2020 Audi Q3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2020 Audi Q3 has 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: 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.

1 crash report

111

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

22 complaints

20%

• 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
• 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 FR
• 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 WA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

21 complaints

19%

• 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
• 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 W
• 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 L

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

17 complaints

15%

• THE PRESENSE FRONT IS DOES NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. I HAVE PROVIDED AUDI WITH VIDEOS SHOWING THE PRESENSE NOT WORKING AT ALL UNDER CONDITIONS THEY STATE IT SHOULD AND ALSO DID A TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS NOT WORKING AS DESIGNED BUT COULD NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE THERE ARE NO CODES. THE
• I NOW HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR FOR 4 WEEKS..ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE START/STOP FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE HAS PRESENTED A MAJOR PROBLEM...IT STALLS EPISODICALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED...IT STOPS BUT THEN DOES NOT START. THE WORST WAS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION, STOPPED TO LOOK FOR ONCOMING
• THE CLOCK TIME AND DATE KEEP RESETTING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE PRESENSE FRONT IS DOES NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. I HAVE PROVIDED AUDI WITH VIDEOS SHOWING THE PRESENSE NOT WORKING AT ALL UNDER CONDITIONS THEY STATE IT SHOULD AND ALSO DID A TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS NOT WORKING AS DESIGNED BUT COULD NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE THERE ARE NO CODES. THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

10 complaints

• VEHICLE MISFIRES/ STUTTERS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. DRIVER HAS TO MANUALLY RESTART CAR. THIS CAN BE HAZARDOUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FUEL INJECTION ISSUE. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE WHILE ASCENDING A HILL. I PICKED UP MY NEW CAR
• 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
• 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 WA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE MISFIRES/ STUTTERS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. DRIVER HAS TO MANUALLY RESTART CAR. THIS CAN BE HAZARDOUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FUEL INJECTION ISSUE. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE WHILE ASCENDING A HILL. I PICKED UP MY NEW CAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

• 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
• 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 FR
• VEHICLE MISFIRES/ STUTTERS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. DRIVER HAS TO MANUALLY RESTART CAR. THIS CAN BE HAZARDOUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FUEL INJECTION ISSUE. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE WHILE ASCENDING A HILL. I PICKED UP MY NEW CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 111 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE PRESENSE FRONT IS DOES NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. I HAVE PROVIDED AUDI WITH VIDEOS SHOWING THE PRESENSE NOT WORKING AT ALL UNDER CONDITIONS THEY STATE IT SHOULD AND ALSO DID A TEST DRIVE WITH THE DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS NOT WORKING AS DESIGNED BUT COULD NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE THERE ARE NO CODES. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: VEHICLE MISFIRES/ STUTTERS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. DRIVER HAS TO MANUALLY RESTART CAR. THIS CAN BE HAZARDOUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FUEL INJECTION ISSUE. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE WHILE ASCENDING A HILL. I PICKED UP MY NEW CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)