A class action lawsuit has been filed against Audi for defective water pumps in a range of Audi models. All implicated Audi models make use of a V6 from the EA839 engine family, including both 2.9-liter and 3.0-liter units. The plaintiffs claim they’ve been hit with exorbitant repair bills for failing water pumps and related components when the cars were out of warranty, even though Audi allegedly knew about the defect since November 2018. Many problems related to cooling systems can incur high repair costs and/or extensive engine damage, so let’s take a closer look at this lawsuit.
Audi Water Pump Lawsuit
Audi
The plaintiffs in this case are Doug Larr from California and Kaelin Crawford from New Jersey. They’ve named the following Audi models in the lawsuit:
- 2018-2024 Audi A4
- 2018-2024 Audi A5
- 2018-2024 Audi S5 Cabriolet
- 2018-2024 Audi S5 Sportback
- 2018-2024 Audi RS 5
- 2018-2024 Audi SQ5
- 2019-2024 Audi A6
- 2019-2024 Audi A7
- 2019-2024 Audi A8
- 2019-2024 Audi Q8
- 2019 and 2021-2024 Audi RS 5 Sportback
- 2020-2024 Audi A6 Allroad
- 2020-2024 Audi S6
- 2020-2024 Audi S7
- 2020-2024 Audi Q7
- 2020-2021 Audi A8 e quattro
- 2021-2024 Audi SQ5 Sportback
The lawsuit, shared by Car Complaints, states that the coolant module in these models is defective due to seals, housing, and internal components that wear out prematurely. This happens when the engine is operating at normal temperatures. Ultimately, coolant leaks into the vacuum system, contaminating it, and can lead to overheating and even turbocharger problems.
Larr owns a 2019 Audi A6 and Crawford has a 2021 Audi SQ5. Both ran into these issues and needed to fork out $6,000 and $1,460, respectively. In Larr’s case, the water pump, PCV valve, and vacuum hose system had to be replaced. Crawford was initially quoted $2,800 for a fix from Audi, but managed to get the job done independently for around half that price. While both plaintiffs’ cars were out of warranty, the lawsuit claims that Audi dealers are pushing water pump replacement costs onto customers even if their warranties remain valid.
Related: VW and Audi’s 2.0L Turbo Engine Hit With U.S. Lawsuit Over Oil Consumption
Complaints Pile Up For EA839 Engines
Audi
We visited the NHTSA’s website and quickly found other complaints from Audi owners relating to failed water pumps. One Texas customer said their 2019 Audi A6’s water pump failed at just 49,000 miles, and Audi said it’s not covered by the extended warranty. Another owner of a 2019 Q8 was quoted $5,519 for a pump and coolant system repair, with that model on only 41,831 miles. Many complaints listed show failures occurring at under 50,000 miles. Interestingly, the EA839 engine is also found in numerous Porsche models, but none of them were mentioned in this lawsuit.
Audi has released technical service bulletins related to the issue, including one dated December 1, 2025. That bulletin concerns many of the models listed in the lawsuit, and notes coolant loss/leaks, along with the presence of illuminated coolant warning and engine warning lights for some customers.Â
The lawyers involved in this lawsuit have already filed and settled two water pump class actions; one 2022 case involved Audi models as far back as the 2013 model year, before the EA839 even went into production.
What It Means
Audi
The EA839 engine is widely used across Audi’s lineup, making a design defect particularly challenging to deal with. The latest lawsuit will further dent the reputation of what is otherwise a powerful and refined engine; sadly, it joins a long list of German car engines that suffer from coolant system failures. It doesn’t help that many customers have run into trouble with the water pump just outside the warranty period.
We advise any owner with one of these models to carefully monitor the cooling system in their vehicles, as identifying a leak early could save you thousands of dollars down the line. You should also stop driving the vehicle immediately if any cooling system or engine warning light is triggered.
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