The phone rang just as I was finishing my morning coffee. It was an old colleague from the automotive sector. “Julian, have you heard about the Audi recall?” he asked with a hint of urgency. “It’s big—over 100,000 vehicles between Canada and the U.S.”
That call sent me down a rabbit hole investigating what’s becoming a significant safety concern for luxury SUV owners across North America. Audi has announced a major recall affecting approximately 106,000 SUVs in Canada and the United States due to a fire risk that could occur even when vehicles are parked and turned off.
The recall specifically targets several popular Audi Q models manufactured between 2019 and 2023. According to documents filed with transport safety authorities, the issue stems from a water leak in the gateway control module. In plain English: water can seep into a critical electronic component that serves as the vehicle’s central communication hub.
“This isn’t just a minor inconvenience,” explains automotive safety analyst Maria Ramirez, whom I reached by phone. “When water penetrates the gateway module, it can create a short circuit. That short circuit can potentially ignite surrounding materials, even when the vehicle is completely powered down and sitting in your garage.”
What makes this recall particularly concerning is the nature of the risk. Most vehicle fire hazards occur during operation when engines are hot or electrical systems are actively powered. The Audi defect creates a scenario where owners could face a fire risk long after they’ve parked and left their vehicles.
Transport Canada and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) both highlight that Audi first became aware of potential issues after investigating several field incidents reported in 2022 and 2023. The investigation revealed a troubling pattern: water intrusion was causing electrical malfunctions and, in some cases, leading to thermal events.
The affected models include:
- 2019-2023 Audi Q8
- 2020-2023 Audi Q7
- 2020-2022 Audi Q3
For Canadian owners, the numbers are significant. Approximately 14,800 vehicles in Canada fall under the recall notice, while the remaining 91,200 affected vehicles are in the U.S. market.
I spoke with Toronto-based Audi owner Derek Maitland, who drives a 2021 Q8. “I received a notice in the mail last week,” he told me. “Initially, I thought it was just routine maintenance, but when I read about the fire risk, I immediately called my dealer to schedule the repair.”
The recall process itself involves installing a protective cover for the gateway control module that prevents water intrusion. Audi dealers will perform this service free of charge, as is standard with safety recalls. The repair is relatively straightforward, taking approximately one hour to complete.
But the timeline for getting all vehicles fixed could stretch months. Supply chain challenges continue to impact parts availability across the automotive industry. Some owners report being told they may need to wait several weeks for their appointment.
This recall is part of a broader trend of increasing complexity in modern vehicles. Today’s cars and SUVs contain dozens of computerized modules controlling everything from engine performance to entertainment systems. While these technologies deliver unprecedented features and efficiency, they also introduce new potential failure points.
“The modern luxury vehicle is essentially a computer on wheels,” notes automotive technology expert Wei Chen. “The gateway module in these Audis serves as a central nervous system, routing communications between various electronic control units. When it fails, it can create cascading problems throughout the vehicle.”
The financial impact for Volkswagen Group, Audi’s parent company, remains unclear. Based on industry averages for recall costs, the company could face expenses in the tens of millions when accounting for parts, labor, and administrative overhead. This comes at a challenging time for traditional automakers as they navigate the expensive transition to electric vehicles while competing with newer entrants like Tesla.
For consumers, the recall raises questions about vehicle safety in an increasingly computerized automotive landscape. Recent years have seen recalls related to software bugs, sensor malfunctions, and various electronic components that simply didn’t exist in vehicles a generation ago.
What should Audi owners do? Transport Canada recommends that owners of affected vehicles contact their local Audi dealer immediately to schedule the repair. Until the fix is completed, some safety experts suggest parking affected vehicles outdoors and away from structures as a precautionary measure, though Audi hasn’t explicitly recommended this step.
The company has begun notifying owners by mail, but those concerned can check their vehicle’s status by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on Audi’s recall website or through Transport Canada’s safety recalls database.
This isn’t Audi’s first encounter with fire-related recalls. In 2018, the company recalled nearly 1.2 million vehicles worldwide due to a potential coolant pump issue that could lead to fires. However, that recall differed significantly as it involved an overheating component rather than water intrusion.
As manufacturers continue packing more technology into vehicles, we’re likely to see more recalls involving complex electronic systems. The challenge for automakers will be balancing innovation with rigorous testing to ensure these sophisticated components can withstand real-world conditions—including something as simple yet damaging as water exposure.
For now, Audi owners should take this recall seriously and schedule repairs promptly. While actual fire incidents have been relatively rare, the potential consequences of ignoring the recall are simply too severe to dismiss.
