Audi Q4: common problems, best years and what to check
Audi's mid-size electric SUV (Q4 e-tron). Covers 2021–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Audi Q4 a good used buy?
Best buy
40 e-tron (77kWh)
Avoid
35 e-tron if you do long trips
Who it suits: Families wanting a premium EV SUV.
What's good
- Quality interior
- Comfortable
- Good range (77kWh)
- Practical
What's not
- Pricey
- Software glitches
- Not sporty
- Rear drum brakes
By the numbers
- #149 most common model on UK roads, with about 43k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2024: 17.3k cars still licensed.
- The most expensive common fault: Software glitches (up to £300).
Audi Q4 common problems by generation and engine
Audi Q4 F4 (2021–) · EV SUV; Sportback
How to spot it: 21 plate onwards. Octagonal closed grille and digital light signatures.
35 / 40 / 45 / 50 e-tron (electric, electric, 2021–)
Efficient
- Software glitches£0–£300any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Audi Q4 years
How many Audi Q4s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Audi Q4 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2021+ cars)
Audi Q4s pass their MOT first time about as often as the average UK car of the same age.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88% | 87% | 35k miles |
| 2022 | 87% | 89% | 31k miles |
Most common MOT failures
- Tyres: has a cut6.16 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed4.67 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.55 per 100
- Headlamp aim: too high1.37 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively0.69 per 100
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.4 per 100
- Size/type: of different sizes are fitted on the same axle.0.4 per 100
- SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault0.32 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm37.65 per 100
- Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm7.36 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt4.31 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre3.49 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut3.15 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear3.05 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened1.57 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.52 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Audi Q4 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world efficiency
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Audi Q4 ULEZ compliant?
- Electric: always compliant.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Electric / hybrid
Audi Q4 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi Q4 | 43k | 25–35 | 520 l | 40 e-tron (77kWh) |
| Tesla Model Y | 102k | 40–50 | 854 l | Long Range AWD |
| VW ID.4 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| Skoda Enyaq | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| BMW X3 | 109k | 28–44 | 550 l | 2018+ G01 xDrive20d |
| Mercedes EQA | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Audi Q4
- Battery health report
Audi Q4 FAQ
›Is the Audi Q4 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 40 e-tron (77kWh). Avoid: 35 e-tron if you do long trips.
›What is the Audi Q4 MOT pass rate?
88% of Audi Q4s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (9,354 tests), about average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: tyres: has a cut.
›What are the most common Audi Q4 problems?
The costliest known faults are Software glitches. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Audi Q4 have a timing belt or chain?
No. It's electric, so there's no timing belt or chain to replace.
›What is the best year Audi Q4 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2022, 2023, 2024 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Audi Q4 cost to run?
Real-world economy: 40 e-tron 3.2–3.8 mi/kWh. Insurance groups 25–35. A minor service is about £150–£250 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Audi Q4?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Audi Q4 ULEZ compliant?
Electric: always compliant.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.