Selling a dead or junk Audi Q8

When a big SUV like this stops running, the repair can outrun its value fast. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, the Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 included. Sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

One generation, grouped by model year

Audi has built the Q8 since June 2018 at Volkswagen's Bratislava plant in Slovakia, according to Wikipedia. It rides on the MLB Evo platform it shares with the Q7, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne. Wikipedia lists a 3.0-liter TFSI V6, a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and a plug-in hybrid with a 17.3 kWh battery, all through an 8-speed ZF Tiptronic automatic. With no generation change yet, the record below is grouped by model year.

2019: the launch year

Five recall campaigns list the 2019. The one with real reach is 22V516, which covers 2019-2021 Q8s and 2020-2021 Q7s. A part inside the fuel pump may break and the pump can stop working; dealers replace it. Two smaller ones touch steering and suspension: 20V149 checks a steering shaft bolt that can loosen (229 vehicles, Q7s included), and 19V114 replaces front shock absorber forks that may crack (34 vehicles across Q7, Q8 and S5 models).

The 2019 also picked up 26V125 in March 2026. It fixes lane departure warning software on 1,620 Q8, A7 and A6 cars that had already been repaired under 25V900, a rearview camera software recall covering 356,894 Audis from 2019-2026.

2020-2022

These three years hold 74 complaints, with 29 on the 2020, 35 on the 2021 and 10 on the 2022. Engine leads the 2020; electrical leads the 2021 and 2022.

The recall that counts only Q8s is 20V272: on 531 cars from 2020, a weak weld on a transmission oil pipe can leak automatic transmission fluid. The 2021 is listed in eight campaigns, the most of any Q8 year. Most are shared across many Audis: rear axle lock nuts (21V295), middle rear seat belts (21V606), rear alignment and tire wear (22V034), instrument panel software (25V201) and infotainment software (22V742). The 2022 adds 22V806, which replaces the infotainment main unit.

2023-2025

The latest Q8s share 37 complaints, and they have only been out a few years. The 2024 stands out with 25, and 8 of those name the service brakes.

One note before reading that year's recalls: two of the 2024 campaigns in NHTSA's Q8 list, 24V428 and 26V240, describe the electric Q8 e-tron, which is a separate model. Your VIN lookup sorts that out. For the gas Q8, 23V868 reinstalls driver seat side air bags that may have been mounted wrong on 1,001 SQ8, RS Q8, Q8 and Q7 vehicles, and 25V777 replaces front seat belt buckles that may be missing a rivet on 61 2025 cars.

Q8 complaints and recall campaigns by year

The Q8 rows use NHTSA data through October 10, 2026; a recall shows on every Q8 year it names.

Repair the Q8, or let it go?

Line up the written estimate against the going price for a running Q8 in your trim and year. A small gap points toward selling it unrepaired.

1. Run the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup. On a 2019-2021 that won't start or stalls, ask a dealer whether the 22V516 fuel pump work was done.
2. Transmission fluid on the driveway of a 2020? That's the 20V272 recall's subject. Our bad transmission guide covers what happens if the gearbox itself is hurt.
3. Screens, cameras or warning lights acting up? See electrical problems.

How to sell your Q8

1. List the VIN, the miles and the symptoms, and say which version it is: Q8, SQ8 or RS Q8.
2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Point us to the SUV's spot and whether it can roll. Pickup is free anywhere in the US, at the address where it sits.
4. Keep it whole. Tell us about wheels or parts already removed.
5. Bring the Q8's title and your ID on pickup day. Still paying it off? See still owe on the loan.