10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,150 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #18

Jun 282023

Q3

  • miles
I was driving on a highway at 65 miles per hour, it was a rental car and the car automatically short stopped by itself and i was unable to move it. the dashboard lights looked like they were blinking and then my car was hit from behind

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #17

May 162023

Q3

  • miles
The panel near the sunroof control buttons and lights has a leak. It leaks water everytime it rains or during a car wash. My safety and other safety are put at risk because this water leak is coming out of my lights and other electrical cords from above. This is a potential fire hazard. This problem has been reported by others but no recall has formed for this major issue. There are no warnings or messages appear for a warning, it just occurs.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #16

Nov 112022

Q3

  • miles
Please investigate the 2020 Audi Q3 and issue a recall - this is a major driver safety issue. I purchased this vehicle new from the Audi Crown Clearwater, FL dealership in late 2019. I am taking it for repair a THIRD time because after it rains, the interior gets flooded with water which pours into the car from the rear-view mirror area which affects driver visibility, lights, electrical components, and more. The water damage is visible and there is so much built-up saturation from the leak that it causes the interior touch lights to stay on. The contact at the dealership who assured me she would help if this ever happened again after the first two fixes was evasive when I tried to ask what measures they took to fix it the first two times (in an effort to understand what they did before as well as suggest they need to attempt something different) and admitted that other Q3s were having this issue. She told me to call Audi America like another customer did, but refused to share the contact number or specify what I should tell them. This is a completely unacceptable situation created by Audi which poses a hazard for drivers. Not to mention Audi failing to stand behind a luxury brand image by putting the burden on customers to jump through hoops to seek recourse for a defective vehicle.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #15

Jul 082022

Q3

  • miles
Rained. Got into my car and had water dripping down from the lights/dome of the car. Water was short circuiting the lights and they were turning on by themselves. Tried to turn them off but sensors wouldn-€™t respond. Water was dripping down to the console where the start engine and other controls including the charging ports/wireless charging pad. Water also leaked from the front passenger side housing down to the floor. Occurred at 37.5k This has happened once before earlier in may. I called the dealership but were unable to help due to appt booked out a month. If they cannot reproduce the issue they won-€™t fix it. Occurred first time at 35k

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #14

Feb 122022

Q3

  • miles
While waiting at a signal, i got at message that my maps could not continue because I had no power, then the park assist came on with no explanation. After that, I got the message to put the car in park to prevent it rolling away. I tried to restart, but it would not. As the signal changed and traffic had to move around me, I put on the emergency lights and continued to try to start the car. It took 3-4 tries. I then took it to the dealer who did an inspection and test drive, but nothing showed up. I was about to get on the freeway when this happened and worried about driving. Even after inspection of the vehicle, i am hesitant about driving on the freeway and worried about this happening again, this time with the engine in gear.

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #13

Apr 142021

Q3

  • 1,937 miles
Car leased July 2020, has 1936 miles, check engine light came on 4/14/21, took to dealer, left for repair. Dealer states 'replace fuel pump module ' required. This car also had problem in March 2021 which I reported where car shut off while driving. Dealer said software update was required from recall that I had not gotten notice for.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

problem #12

Mar 032021

Q3

  • miles
Car completely shut down, driving 30 miles an hour, had no power or steering. Dealer 'never heard of it' but had a recall software update I had not been told about for the 'engine control unit''software EA888 Bosch and Continental. And 'internal control module performance caused lost power to vehicle ' also clock sets to midnight and they don't have a fix for

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

problem #11

Nov 172020

Q3

  • miles
The start stop feature needs to be deactivated otherwise the wheel locks up once stopped and vehicle does not move forward once foot releases off brake. The vehicle shuttered and RPM dial lit up and engine was revving once start stop was deactivated. Car had to be pulled over and shut off. Started again to move. Clock changed time on its own. Interior reading lights came on spontaneously numerous times. Car we T to service at dealer and was told software update for start stop. Going back in now for engine reaction to start stop deactivation, clock, lights. Still no software update available. Bought car new March 2020. All events happened while driving or with foot on brake. All happened on streets both driving straight and turning.

- Northport, NY, USA

problem #10

Oct 292020

Q3

  • 1,000 miles
While driving on roadway yesterday (10/29/2020) the vehicles engine and electrical system completely shut down without warning. Power steering went out. Was able to drift to side of road and restart. Went home and had car towed to valenti Audi, who determined there is a technical service bulletin for software update. Not a recall! researched this on the internet and others have reported similar issues. This vehicle is dangerous! tsb printout is in vehicle and will be returned to me at salisbury ct. However, NHTSA must issue a recall on this.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #9

Aug 202020

Q3

  • 100 miles
I bought my 2020 Q3 sline premium on August 15, 2020. The vehicle had stalled twice, first on August 17, 2020 and second on August 20, 2020. In both cases, the engine stopped as soon as I stopped in auto with my parking brakes engaged. The display screen also went dead/blank in both cases. In both cases I had to restart before I can drive. I also notice that when stopped and the auto stop engages the steering wheel locks making it difficult to turn a corner from a red light. Additionally, while driving the car identifies tar on the road as lanes and jerks the car away and it is very difficult to pull the steering back.

- Harleysville, PA, USA

problem #8

Jun 292020

Q3

  • 6,000 miles
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

- Chesnee, SC, USA

problem #7

May 302020

Q3 4-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
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.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #6

Jun 102020

Q3 4-cyl

  • 4,300 miles
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.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #5

May 312020

Q3 4-cyl

  • 1,700 miles
I leased my Audi Q3 2020 on 04/30/2020. The main issue happened recently where I was driving on a busy boulevard doing about 50mph and the engine stalled leaving only the electrical components working. I managed to pull the car to the side with my hazard lights on but had oncoming traffic doing at least 60-70mph. I felt in danger and that this could have been a grave accident. I brought the car to Audi who says it's in need of a software update, they do now know when it will be available but would be in the 3rd quarter of 2020. They will call me to being my car back in for the update when available. They deemed it safe to drive, did not offer a courtesy vehicle or rental. I explained I do not feel safe and even made a report to Audi of America without any help. I have a 1 month old car that I feel is going to put my life and the lives of people around me in danger if this should happen again. They did not leave me with any choice other than to take the car back because I need to get to and from work. I explained that should the car be damaged, I be injured or worse that they are liable given that I brought the car in and the issue was not resolved. I see this report has been made multiple times and I can say this is a very scary situation to happen at full speed with many cars around you. I have also had multiple alerts saying driver assistance malfunction. I also notice that when stopped and the auto stop engages the steering wheel locks making it difficult to turn a corner from a red light. Additionally, while driving the car identifies tar on the road as lanes and jerks the car away and it is very difficult to pull the steering back.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #4

Feb 242020

Q3

  • 2,070 miles
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.

- Chester, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jan 222020

Q3

  • 1,400 miles
My 2020 Q3 purchased December 21, 2019 malfunctioned in the middle of an intersection January 22, 2020. It had 1400 miles on it. The steering wheel locked and I had no engine. I could not turn the steering wheel and it shut off the brake lights, which left me in a seriously unsafe situation. This was the third time it happened. The other two instances happened in a parking lot. I thought I had done something wrong with the start/stop. My dealership has dismissed my safety concerns and have offered no resolution to the problem, other than disengage the start/stop every time I get in the vehicle. There was no guarantee of when this would be fixed and was told it could be months to get the parts. There was also no guarantee that this wouldn't happen with the start/stop already disengaged. I am driving a vehicle that could potentially shut down without warning leaving my life and the lives of others at risk.

- Aurora, OH, USA

problem #2

Nov 012019

Q3

  • 85 miles
The lane-departure assist does not always recognize the tar lines on the road as non-lines. The lane departure assist almost pulled me into a guard rail on the highway when exiting!!! this has happened on several occasions and is terrifying! it takes quite a bit of strength to obtain control back from the car!! it is also very hard to steer when the lane assist takes over and does not allow you to veer out of the way when someone swerved into your lane! again, it takes quite a bit of strength to wrestle back control from the car! please help! these assist features are a hazard to normal driving! if I had known about these flaws, I would had never leased the car. I am not stuck in a dangerous car for 3 years! help others! please!!

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #1

Nov 022019

Q3

  • 100 miles
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!!

- Dallas, TX, USA