Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 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

18 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
1

Most reports here involve rollaway.

rollaway 1
A recent report: Lease Begin Date: May 1, 2024 Mileage at time of first incident: 16800 Current Mileage: 17,500 Incident Description: This vehicle has exhibited unintended rearward movement on two separate occasions…
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Lease Begin Date: May 1, 2024 Mileage at time of first incident: 16800 Current Mileage: 17,500 Incident Description: This vehicle has exhibited unintended rearward movement on two separate occasions following a "Drive System Malfunction" warning, each occurring immediately after shifting into Drive on an incline. The first incident occurred on February 20, 2025. Immediately after shifting into Drive, the vehicle displayed a "Drive System Malfunction" message and rolled backward before I was able to stop it. My [XXX] child was a passenger. The system reset after restarting the vehicle. The second incident occurred under nearly identical conditions on March 19, 2025, again resulting in unintended rearward movement following the same warning message. My child was again in the vehicle. Time-stamped photographs documenting both events are available. The vehicle was brought to an authorized Audi dealership for inspection. The dealership was unable to replicate the concern. Low-voltage fault codes were identified, including a remote key and secure control module message, but no fault codes directly tied to the drive system were found. No corrective action was taken. I subsequently contacted Audi of America's customer support line and was assigned a Regional Case Manager. Audi's position has been that escalation to Audi Technical Assistance or engineering cannot proceed without dealership replication of the fault. No proactive diagnostic steps have been offered or taken. The concern remains unresolved. This complaint is being filed to document two occurrences of unintended vehicle movement associated with a drivetrain-related warning, and to request that Audi of America be required to investigate and address the root cause. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11728450 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
5

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 5
A recent report: THE FIRST WEEK OF BUYING THIS VECHILE THERE WAS A CHIP MALFUCTION ON THE AUDI Q3 2024. THE AUDI AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST A SENSOR. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIOS DONE AND EVERTHING…
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THE FIRST WEEK OF BUYING THIS VECHILE THERE WAS A CHIP MALFUCTION ON THE AUDI Q3 2024. THE AUDI AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST A SENSOR. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIOS DONE AND EVERTHING COME BACK FINE. HOWEVER, WHEN WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECT THE START STOP SYSTEM HAD ISSUE THEN WENT AWAY. ALONG WITH AFTER MY PURCHASE OF THE Q3 THEIR WERE STRANGE STREAMING NOISES THAT WERE COMING OUT OF ONE THE SPEAKERS. IT SEEMS THE DEALERSHIP SOLD ME THIS Q3 KNOWING THERE WAS AFTER MARKET PRODUCTS PUT IN THE CAR TO DISTRACT ME WHILE DRIVING. i LIVE IN TOWN OF BOZEMAN, MT AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MIDIGATE THIS ISSUE WITH LITTLE HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I WILL BE MAKING A NEW POLICE REPORT CONCERNING MY PERSONAL ISSUES. I ALSO CONTACTED THE AUDI DIGITAL HELP FOR HELP! I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTS ONCE I GET A CLEAR RESPONSE FROM YOU.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11705383 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
4

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 2corrosion 1premature wear 1
A recent report: The rear inner brake pads wore out much faster then the outer brake pads on the vehicle. On July 16, 2025, the car was taken in for service at an Audi dealership (Hoffman Audi in East Hartford, CT)…
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The rear inner brake pads wore out much faster then the outer brake pads on the vehicle. On July 16, 2025, the car was taken in for service at an Audi dealership (Hoffman Audi in East Hartford, CT) and the inner brake pads were reported to be at 4mm. The car had 19,678 miles. On 12/18/2025 the car was serviced with 25,361 miles and the rear inner brake pads were replaced because they were at 1mm. Besides excessive and premature wear of inner brake pads, this is a safety issue since the brake pad sensors are typically on the outer pads. Disc brake pads should wear consistently between inner and outer pads. Many social media forums report similar problems with Audi Q3 model wearing rear inner pads faster then the outer pads. 3mm wear on pads after only 5 months is excessive and dangerous, especially since the sensors cannot report pads are worn because they are on the outer pads.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11706441 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
1

Most reports here involve other issues. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

other issues 1
A recent report: I am submitting this complaint because I have experienced serious safety-related concerns involving Audi vehicles, and I am extremely concerned that these issues could result in a serious accident…
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I am submitting this complaint because I have experienced serious safety-related concerns involving Audi vehicles, and I am extremely concerned that these issues could result in a serious accident, injury, or loss of life. My personal vehicle is a **2024 Audi Q3**, which has experienced safety-related problems involving the braking system, wheel/speed sensors, parking recognition system, and other related vehicle safety and driver-assistance systems. I also want to report a separate and extremely serious incident involving an **Audi loaner vehicle that was provided to me by the Audi dealership while my 2024 Audi Q3 was being repaired**. While I was driving the Audi loaner vehicle, **the wheel/wheel assembly came off the vehicle while it was in motion**. This was an extremely dangerous situation that could have resulted in a catastrophic accident, serious injury, or death. The loaner Audi has a different VIN from my 2024 Audi Q3. I do not currently have that VIN available, but the dealership should have records identifying the exact loaner vehicle that was assigned to me while my Q3 was being repaired. I am reporting both situations because I believe these safety concerns need to be properly documented and investigated. A wheel coming off a vehicle while it is being driven, along with the braking, wheel/sensor, parking-recognition, and related safety concerns I have experienced with my own Audi, raises very serious concerns for me. I do not want another driver or family to experience something similar. These are not simply convenience or cosmetic issues. They involve systems and components that can directly affect the safe operation and control of a vehicle and potentially put people's lives at risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA review these incidents and determine whether further investigation is warranted. I am willing to provide repair records, dealership communications, photographs, accident information, service records, and any other documentation. Thanks

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11761418 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
2

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

premature wear 1airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2024 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, a second vehicle T- Boned crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. During the crash, no air bags…
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The contact owns a 2024 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, a second vehicle T- Boned crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. During the crash, no air bags deployed, and the collision avoidance system did not activate to alert the driver. The contact sustained back and neck injuries, which later required medical treatment. The contact also suffered from PTSD due to the incident. A police report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the crash. Prior to the collision, the vehicle taken to the dealer due to the passenger side air bag was off while a front passenger was seated and also various electrical warnings had displayed. The dealer performed several software updates, but the failures continued to occur. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 4,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11713710 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
2

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 2
A recent report: Audi has made it impossible for owners to disable the automatic unlocking of all doors when the vehicle is shifted into Park. This behavior creates a significant personal safety risk in several…
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Audi has made it impossible for owners to disable the automatic unlocking of all doors when the vehicle is shifted into Park. This behavior creates a significant personal safety risk in several common situations—such as stopping to refuel, entering parking garages, transporting children, or when elderly or disabled passengers are inside. By automatically unlocking the vehicle in any location when shifted into Park, Audi eliminates the driver’s or passenger’s control over door security. This compromises safety, particularly in high-risk or unfamiliar areas. No option exists in the vehicle’s settings to disable this feature, and dealership personnel confirm that Audi offers no software or MMI control to adjust or disable this. Only third-party tools (e.g., OBDeleven, not endorsed by Audi) appear to allow any override for previous model years however nothing for 2024 or newer. This lack of control over vehicle security should be classified as a safety defect, especially given the increased risk of carjacking, unwanted entry, or harm to vulnerable passengers.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11673402 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
3

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 2electrical shorts 1
A recent report: The vehicle’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system intermittently fails to detect vehicles directly ahead at lower speeds. When this occurs, the car maintains the set speed instead of slowing down…
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The vehicle’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system intermittently fails to detect vehicles directly ahead at lower speeds. When this occurs, the car maintains the set speed instead of slowing down, creating a potential collision risk. The issue has been present since the vehicle was new and has occurred repeatedly over a two-year period. Specifically, while driving in moderate or heavy traffic using ACC or Adaptive Cruise Assist, the system occasionally does not recognize a slower or stopped vehicle ahead. The car continues to accelerate or maintain speed until I manually apply the brakes. Once I brake and re-engage the ACC, the system immediately detects the vehicle ahead and resumes normal following behavior. This pattern strongly suggests a software or sensor logic fault rather than driver error. There are no visible warnings, messages, or malfunction indicators before or during the failure. The problem has been reproducible multiple times under similar conditions. The local Audi dealership has been informed, but as of now no official fix, recall, or service bulletin has been issued for this behavior on the 2024 Audi Q3. To my knowledge, the manufacturer has not publicly acknowledged the problem. This malfunction poses a significant safety hazard, as it can result in the vehicle failing to decelerate in time to avoid a rear-end collision if the driver does not intervene quickly. Component or system involved: Adaptive Cruise Control / Adaptive Cruise Assist (Radar-based driver assist system). Availability for inspection: The system remains installed and can be inspected upon request.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11697773 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 18 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2024 and 2026, roughly 7 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.