What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2020 Audi Q3

Early-defect pattern

33.9% of complaints about the 2020 Audi Q3 came in its first year of service — a higher share than 98% of the 178 2020 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is electrical system (22 complaints), typically at 1.5 yr or about 1,700 miles.

Complaints
112
Median age at failure
1.4 yr
Median mileage
1,937 n=66
Crash / fire / tow
2.7% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
22 reports · 1,700 mi
1.5 yr
4.5%
Engine
20 reports · 2,000 mi
1.3 yr
0%
Other
18 reports · 1,500 mi
3.2 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V590000 2026-09-11
Steering

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.

A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V786000 2020-12-16
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Audi Q3 vehicles. The brake pedal plate can bend or detach under the pressure applied during sudden stopping.

A bent or detached brake pedal plate decreases the contact area for the driver's foot and increases the risk of a crash.

20V644000 2020-10-19
Seats

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling one 2020 Audi Q3 vehicle. The driver's seat frame may have incorrectly been bolted to the seat rail.

The incorrect bolt connection could fail, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 100 mi 2 mo in service
WHEN THE AUTO START-STOP FUNCTION ACTIVATES (TURNING THE ENGINE OFF), THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. THE CAR CAN CONTINUE TO ROLL WHEN YOU LET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO START MOVING AGAIN, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINS LOCKED NOT ALLOWING YOU TO STEER THE CAR WHEN NECESSARY. I ALMOST GOT HIT BECAUSE OF THIS AND IT IS VERY SCARY NOT TO BE ABLE TO STEER OUT OF THE WAY WHEN NECESSARY!!! THIS IS HORRIBLE FUNCTION OF THE CAR WHICH CAN CAUSE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS!!
Electrical system 2,070 mi 5 mo in service
THE VEHICLE STALLS FOR NO REASON WHILE BEING DRIVEN. AUDI HAS ADVISED US THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE BUT THE SOFTWARE IS NOT AVAILABLE YET. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YESTERDAY AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 5 WEEKS WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED DUE TO MULTIPLE ELECTRIC MALFUNCTIONS.
Electrical system 4,300 mi 9 mo in service
MY LIFE WAS ALMOST TAKEN AWAY BY MY CARS ENGINE FAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A 4-LANE ROAD WHERE TRAFFIC IS GOING 50 MPH. WHEN IT STALLED, THE ENGINE JUST QUIT LEAVING ONLY ELECTRICAL (LIGHTS & MEDIA) WORKING. I FELT I WAS TRAPPED AS A CAR WAS HEADED RIGHT FOR ME AND I COULD NOT EVEN INCREASE SPEED BECAUSE THE WHOLE CAR JUST SEEM TO NOT MOVE FORWARD. I EVENTUALLY PULLED INTO A MEDIAN, BUT NONETHELESS I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. MUCH LIKE THE PERSON WHO ALSO REPORTED THIS ISSUE. *TR
Engine 310 mi 4 mo in service
I PURCHASED MY 2020 Q3 ON DEC 31 2019. WITHIN 2 WEEKS MY CAR STOPPED AT THE SIGNAL LIGHT WITH A MALFUNCTION OF AUTO STOP/START ISSUE AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. I HAD TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2020 Q3 AND THE SOFTWARE TO FIX THE AUTO STOP/START FUNCTION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTILL END OF 1ST QUARTER. NOW I AM SEEING THE GAS CONSUMPTION HIGH AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE AS BEFORE.

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