2016 Audi Q3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 28 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 17.9% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 10.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Electrical System: 10; Engine: 7; Air Bags: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Steering: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 6; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10919711 · 2016-10-27 (October 27, 2016)
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (8/26/16, 9/23/16, 9/26/16, 10/2/16, 10/27/16) THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AS IT IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEYS. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SAYS "NO KEY IDENTIFIED." AFTER MORE THAN ONE TRY TO START THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LOCKS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO AUDI ON 3 OCCASIONS TO TROUBLESHOOT THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST OCCASION (9/23/16) A SYSTEM UPDATE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP ON 9/24/16. ON 9/26/16 THE CAR WOULD NOT IDENTIFY THE KEYS AGAIN UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE. ON THIS SECOND OCCASION, THE CAR WAS BROUG…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10938916 · 2016-12-31 (December 31, 2016)
BACKUP CAMERA AND ALARM SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE RESULTING IN BACK-UP COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR, NO PERSONAL INJURIES. OWNER WAS NOT WARNED ABOUT DELAYS IN CAMERA/ALARM ACTIVATION AT DEALER ORIENTATION. OWNERS MANUAL PROVIDES NO SUCH WARNINGS. P 87 OF MANUAL, LAST ITEM UNDER "INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM" MENTIONS POSSIBLE DELAY IN CAMERA ACTIVATION. NO WARNING AT ALL ABOUT DELAY IN BACKUP ALARM ACTIVATION. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT PARKING LOT EXIT GATE. DRIVER LOOKED OVER SHOULDER AND IN MIRRORS, SAW NOTHING, ENGAGED REVERSE, SAW BLANK …
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10938916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10950322 · 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)
TODAY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 HRS. I HIT THE BUTTON TO POWER DOWN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE WINDOW RECESSED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE PANELS, HOWEVER THE WINDOW RESET ITSELF TO THE TOP OF THE WINDOW ELECTRONICALLY MOVING UP AND DOWN WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING ON MY PART. I TESTED ALL THE OTHER WINDOWS THAT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CONTINUED TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING FROM ME. THIS ISSUE CONTINUED FOR OVER 2 MIN. I HAD TO LITERALLY, PULL OVER OFF THE ROAD AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,648 miles reported. Look up ODI 10950322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10995511 · 2017-06-16 (June 16, 2017)
POWER STEERING FAILURE ON AUDI Q3 2016 MY CAR HAS FAILED ON ME TWICE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STOPS WORKING DURING LONG COMMUTES. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE THAT DURING A 100 MILE JOURNEY, I STOP THE ENGINE AND START IT AGAIN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF. THE FIRST TIME I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE BUT JUST BEFORE THEY DISPATCHED A TOWING TRUCK I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WASN'T THERE ANYMORE. THIS HAPPENED ON MAY 19, 2017. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. AFTER A 100 MILE DRIVE I STOP AND START AGAIN AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10995511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11041341 · 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED TWICE WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR HAD TO TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME WE COULD JUMP IT AND DRIVE IT THERE AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR CURRENT LEAKAGE AFFECTING Q3S. I BROUGHT MY CONCERN TO AUDI BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN MY GARAGE AND WOULD NOT START. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN DURING T…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11041341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11042813 · 2017-11-02 (November 2, 2017)
THE RADIO TO THE VEHICLE BECOMES NON-OPERATIONAL INTERMITTENTLY, I.E. THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS. START THE CAR IN THE MORNING, AND NOTICED NO RADIO, AND LOSS OF VOLUME CONTROL. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE RADIO BECOMES FUNCTIONAL, AND THE VOLUME CONTROL IS ENABLED. THIS HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER RECENTLY IT HAS BECOME AN ANNOYANCE, AND DISTRACTING. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS PARKED NIGHTLY IN A GARAGE, AND THIS OCCURS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN A STATIONARY POSITION, …
Owner-reported narrative. 43,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11042813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184933 · 2019-03-07 (March 7, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY AND WOULD CONSTANTLY DECELERATE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES OFTEN. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI DOMINION (21105 I-10, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78257, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 49,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270088 · 2019-10-21 (October 21, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED FIRE/SMOKE FROM THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS THE START OF A FIRE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE MMI SCREEN. THE CONNECTION FOR PHONE GOT CHOPPY BUT DID NOT GO OUT COMPLETELY.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270088 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V642000 · Exterior Lighting | Electrical System:Software
Reported: 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 TT roadster, A3 cabriolet, A3 sedan and A3 e-tron, 2016-2017 TT coupe, 2017 A4 sedan and Q7 and 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97CB.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V400000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
Reported: 2017-06-26 (June 26, 2017)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Audi Q3 vehicles. If the parking brake is used during emergency braking, the brake lights on the vehicle will not activate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V385000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2019-05-23 (May 23, 2019)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Audi Q3 vehicles equipped with LED headlights. An inoperable front turn signal may not illuminate an indicator, failing to alert the driver to the issue. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Without an indicator informing the driver of an inoperable turn signal, the driver may turn or change lanes without a signal, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module (BCM), free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97DK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗