Audi is recalling 12,734 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron electric vehicles worldwide over a potential battery cell defect that could increase the risk of fire. The campaign includes 9,048 vehicles in the United States, while the remaining affected vehicles are located in other markets.
The recall covers vehicles manufactured between November 30, 2023, and June 26, 2025, according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). No related incidents have been reported, but US safety authorities warn that a battery fire cannot be ruled out under certain conditions.
Audi has advised owners of affected vehicles in the United States to limit battery charging to 80% until further action is taken. A permanent repair has not yet been specified.
US Recall Covers More Than 9,000 Vehicles
The US campaign includes 7,040 Audi Q4 e-tron vehicles from the 2024 and 2025 model years, manufactured between December 4, 2023, and April 24, 2025. It also covers 2,008 Q4 Sportback e-tron vehicles from the same model years, produced between November 30, 2023, and April 22, 2025.
The vehicles were manufactured at Volkswagen Group’s plant in Zwickau, Germany, before being exported to the US market.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies SK Battery Manufacturing in Hungary, part of the SK On Group, as the supplier of the potentially defective battery cells involved in the US recall.
The NHTSA warns that certain charging profiles combined with a state of charge above 80% could trigger thermal propagation within the battery. Affected vehicles are to be inspected by dealers, although the final repair procedure remains undetermined.
Global Recall Extends Beyond the United States
The KBA’s updated recall database lists 12,734 affected Audi vehicles worldwide, including one registered in Germany. Subtracting the 9,048 vehicles covered by the US campaign leaves approximately 3,686 vehicles in other markets.
The KBA has not provided a detailed breakdown of where those vehicles are registered, so the number of affected owners in other European countries remains unclear.
Audi’s recall follows Volkswagen Group’s broader investigation into battery irregularities identified in September. The company subsequently recalled nearly 72,700 electric vehicles from several Volkswagen ID. model lines worldwide, with approximately 10,000 reportedly affected in Germany.
Audi determined that some Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron vehicles shared relevant battery and production characteristics with the affected Volkswagen models. Both the Audi electric SUVs and Volkswagen ID. vehicles use the group’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform and have certain battery components in common.
Volkswagen ID.4 Recalls Also Underway
The Audi campaign comes alongside another US recall involving 22,524 Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles from the 2023 to 2026 model years. Volkswagen has also advised owners of those vehicles to limit charging to 80% while a final solution is developed.
In that case, the company identifies SK Battery America as the supplier of the affected battery cells. The vehicles were manufactured at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant in Tennessee.
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Volkswagen has stated that certain charging profiles above an 80% state of charge could contribute to thermal runaway in the affected batteries.
Earlier in 2026, Volkswagen also recalled 44,551 ID.4 vehicles in the United States over separate battery-related issues, including misaligned electrodes in individual cells. Those vehicles were also built at the Chattanooga facility.