- Vehicle was brought in operable condition to Audi service center for the federal safety agency recall numbers 25V900 and 26V240 on 06/18/26. - On 06/19/26, the Audi service center informed me after completing the 90TV software update (25V900) that every single light is on, on the dash and that they have to do a battery evaluation. - On 06/23/26, the Audi service center informed me a TAC ticket was created and they were waiting for a response. - On 06/30/26, the Audi service center informed me that they will have to replace a gateway control module after being informed by their TAC department while adding that the module is on backorder. - The vehicle as of today (09/17/26) is still at the Audi service center and unavailable to me, any inspection would need to be coordinated with them. - Audi’s safety recall notice states the work would take about half a day to complete. Including today (09/17/26) it has been 92 days since presentation of the vehicle, showing failure to repair the motor vehicle or replace equipment adequately within 60 days after its presentation under 49 U.S. Code § 30120. - Given the the repair has not been done adequately within a reasonable time, under 49 U.S. Code § 30120, I am requesting the manufacturer replace the vehicle without charge with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle or equipment; or refund the purchase price, less a reasonable allowance for depreciation.
The worst 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical5
- Engine1
- Transmission1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical5
- Engine1
- Transmission1
Recalls 2
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Audi E-Tron Quattro, 2020-2023 Audi E-Tron Sportback, 2024 Q8 E-Tron, Q8 Sportback E-Tron, SQ8 E-Tron, and SQ8 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The fastener that connects the brake pedal and the brake booster may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake pedal to detach from the brake booster.
- Risk
- Brake pedal detachment can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the pushrod screw joint as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 28, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46P7. This recall expands previous the federal safety agency recall number 24V621. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on April 17, 2026.
Recall number 26V240000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on December 23, 2025.
Recall number 25V900000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback 568
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin provides informaiton on the use of the PICO-NVH tool (VAS 611 015).
- This bulletin provides information when the air spring symbol is illuminated; DTC U112100 or C1260F0.
- This bulletin provides information regarding the current top concerns being addressed by the Audi Digital...
- This bulletin proides service information when there is a prompt to take over the steering wheel (hands...
- This bulletin provides information when the starter battery is discharged or malfunctioning.
- This service information bulletin provides information when the convernience opening does not work.
- This bulletin provides information when there is an Audi pressense warning, warning jolt, and/or brake...
- This bulletin provides information to aid in diagnosing the vehicle locking system.
- This bulletin provides information on VIN plates, Safety Certification labels, and ordering procedures.
- This bulletin provides infomraiton when the exterior lights have moisture accumulation.
What 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
2021 Audi e-tron, 44,749 miles. Right after a scheduled service at Audi [XXX] on XXX, I noticed a loud droning/humming noise from the drivetrain while driving. The noise tracks with vehicle speed - it gets louder and higher-pitched as the car goes faster. I called the dealership to report it as soon as I got the car back in late XXX. Nobody responded. The noise is still present today, roughly five months later, at about 48,000 miles. The symptom matches Audi's own technical service bulletin 2047920 (rev 7), which covers 2020-2025 Audi vehicles including the e-tron: a humming/booming noise while driving whose frequency rises with speed, caused by mechanical damage to the front wheel bearing. Multiple other e-tron owners report the same speed-correlated drone on owner forums, including a bearing failure inside the drive motor and a full rear drive unit failure. I am concerned that a failing drivetrain bearing could degrade suddenly at highway speed. Manufacturer response to date: my phone report right after the April 2026 service got no response. I raised the noise in writing to Audi of America on XXX (their reference XXX). Audi's XXX reply addressed only warranty expiration and pointed me back to the dealer; no inspection or diagnosis of the noise has been offered. A dealer-scheduled service visit is set for XXX. Separate context on dealer handling: in XXX Audi of [XXX] told me to pay out of pocket for covered service while my Audi Care plan was still active (through XXX). An [XXX] service advisor later wrote to Audi regional staff that 'the service may have been eligible for coverage at the time of the visit.' I am asking the federal safety agency to investigate this as a defect pattern across 2020-2025 e-tron vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving my 2021 Audi e-tron Sportback Prestige, the high-voltage battery warning light illuminated on the dashboard. At the same time, regenerative braking stopped functioning, resulting in reduced energy recovery and a noticeable decrease in driving range. Before taking the vehicle to an Audi dealership, I had the diagnostic trouble codes read by an independent repair shop. The technician advised me to take the vehicle to Audi because the diagnostic information reportedly indicated a potential high-voltage battery thermal runaway condition. I took the vehicle to an authorized Audi dealership. The dealer cleared the fault codes and returned the vehicle to me without replacing any high-voltage battery components or performing repairs. I was not advised that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. A few weeks later, the high-voltage battery warning light returned. I brought the vehicle back to the dealership, where I was informed that a high-voltage battery module had failed. The dealer has now recommended replacing the battery module at an estimated cost of approximately $12,000. I am concerned that the vehicle was returned to me after a reported high-voltage battery fault was simply cleared rather than repaired. I am also concerned that replacing only a single battery module may not address the underlying issue. Additionally, I am aware of high-voltage battery recalls involving other Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen electric vehicles, and I believe this failure should be evaluated to determine whether it represents a similar safety defect. This issue presents a significant safety concern because it involves the high-voltage battery system, loss of regenerative braking, reduced vehicle range, and a reported battery thermal-related fault. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether this is a broader safety issue affecting 2021 Audi e-tron Sportback vehicles.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V867000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was 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 had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.
This is in regards to Safety Recall Code: 93U8. Audi USA has failed to provided an updated 220V/240V charging unit cable and a compact/portable charging system software update for my vehicle in the 230 days since the product recall.
Compare the 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback
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Questions about the 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback
Is the 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback reliable?
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback, close to a typical E-Tron Sportback model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback?
Electrical system, with 5 complaints. Next is engine (1).
How many recalls does the 2021 Audi E-Tron Sportback have?
2 recalls, covering service brakes, hydraulic and back over prevention.
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