
1
9
2023
30
7
4
18
2022
8
4
1
5
Most-cited components across these years: Electrical system (45) · Service brakes (13) · Vehicle speed control (10) · Forward collision avoidance (10) · Unknown or other (10) · Engine (7). A complaint can name more than one component.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints database, queried by CarWhere for every NHTSA model name filed for this nameplate (AUDI Q4 E-TRON, AUDI Q4 SPORTBACK E-TRON, Q4 E-TRON, Q4 SPORTBACK E-TRON). “Safety-critical component” counts complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or death, or name the engine, power train, steering, service brakes or fuel system.
Related Q4 e-tron research
This page explains specific mechanical issues and recalls. Which model years drew the most owner complaints relative to the rest of the model’s history is answered in the years-to-avoid research where CarWhere publishes it.
Engine, transmission and packages decide which of these issues apply. The CarWhere Audi build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.
Is there a battery fire recall on the Audi Q4 e-tron?
Yes. Recall 26V698 covers 2024–2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron because the high-voltage battery may fail and catch fire. Audi advises charging to no more than 80% until the remedy, which was still in development, is done.
Why does the Audi Q4 e-tron lose drive power?
Recall 25V125 covers 2024–2025 models whose on-board DC charger can stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can cause a loss of drive power. Dealers replace the charger free of charge.
Does the Audi Q4 e-tron have charging problems?
Audi bulletin TSB 2073560 covers 2024 Q4 e-tron models that will not charge on AC power because of a hardware fault in the charging control unit. Separately, recall 23V842 replaces the 240V portable charging cable, which can overheat some home outlets.
What recalls affect the 2022–2023 Audi Q4 e-tron?
The main ones are 23V189 (curtain airbag can tear on the door seal), 25V120 (gear indicator may not display), 24V361 (headlight software) and 23V842 (portable charging cable). Check the VIN for all of them.
How do I check a used Audi Q4 e-tron for open recalls?
Enter the 17-digit VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup or ask an Audi dealer. Recall repairs are free regardless of mileage or owner.
Sources
Issue descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs are shown only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by AUDI AG or Audi of America. Audi, quattro, TFSI, S tronic, e-tron and the model names are trademarks of their owners.