Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact leased a 2023 Audi E-Tron GT. The contact stated that the message that the battery power was reduced to 70 percent was displayed. The contact stated that the battery failed to charge above 70 percent. The reduced performance warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V726000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 9,826. Parts distribution disconnect.
While I was driving my Audi e-tron GT, the vehicle spontaneously caught fire. I believe the fire resulted from a catastrophic high-voltage battery failure, although the cause has not yet been confirmed. The fire created an immediate risk of injury to me and others nearby. I am reporting this as a serious safety concern.
The contact owns a 2022 Audi E-Tron. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V867000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while charging the vehicle, the contact noticed that the charging outlet was burned and melted, and the juice box, the plug, and the charging cable had melted, nearly causing the contact's residence to catch on fire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the onboard diagnostic software was installed on the vehicle and an unknown kit was replaced as an interim repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE - SMOKE IN CABIN While driving with passengers, dashboard displayed "ELECTRICAL FAILURE - PULL OVER WHEN SAFE" followed by loud explosive POP and cabin filled with SMOKE. ROOT CAUSE: Prior undisclosed collision damage. Dealer (Morrie's Golden Valley Cadillac) removed front bumper in June 2025 (Repair Order #78683), then sold vehicle as "no accidents" in August 2025. Subsequent inspection revealed cut wiring and improper repairs (Invoice #94609). CURRENT STATUS: Vehicle inoperable 3+ months. Audi corporate technicians have repaired major problem however vehicle still has charging issues that happened right before the catastrophic failure unable to repair. SAFETY CONCERN: Smoke-filled cabin endangered occupants. Potential fire hazard.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi E-Tron. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message displayed reading "Electrical System Malfunction: Safely Stop the Vehicle," after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V867000 (Electrical System) and the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.
This issue occurred with my Audi a year after purchasing it and the vehicle had 19,282 miles on it at the time. I received an "Electrical System Malfunction - Please contact service" error message (in yellow) on my 2021 Audi etron vehicle display. The message was displayed for a few minutes as I was traveling home from work and then disappeared. The following day, I was on my commute into work on the highway, traveling 70 mph, and received an "Electrical System Malfunction - Safety stop vehicle" error message. The vehicle immediately started displaying other error messages and the motor turned off, while the vehicle was in motion. Luckily, I was able to move to the shoulder of the highway safely. The experience was frightening as I was traveling 70 mph and experienced a complete vehicle shut down with little to no warning. The Audi etron had to be towed to the dealership to be repaired. …
The contact owned a 2019 Audi E-Tron. The contact had pulled into a charging station and had plugged the vehicle in to charge the battery. The contact stated she heard a loud boom 20 minutes after having plugged the vehicle into the charging station. The contact saw white smoke issuing from the rear of the vehicle and then she saw flames issuing from the rear driver-side wheel. The contact stated that prior to the fire department's arrival a passerby and a store employee, from a store that she was parked in front of, extinguished the flames with chemical hand-held fire extinguishers. The contact stated the vehicle was towed to her insurance provider's impound lot for investigation. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Audi E-Tron. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V867000 (Electrical System) and 23V842000 (Electrical System) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact attempted to charge the vehicle and was not able to charge the battery. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the charging port had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact researched online and became aware there was a recall related to the charging port failure under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V434000 (Electrical System). …
Related recalls (7)
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 E-TRON GT, and RS E-TRON GT vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module.
Remedy: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software as the final remedy free of charge. For vehicles where on-line data is available (Audi recall number 931A), as an interim measure, the vehicles will be monitored through…
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Audi RS E-Tron GT and E-Tron GT vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery modules.
Remedy: Owners are advised to only charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80% battery capacity until the repair has been completed. Dealers will, analyze the battery data and replace the high-voltage battery modules as necessary…
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Audi RS E-Tron GT and E-Tron GT vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery modules.
Remedy: Owners are advised to only charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80% battery capacity until the repair has been completed. Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery modules, free of charge.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery thermal › Management › Software
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020-2022 E-Tron Sportback Quattro and 2019-2022 E-Tron Quattro vehicles. Certain high-voltage battery modules may overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will install onboard diagnostic software to monitor battery module performance, and replace affected battery modules where necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2025.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Charging › Cable/cord › Onboard
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations.
Show 2 more recalls
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023 Audi RS E-Tron GT and E-Tron GT vehicles. The high-voltage battery may have an insufficient amount of sealant, which can allow liquid to accumulate in the battery.
Remedy: Dealers will test the battery for leakage and replace the battery as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019 Audi e-tron vehicles. Moisture can enter the high-voltage battery system through a faulty seal on the charging socket.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install a new seal and, as necessary, replace the affected system components, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2019.
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi e-tron years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2019 (36), 2021 (24), 2022 (20) and 2023 (13) model years. Electrical complaints make up 44% of all complaints for the 2019.
Is there a recall for Audi e-tron electrical problems?
Yes — 7 recalls, including 24V-726 (traction battery, Sep 30, 2024); 24V-228 (traction battery, Mar 22, 2024); 24V-229 (traction battery, Mar 22, 2024). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Audi e-tron electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 23,000 miles; 80% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the wiring › rear compartment/trunk (1 mentions), followed by the propulsion system › traction battery (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.