2021 Audi Q8 vs 2021 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Audi Q8 | 2021 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 30 | 423 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 26 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,313 | 292 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20 | 19–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 43,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Audi Q8 | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 5 | 120 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 42 |
| Engine | 6 | 48 |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 36 |
| Structure | 0 | 23 |
| Visibility/wiper | 0 | 23 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Loss of power | 5 | 16 |
| Stalling | 0 | 32 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 14 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 11 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 9 |
2021 Audi Q8
2021 Ford Explorer
Compare all Audi Q8 vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.