Audi Q4 e-tron Lemon Law

The Q4 e-tron relies on an on-board charger and integrated DC/DC converter (the OCDC unit) to convert charging current and to keep the low-voltage 12-volt battery topped up. On affected vehicles, condensation can form on the unit's printed circuit board because the protective coating is insufficient, causing an electrical short that makes the charger fail.

When the OCDC fails, the Q4 e-tron may stop charging the 12-volt battery and put warning messages and audible alerts on the instrument cluster. If the low-voltage battery is allowed to discharge, the vehicle can lose electronically controlled and assisted functions and, ultimately, drive power — a serious safety risk that can strand the driver.

Audi has addressed this defect by replacing the OCDC with a revised unit that has better moisture protection. But when the replacement is backordered, the repair doesn't hold, or the charging and power-loss symptoms keep returning, California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback or replacement — with Audi paying your attorney fees.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your Q4 e-tron has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Audi Q4 e-tron qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Audi pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.