Skip to content
Audi E-TronModel year report

2021 Audi E-Tron Problems

Compared with other Audi E-Tron years

Typical for this model

56/100 1.2× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019, 2022

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
36filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
12,780miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
9campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
78 MPGecombined, Electric AWD · 78 city / 77 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Audi E-Tron (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2021 Audi E-Tron. The part named most often is electrical system, with 24 complaints (67% of the total), followed by other or unknown (10) and transmission and drivetrain (9). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 12,780 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 1,202 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the software and 483 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 148 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Audi E-Tron model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 56 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Audi dealership charged fee for a repair that they the,selves acknowledged is under a technical service bulletin and despite my having extended warranty that is supposed to cover such repairs. This is for the main media interface going blank repeatedly every ~5 minutes or so while driving. Audi charged me for a repair that is a known safetyissue and is covered under warranty.”

NHTSA complaint #11728247, filed 2026-03

Other or unknown: “I was driving on the highway and my sunroof spontaneously exploded. Nothing hit it, but there was a loud noise like a gunshot and the roof exploded outwards. Shards of glass landed in front of the car behind me who swerved to avoid them.”

NHTSA complaint #11657083, filed 2025-04

Transmission and drivetrain: “Vehicle shuts off and slams into park when driving at low speeds. Vehicle will then refuse to restart for about 15 seconds and I am unable move the vehicle from park. This issue only occurs when the vehicle has been charging overnight, and has not occurred if the vehicle hasn't been recently charged. Vehicle was brought to the dealer which stated it was working as designed. The problem has occurred multiple times.”

NHTSA complaint #11388967, filed 2021-01, 400 miles

Engine: “This issue occurred with my Audi a year after purchasing it and the vehicle had 19,282 miles on it at the time. I received an Electrical System Malfunction - Please contact service error message (in yellow) on my 2021 Audi etron vehicle display. The message was displayed for a few minutes as I was traveling home from work and then disappeared. The following day, I was on my commute into work on the highway, traveling 70 mph, and received an Electrical System Malfunction - Safety stop vehicle error message. …”

NHTSA complaint #11569181, filed 2024-02

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 400 and 26,000 miles.

33%0–1033%10–2533%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 12,780 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2021202220232024920252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Audi E-Tron. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
E-Tron · SUV AWD★★★★★4 / 4555 · 9.2% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2020: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Audi E-Tron version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
e-tron AWDElectricsingle-speed787778 MPGe$1,000

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 9 recalls for the 2021 Audi E-Tron → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,202 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,202 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi E-Tron

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202363802—73 MPGe—Too new
20223114,0005—73 MPGe48 · TypicalRising
20213612,7809578 MPGe56 · TypicalRising
20197710,6195574 MPGe50 · TypicalRising

All Audi E-Tron model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Audi E-Tron have?

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2021 Audi E-Tron as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Audi E-Tron is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 24 complaints (67% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 10.

Has the 2021 Audi E-Tron been recalled?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Audi E-Tron do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Audi E-Tron 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

How efficient is the 2021 Audi E-Tron according to the EPA?

The EPA rates the 2021 Audi E-Tron (e-tron, Electric) at 78 MPGe combined, 78 city and 77 highway, with an estimated annual electricity cost of $1,000 at 15,000 miles a year. Other battery and motor versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Audi E-Tron reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 12,780 miles and the middle half falls between 400 and 26,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.