Audi says it knows of no Q4 e-tron that has caught fire. It is recalling 9,048 of them anyway, after batteries of the same type had thermal events in other Volkswagen Group cars.
The short answer
Some 2024 and 2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron cars carry battery cells from a suspect production batch. In those batteries, a charge above 80 % may set off thermal propagation, which can end in a fire. The fix is still being developed, so owners are told to charge to 80 % at most until it is done.
Which cars are in the recall?
| Model (2024–2025) | Built | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 e-tron | Dec 4, 2023 to Apr 24, 2025 | 7,040 |
| Q4 Sportback e-tron | Nov 30, 2023 to Apr 22, 2025 | 2,008 |
| Total | 9,048 |
Audi matched assembly, battery, supplier and charging records; cars without cells from the suspect batch are left out.
What is wrong with the battery?
Audi does not know yet. The root cause is under investigation; findings so far point to possible manufacturing deviations. The battery modules come from SK Battery Manufacturing Kft. in Komárom, Hungary.
Audi estimates 0.1 % of the recalled cars have the defect, about 9 cars. The filing also warns it "may not be immediately detectable."
Why is Audi recalling them now?
- September 21, 2026: Audi's product safety committee hears of battery thermal events in other Volkswagen Group vehicles with the same type of battery.
- October 14: it decides on a voluntary recall.
- October 21: Audi files its report with NHTSA.
- October 23: NHTSA acknowledges it, and the VINs become searchable.
Audi's filing does not name the other cars. But on September 30, Volkswagen filed a recall of 22,524 2023 to 2026 ID.4s for a battery that may catch fire, with the same 80 % advice and no fix yet. Its filing lists 23 US claims from January 2024 to August 2026. Its batteries come from SK Battery America in Commerce, Georgia. VW is also sending ID.4 owners a warning sticker, and plans to cap some connected cars at 80 % remotely.
What should owners do?
Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov. Until the repair, NHTSA's summary says to charge to 80 % at most.
Audi's filing goes further. If a car's battery data shows no need for a closer look, no interim step is needed for now. If the data is missing or flags a need, the owner is told to cap charging at 80 % and the car gets a battery check at an Audi dealer. Interim letters are due by December 18, 2026.
On the street
Audi has used the 80 % cap before. In March 2024 it recalled 1,042 e-tron GTs over a battery fire risk, and owners of the 1,013 cars in the first of those recalls were told to charge to 80 % for the time being.
FAQ
Does it cover the 2026 Q4 e-tron?
No. The recall lists the 2024 and 2025 model years.
Is there a fix yet?
No. The remedy is under development, and the date for telling owners about it is still to be set.
Who do I call?
Audi customer service: 1-800-253-2834. The recall code is 93SK.
Sources
- Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V698 (NHTSA), read 2026-10-24
- Recall acknowledgement 26V698 (NHTSA), read 2026-10-24
- Recall acknowledgement 26V630, Volkswagen ID.4 (NHTSA), read 2026-10-24
- Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V630 (NHTSA), read 2026-10-24
- VW recalls ID.4 models again over fire risk: Owners advised not to charge above 80% (Notebookcheck), read 2026-10-24
- Audi e-tron GT hit by two recalls over battery issues (Carscoops), read 2026-10-24