Audi is recalling over 9,000 electric vehicles due to a fire risk. A permanent fix has not yet been developed.

A suspect battery production batch will send thousands of Audi electric vehicles to service centers. Charging may need to be limited to 80 percent for the affected cars.

Audi is also addressing battery issues

Following Volkswagen’s ID.4, problems with high-voltage batteries have also reached Audi. The automaker is recalling 9,048 electric vehicles in the U.S. to check for possible manufacturing defects in the battery cells. The reason is the risk of overheating and fire.

The recall includes 7,040 Audi Q4 e-tron vehicles and another 2,008 Q4 Sportback e-tron units. These are from the 2024 and 2025 model years. The common feature among the affected cars is battery cells from a potentially problematic production batch.

Audi took preventive action with the recall and is still investigating the exact cause. According to available information, no fires, accidents, or injuries have been reported so far related to this defect in its vehicles. Work on a permanent fix is ongoing.

Suspicions Point to Manufacturing Defects

The battery modules were supplied by SK Battery Manufacturing from Hungary. According to Audi, some cells may not meet the required quality standards. The automaker is investigating possible manufacturing defects and their impact on battery safety.

The risk relates to potential overheating of cells when charged beyond 80 percent capacity. Heat can spread to adjacent cells, triggering further reactions inside the battery. In extreme cases, this could lead to a vehicle fire.

The investigation was prompted by thermal incidents in other Volkswagen Group electric vehicles, including the ID.4 model. Audi subsequently traced back Q4 e-tron vehicles with batteries from the suspected batch and included them in the current recall.

Owners Should Verify VIN and Charging Instructions

To resolve the issue, it is recommended that owners of affected vehicles charge them to no more than 80 percent. Further actions depend on an evaluation of the battery. Owners should follow the specific instructions provided by Audi or an authorized service center for their vehicle.

According to the procedure description, evaluating battery data may allow the restrictions to be lifted. If the data is missing or requires further verification, a more detailed inspection follows. The car manufacturer has not yet announced the definitive repair method.

Information letters are set to be sent to owners in December. American vehicles can be checked using their VIN in the NHTSA database. We currently have no information regarding the scope of possible actions in Europe. Czech owners can verify their vehicles with Audi.

Sources:

Original text / Elektrickevozy.cz

Autoblog

NHTSA