In recent months, a growing number of Canadian consumers who leased or purchased the Audi Q4 e-tron have come together to demand answers over a series of technical malfunctions that have undermined their confidence in the electric vehicle. Customers have voiced their frustrations after dealing with recurring issues that have left their vehicles inoperable and, in some cases, stranded them in unsafe situations.
Ryan Lundie, a resident of Orangeville, Ontario, leased a brand-new Audi Q4 e-tron in August, only to face a host of issues from day one. He recalls that when he first took delivery of the car, the salesperson couldn’t even get certain features to function. “The phone wouldn’t connect, and the trunk door wouldn’t open,” he explained. After a brief reboot, the issues seemed resolved, but the problems returned shortly after.
“It started with small glitches, like error messages, and eventually, we received a notice to contact the service department for an electrical system malfunction,” Lundie shared. As of the time of our conversation, his vehicle had spent over 75 days in the dealership’s repair shop.
Determined to see if others were experiencing similar problems, Lundie took to social media, where he discovered a growing online community of Audi Q4 e-tron owners facing similar challenges. He was directed to a Facebook group initiated by Shawn Erridge, a Montreal resident, who had encountered issues with his 2024 Q4 e-tron after a golf trip. What started as a small group of frustrated owners in October has now ballooned to nearly 500 members.
Erridge’s car has been in the shop since the fall, with no clear timeline on when it will be repaired. The group, primarily composed of Canadian customers, shares stories of malfunctioning electronics, system failures, and vehicles becoming completely inoperable.
Karl Phaneuf, another Montreal resident, described a terrifying experience on the highway when his Q4 e-tron’s systems suddenly went black while driving at 110 kilometers per hour. Though the car was still moving, he was left with no functioning electronics, prompting a roadside breakdown. After getting the car towed to the dealership, he continued to experience recurring issues, including difficulties starting the car and unlocking it with the keyless entry.
Other members of the Facebook group have reported similar failures, with some vehicles shutting down completely while driving or leaving drivers stranded far from home. “There are safety and security issues where the car just shuts down,” Erridge emphasized, echoing concerns raised by multiple members of the group.
Dr. Jade Hindie, another owner from Quebec, experienced an unsettling incident in December when his car, while charging in his driveway, mysteriously rolled several meters down his driveway and into the street. The charging equipment was torn off, and despite providing photographic evidence to Audi, the company dismissed the incident as “impossible” and found nothing wrong with the vehicle during their three-month investigation.
Transport Canada has confirmed that they are reviewing an increasing number of complaints regarding Audi Q4 e-tron vehicles. A spokesperson for the agency stated that all complaints are entered into a database for analysis and that they are working with Audi to address the concerns. As of now, no incidents involving injuries or accidents have been reported, but Transport Canada is monitoring the situation for any emerging safety trends that might necessitate further investigation.
Audi Canada has acknowledged the complaints and is investigating them on a case-by-case basis, offering customers loaner vehicles and payment relief as part of their customer service efforts. Despite this, many owners have lost trust in the vehicle and are calling for more concrete action.
“I no longer have any trust in this vehicle,” said Erridge, expressing frustration that the issues persist without resolution. Some customers, like him, are no longer seeking financial compensation but instead want out of their leases due to the ongoing problems. Audi has yet to offer a clear path for customers to exit their contracts despite mounting complaints.
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Audi has stated that the Q4 e-tron was designed to meet all Canadian safety requirements and that the company is committed to addressing all concerns. However, with the number of complaints growing daily, many owners are questioning whether the company is fully aware of the root cause of these persistent malfunctions.
“I’m not certain Audi knows exactly what’s causing all of these issues,” Lundie said. “It’s hard to know if this is a problem unique to Canada’s colder temperatures or if it’s a broader issue. But it needs to be addressed.”
As the situation continues to unfold, both Audi and Transport Canada are under increasing pressure to take swift action to ensure the safety and reliability of the Q4 e-tron. For now, frustrated consumers are left hoping for a resolution that will restore their confidence in Audi’s electric vehicle offerings.
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