Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 21, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

65 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
23

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 14software faults 8unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: I purchased my 2020 Audi Q3 in August of 2020. I am submitting this complaint regarding the recurring and unacceptable issue with my Audi. In February of 2023 my vehicle started shaking and stalled…
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I purchased my 2020 Audi Q3 in August of 2020. I am submitting this complaint regarding the recurring and unacceptable issue with my Audi. In February of 2023 my vehicle started shaking and stalled while driving. I could not restart for awhile, after a few minutes it restarted. I took it to Audi and they verified that the output of fuel pump did not meet minimum flow. They replaced the pump. Then in November of 2025 my car stalled again, doing the same thing, after a few minutes it would restart but kept intermittently stalling. This Fuel Pump malfunctioned again, and now this time both of them were not working properly. Both the High Pressure and Low Pressure Fuel pump was replaced again in January 2026. Having to replace a major component like the fuel pump twice on a 2020 luxury vehicle is unreasonable and deeply concerning. A fuel pump failure is not a minor inconvenience, it affects the reliability, safety and drivability of the vehicle.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11709675 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
8

Most reports here involve fluid leaks.

fluid leaks 3software faults 2sudden stalling 1
A recent report: I purchased a 2020 Audi Q3 S-Line (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX], with 27,564 miles on it. I bought the vehicle from a dealership that specializes in high-end aftermarket cars, and they provided a…
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I purchased a 2020 Audi Q3 S-Line (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX], with 27,564 miles on it. I bought the vehicle from a dealership that specializes in high-end aftermarket cars, and they provided a maintenance report stating the vehicle had passed all inspections at the time of sale. The vehicle had been imported from Canada to the U.S., and the Carfax report reflected consistent maintenance at authorized Audi dealerships in Canada, including a full inspection and alternator/electrical system check roughly a year before my purchase — with no problems reported. In early July 2025, I began experiencing issues with the MMI system: •A loud, persistent humming sound when using Bluetooth or the radio •Audio glitches and failed system reboots •No dashboard warnings or battery alerts After researching, I suspected a low-voltage or charging issue. I took the car to an auto parts store for diagnostics, and at 28,932 miles, they found the battery was severely depleted and the alternator had failed completely — it was no longer charging the system. This means the alternator failed only 1,368 miles after purchase, which is highly abnormal for a well-maintained, low-mileage luxury vehicle. Alternators typically last 80,000 to 150,000 miles. Audi has acknowledged similar issues in Q5 and A4 models, but nothing yet on the Q3. While I know the vehicle is out of warranty and was not purchased from an Audi dealership, I am requesting: 1.That this issue be formally documented and investigated for possible recall or defect pattern. 2.That Audi consider a goodwill repair, based on mileage, maintenance history, and how soon the failure occurred after passing inspection. 3.That this be flagged specifically for Q3s imported from Canada, as mine was. This failure could have left me stranded with no warning. I’m reporting it not only for my own case, but to potentially help others who may be silently experiencing the same issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11674681 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
6

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

premature wear 3sudden stalling 2loss of braking 1
A recent report: Not sure if this requires investigation by NHTSA so I am reporting it and will let you decide. 2020 Audi Q-3. Purchased Certified Pre-Owned in April 2023 with 13,000 miles on it. Found that at…
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Not sure if this requires investigation by NHTSA so I am reporting it and will let you decide. 2020 Audi Q-3. Purchased Certified Pre-Owned in April 2023 with 13,000 miles on it. Found that at highway speed when you apply brakes the pedal pulsates and shudders. I now have 17,900 miles on it and the pulsation is getting worse. To my regret we did not take a very long test ride when buying. I have not lost control or had any accident, but I Googled the problem and found that this is a common complaint with many Audi models. Brought car back to dealer who states that I need to replace front disc pads and rotors as well as rear brake pads. I feel that this is not normal with such low miles. I am not sure if this needs an investigation by NHTSA but again, if you do an online search it is a problem with many Audi models. I have been advised that this problem could lead to loss of control of the vehicle. Also, the dealer and Audi USA refuse to do the repair under the warranty saying that brakes are "a wear item".

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11564901 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
12

Most reports here involve loss of steering.

loss of steering 6software faults 2
A recent report: The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V590000 (Steering); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The local…
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The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V590000 (Steering); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764695 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
2

Most reports here involve unintended acceleration. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

unintended acceleration 1airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: We purchased a 2020 Audi Q3 (36000 miles) from Carvana on December 5, 2024, and it was reported as having no past accidents. It was stolen on January 7. It was recovered on January 20 after the…
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We purchased a 2020 Audi Q3 (36000 miles) from Carvana on December 5, 2024, and it was reported as having no past accidents. It was stolen on January 7. It was recovered on January 20 after the thieves crashed it into a telephone pole. The car sustained significant damage and there is evidence of blood on the interior. We have no idea the extent of any injuries because the thieves fled the scene. Our concern is that when we inspected the vehicle, we noticed that the airbags did not deploy.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11637265 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
12

Most reports here involve fluid leaks.

fluid leaks 9electrical shorts 2software faults 1
A recent report: The sunroof leaked during rain causing both known and unknown damage to electrical components in the overhead panel. Lights came on and went off intermittently.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11754419 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
2

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1
A recent report: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Design and/or manufacturing flaw in Audi m/n 8R0071128C Fork Mount Bike Rack presents a risk of…
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What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Design and/or manufacturing flaw in Audi m/n 8R0071128C Fork Mount Bike Rack presents a risk of bicycle becoming detached from the rack/vehicle at highway speeds. I have retained all parts and they could be made available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Risk is bicycle flying off the roof of a car at highway speeds causing significant damage to the carrying vehicle and/or triggering a serious accident involving nearby vehicles. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not yet, but I have been engaged in a very slow moving dialog with a number of Audi representatives, most recently with Lori W, Region Case Manager, Audi CXC (Audi of America Customer Experience Center). Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Not Applicable Travelling at highway speed was a bang on car roof. Pulled over and found that the bicycle mounted on the Audi m/n 8R0071128C Fork Mount Bike Rack was no longer secured. After removing the bicycle, I saw that 1of2 threaded parts that clamp the bicycle fork to the rack was gone, bang heard likely was that part hitting roof. Remaining 2of2 threaded part was loose, could be turned by hand and was in danger of also falling off. It appears that the design of Audi m/n 8R0071128C enables these critical parts to unthread and detach during use. Possible fixes may be as simple as use of a permanent type thread locking compound during manufacturing or as complex as a redesign which does not present the possibility of failing in such an unsafe manner. See photos.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11621565 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 65 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2019 and 2026, roughly 9 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.