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2020 Audi Q3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

35 reports with mileage · 29 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

6 reports
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25 miles · Feb 1, 2021
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control

IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IF PASSENGER SITS ON A CUSHION (MY WIFE HAS HIP PROBLEM) OR BLANKET ETC IT TURNS OFF PASSENGER AIRBAG. REPORTED NUMEROUS TIME TO DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE IS AUDI DESIGNED IT THAT WAY. EASILY REPLICATED. NEXT, VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT PROVOCATION SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AT LOW SPEEDS'4-5MPH TO 9-10…

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IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IF PASSENGER SITS ON A CUSHION (MY WIFE HAS HIP PROBLEM) OR BLANKET ETC IT TURNS OFF PASSENGER AIRBAG. REPORTED NUMEROUS TIME TO DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE IS AUDI DESIGNED IT THAT WAY. EASILY REPLICATED. NEXT, VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT PROVOCATION SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AT LOW SPEEDS'4-5MPH TO 9-10MPH. ITS UNNERVING ESPECIALLY IF CAR IN FRONT. AIRBAG IS ALL THE TIME EVERYWHERE. ACCELERATION IS GOING FROM STOP TO MOVING PARKING LOTS, STOP LIGHT, ETC. BOTH HAVE HAPPENED SINCE DELIVERY. REPORTED TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIME. NO ANSWER.

NHTSA ODI #11390991

1,545 miles · Jan 18, 2021
EngineLane DepartureVehicle Speed Control

ON JANUARY 16, 2020, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN. I HAD FORGOTTEN TO TURN OFF THE AUTO START/STOP SWITCH AS IS MY USUAL PRACTICE, SO I DEACTIVATED IT BEFORE STOPPING. WHEN I HIT THE SWITCH, I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE TELLING ME THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, THE ENGINE WARNIN…

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ON JANUARY 16, 2020, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN. I HAD FORGOTTEN TO TURN OFF THE AUTO START/STOP SWITCH AS IS MY USUAL PRACTICE, SO I DEACTIVATED IT BEFORE STOPPING. WHEN I HIT THE SWITCH, I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE TELLING ME THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE MOTOR STARTED SHUDDERING. AS I TRIED TO PULL AWAY FROM THE STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN 7 MPH. TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ARE TRYING TO TRACK THE FAULT. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LANE KEEPING DETECTION SYSTEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST, 2020. THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. HALF THE TIME IT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN STARTED; OTHER TIMES, WHEN MAKING MULTIPLE STOPS DURING A DAY'S DRIVING, IT COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. SOME DAYS IT NEVER COMES ON. OTHER DAYS IT COMES ON EACH TIME. DEALER CAN'T FIND FAULT. TURNING IT ON MANUALLY DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT IT'LL TURN ON THE NEXT TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11388642

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control

THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS ON JANUARY OF 2020 MY AUDI Q3 JUST STOPPED RUNNING ON A VERY BUSY ROAD WHEN I WAS IN MOTION. I CALLED THE AUDI ASSIST NUMBER AND A TOW TRUCK WAS DISPATCHED TO MY LOCATION. I HAD ONLY HAD THE Q3 FOR 2 MONTHS AND IT ONLY HAD 2000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS TOWED TO AUDI OF WARWICK AND THE NEXT DAY THE DEAL…

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THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS ON JANUARY OF 2020 MY AUDI Q3 JUST STOPPED RUNNING ON A VERY BUSY ROAD WHEN I WAS IN MOTION. I CALLED THE AUDI ASSIST NUMBER AND A TOW TRUCK WAS DISPATCHED TO MY LOCATION. I HAD ONLY HAD THE Q3 FOR 2 MONTHS AND IT ONLY HAD 2000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS TOWED TO AUDI OF WARWICK AND THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER GAVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE ANOTHER 2020 Q3 AS THEY SERVICED MINE. THE LOANER AUDI Q3 DID THE SAME THING AND WENT INTO 'LIMP MODE' ON A BUSY ROUTE. THIS TIME AUDI OF WARWICK GAVE ME A Q5 MODEL TO DRIVE WHILE THEY COMPLETED THE SERVICE ON MY Q3. WHEN I PICKED MY Q3 UP I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE. FAST-FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 5, 2020 MY AUDI Q3 HAS ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AGAIN WENT INTO 'LIMP MODE' WHEN I WAS IN MOTION CROSSING A BUSY 6 LANE 4 WAY INTERSECTION. VERY UNSAFE AS THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE FORWARD SO I COULD PULL OVER TO THE CURB. ONCE AGAIN I CALLED THE AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER MULTIPLE TIMES OVER AN HOUR FOR A TOW AND NO ONE ANSWERED. I HAD CALLED MY HUSBAND AND WHEN HE ARRIVED HE CALLED TRIPLE AAA ROADSIDE SERVICE AND THEY DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK. ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6 MY HUSBAND DROVE TO AUDI OF WARWICK TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT MY CAR CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE, ETC. THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND RETURNED THE Q3 TO MY HOME. AUDI OF WARWICK SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED WHICH WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD ALMOST A YEAR PRIOR WHEN I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR TWICE IN TWO SEPARATE Q3'S (DESCRIBED ABOVE). I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SAFETY AND UNRELIABILITY OF THE 2020 AUDI Q3 AND THIS SOFTWARE PROBLEM. I TRIED CONTACTING AUDI CUSTOMER SUPPORT DURING THEIR BUSINESS HOURS YESTERDAY DECEMBER 30, VIA AUDI CHAT AND WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AS THERE WAS NO ANSWER.

NHTSA ODI #11385990

6,000 miles · Jul 13, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE JERKS LIKE IT IS LOSING POWER. IT HAS DONE THIS ON BOTH THE INTERSTATE AND ON REGULAR ROADS IN MOTION. I HAVE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL ON ME. ON SEVERAL INSTANCES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS SHOW UP AND THEN IT WILL NOT AC…

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WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE JERKS LIKE IT IS LOSING POWER. IT HAS DONE THIS ON BOTH THE INTERSTATE AND ON REGULAR ROADS IN MOTION. I HAVE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL ON ME. ON SEVERAL INSTANCES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS SHOW UP AND THEN IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THANKFULLY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ROLL OFF OF THE ROAD EACH OF THESE TIMES. THERES NO WARNING OR ANY INDICATORS THAT COME UP PRIOR TO THE CAR COMPLETING DYING IN THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERES SOFTWARE ISSUES BUT NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR IT UNTIL AN UPDATE COMES OUT. I WAS TOLD TO TURN OFF THE AUTO SHUT OFF FEATURE AND IT WILL WORK OK, BUT THAT HAS NOT HELPED. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT COULD COMPLETELY FAIL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WITHOUT NOTICE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2020'S. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST MONTH 1/2

NHTSA ODI #11338999

2,000 miles · Jun 22, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

WE WERE SITTING ON A FREEWAY OFF RAMP AT A STOP. WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOP, THE CAR SHUDDERED AND THE CONSOLE LIT UP AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE FASTER THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS A MIRACLE WE WERE NOT REAR ENDED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS RELATED T…

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WE WERE SITTING ON A FREEWAY OFF RAMP AT A STOP. WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOP, THE CAR SHUDDERED AND THE CONSOLE LIT UP AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE FASTER THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS A MIRACLE WE WERE NOT REAR ENDED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS RELATED TO THE START/STOP FUNCTION AND IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT AUDI DOES NOT YET HAVE A FIX FOR. IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR IS SITTING AT THE DEALER WHO TO DATE HAS DONE NOTHING. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE START/STOP FUNCTION PRIOR TO THIS WHERE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD FROM A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND YOU COULD NOT STEER FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE CAR WOULD START TO MOVE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11330119

310 miles · Feb 3, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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 E…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11306882

Official recalls

3

26V590000 · Steering

Sep 11, 2026

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.

20V786000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Dec 16, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the weld between the brake pedal and the brake pedal plate and, as necessary, replace the entire brake pedal, free of charge. The recall began January 12, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46i7.

20V644000 · Seats; Seats:critical Fasteners

Oct 19, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the bolt connection and, as necessary, replace the seat structure, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72L4.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:critical Fasteners

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.

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

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the bolt connection and, as necessary, replace the seat structure, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72L4.

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.

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

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the bolt connection and, as necessary, replace the seat structure, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72L4.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.