2021 Audi Q8 Fuel Pump Recall (22V516)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 49,443 vehicles · Reported July 20, 2022
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 49,443 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi Q8 vehicles. A component inside the fuel pump may break, causing the fuel pump to fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V516 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V516000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 20DR |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 20, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi Q8 |
| Units affected | 49,443 |
| Component | Fuel System, Gasoline > Delivery > Fuel Pump |
| Safety risk | Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Audi Q8 in recall 22V516?
A component inside the fuel pump may break, causing the fuel pump to fail.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi Q8, and 2020-2021 Audi Q7 vehicles. A component inside the fuel pump may break, causing the fuel pump to fail.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Q8 with recall 22V516?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the fuel pump.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V516?
Recall 22V516 covers 49,443 vehicles: 2021 Audi Q7; 2021 Audi Q8.
NHTSA lists 49,443 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Audi | Q7 |
| 2021 | Audi | Q8 |
What is the fix for the Q8 fuel pump recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DR.
When was recall 22V516 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 22V516 to NHTSA on July 20, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 22, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 20, 2022 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V516000. |
| December 22, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 51 months ago. If your Q8 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Q8 is part of recall 22V516?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V516 is open on your Q8, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V516000 is open on your Q8, it will be listed there, along with Audi recall number 20DR. You can also ask any Audi dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Q8 owners do about recall 22V516?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V516000 applies to your Q8.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Audi dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the fuel pump happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Q8 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 10 of them about the fuel system.
Since recall 22V516 was reported on July 20, 2022, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 1 of them (10%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the fuel system and were received on or after July 20, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related fuel system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 105 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 10 of them involve the fuel system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Audi Q7: 75 complaints in total, 4 about the fuel system
- 2021 Audi Q8: 30 complaints in total, 6 about the fuel system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q8. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to operate. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the failure recurred.
2021 Audi Q8 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11687263, filed September 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q8. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2021 Audi Q8 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11495244, filed November 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q8. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2021 Audi Q8 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11499018, filed December 27, 2022
Can recall 22V516 make my Q8 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Fuel pump and fuel line defects can cause the 2021 Audi Q8 to stall without warning. If it happens again after the recall repair, document it and return to the dealer.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Q8 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Audi Q8 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V516
Did the recall 22V516 fix work?
Since recall 22V516 was reported on July 20, 2022, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 1 of them (10%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 22, 2022.
Is the 22V516000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Q8 is part of recall 22V516000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V516000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Audi. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.