Audi Q4 e-tron Battery Fire Recall: No Fix Yet, and an 80% Charging Cap
Audi has informed federal regulators that some high-voltage batteries in 2024-2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron SUVs may fail and cause a fire. The repair doesn't exist yet. Owners are being asked to live with a reduced charge in the meantime, and that stretch is exactly when careful service records count.
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Volkswagen Group of America filed recall 26V698000 on October 21, 2026, covering 9,048 Audi Q4 e-tron (7,040) and Q4 Sportback e-tron (2,008) vehicles from the 2024 and 2025 model years. Per the filing, a charge level above 80% may set off thermal propagation inside the high-voltage battery, and that can end in a vehicle fire. Audi's remedy is still being developed. Keep the battery level at or below 80% until it arrives. Having trouble with battery or charging? Get an Audi dealer to take a look right away instead of holding out for the recall notice.
What Audi filed with NHTSA
| NHTSA Campaign | 26V698000 |
|---|---|
| Filed With NHTSA | October 21, 2026 |
| Filed By | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Audi’s Number for This Recall | 93SK |
| Vehicles Affected | 9,048 |
| Models Covered | Audi Q4 e-tron (7,040) and Q4 Sportback e-tron (2,008) |
| Model Years | 2024–2025 |
| Build Dates | Q4 e-tron: December 4, 2023 – April 24, 2025; Q4 Sportback e-tron: November 30, 2023 – April 22, 2025 |
| Component | High-voltage battery module |
| What Owners Should Do Now | Charge to no more than 80% until the repair is completed |
| Manufacturer Remedy | In development; no repair available yet |
| Interim Owner Letters | Expected by December 18, 2026 |
| Audi Customer Service | 1-800-253-2834 |
Can I keep using my Q4 e-tron until Audi has a repair?
The NHTSA record for 26V698000 lists no Do Not Drive or Park Outside advisory. Audi has given specific instructions: charge only to 80% until this vehicle is fixed. Treat that limit as part of daily use, not a suggestion. Audi's filing notes the defect may not be immediately detectable, so a car that seems normal is not proof it is unaffected.
Suspect battery cells, and a fire risk tied to high charge
Audi traced the problem to cells from one suspect production population supplied by SK Battery Manufacturing Kft., a Hungarian battery maker. The company hasn't figured out what the root cause is yet. Its current findings point to possible manufacturing deviations, and the report says that under certain charging profiles, a state of charge over 80% may lead to thermal propagation: heat moving from one part of the pack to the next.
The chronology in the filing is short. On September 21, 2026, Audi's Product Safety Committee learned of battery thermal events in other Volkswagen Group vehicles using the same battery type. After reviewing production and battery data, the committee decided on October 14, 2026 to recall the affected Q4 e-tron population. Audi states it is not aware of any claims, crashes, fires, injuries or deaths linked to this defect.
Already seeing battery or charging warnings on your Q4 e-tron? Get the visit on paper first. Then let our attorneys look at your service history at no cost.
Free Case Review →A recall notice is not a repair visit
Under lemon laws, what usually gets counted is documented repair attempts: repair orders opened while the vehicle is under warranty for the same defect. Receiving a recall notice isn't one of those. With Audi's remedy still under development, there is no recall repair to schedule for now. When your Q4 e-tron shows battery, charging or high-voltage warning problems, bring it to an Audi dealer now and make sure each visit ends with a repair order. Don't hold off for the recall letter, and hang on to every repair order you get. How a future recall repair is treated differs by state.
A recall also does not refund money spent on the purchase price or replace the vehicle. Whether a Q4 e-tron qualifies under a state Lemon Law turns on things the recall can't settle for you: whether the defect substantially impairs use, value or safety, how many times the dealer tried to fix it, and how long the vehicle sat out of service. Our guide introduces the basics of how the Lemon Law works and the electric vehicle Lemon Law page focuses on issues related to EV battery cases.
- A substantial defect: a high-voltage battery that may fail and cause a fire goes to the safety of the vehicle.
- The manufacturer's knowledge: recall 26V698000 is Audi's own filing that the battery can fail this way.
- Documented repair attempts: this is the part only you can build, one repair order at a time.
Five moves for Q4 e-tron owners
- Step 1 · Limit
Cap charging at 80%
Set the charge limit in the vehicle or the app and leave it there until Audi completes the repair.
- Step 2 · Confirm
Look up your VIN
VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 23, 2026. You can also call Audi at 1-800-253-2834 and cite recall 93SK.
- Step 3 · Service
Report symptoms right away
If the battery, charging or range behaves oddly or a warning appears, book an Audi dealer appointment instead of waiting for the December 18, 2026 interim letter.
- Step 4 · Document
Get the repair order in writing
Each one should show the date, mileage, your complaint in your own words and what the dealer did or did not find.
- Step 5 · Review
Have a lawyer look at the file
Repeat visits for the same complaint, or long stretches at the dealer, are worth a free review.
Q4 e-tron back at the dealer for the same battery complaint? Patterns like that are worth a second look. Send us your service records and we'll go over them with you, free.
Talk to an Attorney →Audi Q4 e-tron battery recall & Lemon Law questions
Which Audi models and years are in recall 26V698000?
2024–2025 Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron vehicles whose battery cells came from the production batch Audi flagged as suspect: 9,048 in total, per Audi's filing. Owning a 2024 or 2025 Q4 does not by itself mean your vehicle is included, so check the VIN on NHTSA.gov or call Audi at 1-800-253-2834.
What should I do if my Q4 e-tron shows a battery warning before Audi has a fix?
Stop charging past 80%, follow any instructions on the vehicle's display, and contact an Audi dealer for an appointment. Ask for a repair order for the visit even if the dealer doesn't find anything specific; a written note of the complaint is important.
Will the December 18, 2026 letter include a repair?
No. Audi describes it as an interim letter about the safety risk. A separate letter is planned once a remedy becomes available, and Audi has not given a date for that one.
Can a recall-related battery problem support a Lemon Law claim?
It can, depending on your state and your records. The recall shows Audi acknowledged a battery defect. A claim generally also needs documented repair attempts or days out of service for that defect, within the state's time limits. Our attorneys review the paperwork with you.
How much does it cost to have RockPoint Law review my Q4 e-tron?
Nothing to start. The case review is free and confidential, and there is no obligation to move forward.
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