Audi A8, Q7, Q8 Recall R/2020/135: Gear Oil May Escape Due To A Faulty Welded Joint On The Gearbox Oil Line, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Low
- How serious
- 19 May 2020
- Launched
- 1,568
- vehicles in the UK
- 38C7
- Manufacturer’s campaign code
Audi recalled A8, Q7, Q8 vehicles built between 1 September 2019 and 31 December 2019. Gear oil may escape due to a faulty welded joint on the gearbox oil line. The dealer will check the production date of the gear oil line first on the vehicles affected and the gear oil line must be replaced if necessary. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
Gear oil may escape due to a faulty welded joint on the gearbox oil line.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: GEAR OIL MAY ESCAPE DUE TO A FAULTY WELDED JOINT ON THE GEARBOX OIL LINE Defect: It is possible that gear oil may escape due to a faulty welded joint on the gearbox oil line. Remedy: The production date of the gear oil line must be checked first on the vehicles affected and the gear oil line must be replaced if necessary.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: gear oil may escape due to a faulty welded joint on the gearbox oil line.
The Fix
The dealer will check the production date of the gear oil line first on the vehicles affected and the gear oil line must be replaced if necessary.
Are You Affected?
A8, Q7, Q8 built between 1 September 2019 and 31 December 2019 may be included. Audi estimates 1,568 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Audi, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Audi.
- Book with any franchised Audi dealer, quoting the campaign code 38C7 or the DVSA reference R/2020/135. See how to get a Audi recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| A6, Q8Belt buckle rivet missing | Urgent | R/2025/508 | |
| A8, Q7, Q8Software update for battery control unit | Urgent | R/2025/441 | |
| A8Replacing front suspension link | Book soon | R/2024/310 | |
| Q7, Q8The function of the side airbag may be restricted due to the airbag not being sufficiently secured to the front left seat frame | Urgent | R/2024/018 | |
| Q3, Q7, Q8A weld seam on the outer backrest frame of the front seats may not have been made correctly | Low | R/2023/331 |
This is one of 158 Audi recalls in DVSA’s data. The Audi recall launched before it was R/2020/124 on 28 Apr 2020, for the function of the locking mechanism on the front head restraints may be impaired. The one launched after it was R/2020/138 on 30 Jun 2020, for moisture may enter the belt-driven starter-alternator. You can also see every Audi recall and all recalls launched in 2020.
Source: DVSA recall R/2020/135, launched 19 May 2020. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.