Audi Recalls 9,048 Q4 e-tron SUVs in the US Over a Battery Fire Risk
Audi has recalled 9,048 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron SUVs from the 2024 and 2025 model years in the United States because the high-voltage battery may fail and catch fire. There is no fix yet. Until there is, owners are told not to charge above 80 per cent.
Key takeaways
- US recall 26V698, filed on 21 October 2026; VINs searchable on NHTSA.gov from 23 October.
- 9,048 cars: 2024-2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron.
- Interim advice: charge to a maximum of 80% until the repair is done.
- First owner letters are due on 18 December 2026; the remedy is still being developed.
What the recall says
The filing with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describes the defect in one line: "The high voltage battery may fail and cause a fire." The listed consequence is that a vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. Audi's internal code for the campaign is 93SK.
Size at a glance
| Dimensions | Audi Q4 e-tron I |
|---|---|
| Length | 4,588 mm180.6 in |
| Width | 1,865 mm73.4 in |
| Height | 1,632 mm64.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,764 mm108.8 in |
| Boot | 520 L18.4 cu ft |
The advice to owners is just as short: "Owners are advised to only charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80% capacity until the repair has been completed." A lower state of charge reduces the stress on the cells, which is why makers use this interim step while they work out a permanent repair.
| Recall detail | Value |
|---|---|
| NHTSA campaign | 26V698 (Audi code 93SK) |
| Models | Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron |
| Model years | 2024, 2025 |
| Cars affected (US) | 9,048 |
| Interim measure | charge to 80% maximum |
| Owner letters | from 18 December 2026 |
A second MEB recall this month
The Q4 e-tron shares the MEB electric platform with the Volkswagen ID.4. Earlier in October, Volkswagen filed recall 26V630 for 22,524 ID.4s from the 2023 to 2026 model years, with the same wording about a possible battery fire and the same 80% charging advice. According to InsideEVs, the Audi recall notice names SK Battery Manufacturing in Hungary, part of SK On, as the cell supplier, and Audi says certain charging profiles combined with a state of charge above 80% may lead to thermal propagation. The two cars likely share the supplier, but no common root cause has been confirmed, so it is too early to say whether the two campaigns are linked.
What European owners should know
The NHTSA filing covers cars sold in the US. It says nothing about cars registered in Europe, where the Q4 e-tron is built in Zwickau, Germany, and sold in much larger numbers. Owners in the UK and the EU can check their car on national recall services, such as the DVSA vehicle recall check in Britain or the KBA recall database in Germany. An Audi dealer can also run the VIN.
If you are looking at a used Q4 e-tron, ask the seller for the recall status and a battery health report before you pay. A car under an open battery recall is not a reason to walk away on its own, but it should be reflected in the price until the repair is confirmed.
More about the brand and its models in our Audi catalogue and the Volkswagen catalogue.
Sources
- NHTSA: Recall 26V698 (Audi Q4 e-tron, report received 21 Oct 2026) (accessed 27 Oct 2026)
- InsideEVs: Audi recalls 9,048 Q4 e-trons (26 Oct 2026) (accessed 27 Oct 2026)
- Vehicle Service Pros: NHTSA recalls 5-9 Oct, incl. VW ID.4 26V630 (accessed 27 Oct 2026)
- electrive: VW recalls another 22,524 ID.4 vehicles due to fire risk (9 Oct 2026) (accessed 27 Oct 2026)
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