2021 Audi E-Tron Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 25%of 36 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 400miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2021 Audi E-Tron, 25% of the 36 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 400 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Had multiple instances as I approached intersection stops of the vehicle suddenly jerking and the drive train becoming disengaged. The car maintained electrical power and had working steering and braking as I coasted to a stop. This occurred 5 times over the course of 3 miles as I attempted to make my way home, and I would estimate that each occurrence happened at a speed under 10 mph. The car was near full battery charge level when this occurred. …”
NHTSA complaint #11447317, filed 2022-01“While on the highway, the car threw the following error message: Electrical system: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle I was able to drive for a mile or so to pull into a residential street and at that point, the vehicle just wouldn't move. It was essentially stalled, and I had to call roadside assistance to have it towed. After a few days, I receive an update from the dealer that the motor needs to be replaced - this car has done like 19,000 miles and the motor has apparently died abruptly. …”
NHTSA complaint #11489296, filed 2022-10“While I was on vacation a couple states away, I drove the Audi Etron Sportback for the first time since three days before when I drove to the vacation destination. After several minutes driving I got an ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - PLEASE CONTACT SERVICE notification. Several minutes later I got very large red alert that said ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - STOP VEHICLE . I immediately pulled over to the side of the road into a parking lot just before the electric motors shut down completely. This put myself and my dog in danger. …”
NHTSA complaint #11439557, filed 2021-11“My vehicle has 13,090 miles on it. I have had two electrical issues that affected the A/C button not working on the panel display, which were both fixed by the dealership. Last week, after dropping my children off at school, a warning sign came on my display that said Electrical system malfunction - Safely Stop the Vehicle. I wasn't in a spot to stop the vehicle safely so I started to drive to a parking lot where I could. While trying to take off at an intersection after the red light turned green, the car completely stopped with the nose of my car sticking out into the crosswalk/intersection. …”
NHTSA complaint #11485657, filed 2022-09Related service bulletins
- 11033475May 6, 2026The high-voltage batteries in electric vehicles are subject to various ageing effects which could lead to the energy content (energy density) being reduced. This reduction in the…
- 11027358Dec 11, 2025This bulletin provides additoinal information to assist in determining the energy content of lithium-ion high-voltage batteries.
- 11021441Jul 30, 2025This bulletin providesi nformation when various DTCs are stored; high maximum temperature recorded for clutch K1.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2021 Audi E-Tron
24 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsForward collision avoidance
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Audi E-Tron
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology