My Audi Q4 e-tron won't move, or shows a charge battery warning at 60%. What's going on?

Short answer: If it won't drive off, try the order owners and an Audi tech used: sit down, buckle the seatbelt, press the brake, then shift to Drive. If you get odd low-charge warnings that don't match the real battery level, have the 12V battery tested. One dealer replaced it to fix exactly that. Also run your VIN for recall 25V125000, which covers the part that keeps the 12V battery charged.

Symptom: The Q4 stays in Park or won't move when you select Drive or Reverse, or a 'charge battery' warning pops up with a wrong, low charge level that slowly climbs back to the real number.

What to check first

1. Sit in the seat, buckle up, hold the brake, then shift. See if it moves.
2. Make sure the charge cable is unplugged and the key is inside the car.
3. Have the 12V battery tested if warnings don't match the real charge level.
4. Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for 25V125000.
5. Write down every message and when it appears, and get video if you can. It helps the dealer.

Likely causes

1. Faulty 12V battery. Almost every modern car, including EVs, has a small 12-volt battery that powers the computers, locks and screens. When it's weak or isn't being recharged, the car can show a pile of unrelated warnings or refuse to go into gear, even with a full main battery. One owner's dealer replaced the 12V battery to fix a false low-charge warning.
2. 12V charging part failing (recall). NHTSA recall 25V125000 says the part that charges the 12V battery on some 2024-2025 Q4 e-trons may fail, which can lead to a loss of drive power.
3. Start-up sequence not completed. The car checks several sensors before it will drive, including the seatbelt and brake. If they aren't in the expected order, it can stay in Park.

What it usually costs

Owners report these were handled under warranty. The recall work is free.

Is it safe to keep driving?

If the car loses drive power or shows repeated battery warnings, don't take it on the highway until the dealer checks it. A car that won't leave Park is safe, just stuck.

DIY or shop?

Trying the start-up order is DIY. Battery and charging faults are dealer work. An EV's high-voltage system can stay live with the car off. Leave the orange cables, the big battery and the charging hardware to a trained EV technician.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Related recall: NHTSA lists 25V125000 for certain 2024-2025 Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron (and 2024 ID.4): the on-board charger part that charges the 12-volt battery may fail, which can lead to a loss of drive power. It also lists 26V698000 for some 2024-2025 Q4s whose high-voltage battery may fail and cause a fire. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 21 keyword-matched complaints for Audi Q4 e-tron / Q4 Sportback e-tron 2022–2025 (of 35 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-01; keywords: battery, charg, range, warning, 12 v, won t) (NHTSA returned no data for 12 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In My friend couldn’t move her Q4 etron. Is this user error or an issue with her car? on Reddit r/q4etron, an owner's friend couldn't get her 2023 Q4 e-tron to move, and the Park light stayed on when she changed gears. Another owner said their 2022 did the same thing and the dealer worked for weeks with an Audi factory technician. Their fix was a sequence: sit in the driver's seat, buckle the seatbelt, press the brake, then shift into Drive. They said no parts were replaced.
• In Does anyone else get a "charge battery" warning at around 60% battery? on Reddit r/q4etron, a 2022 Q4 50 owner got a random 'charge battery' warning at around 60% charge, showing a low number that crept back up to the real one. Another owner saw an odd state of charge too. The original poster later reported the dealer replaced the 12V battery, saying it was faulty and would cause the warning.

Quick tip

Two owners, two different fixes, one common thread: these cars need the start-up checks to pass and the little 12V battery to be healthy. Test that 12V before anything else.

Vehicle focus: Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron, 2022-2025.

Safety / mechanic note

Loss of drive power is dangerous in traffic. Verify with a mechanic.