2018 Audi Q3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
19,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 26 complaints (26.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 23.1% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 19.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Engine: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Electrical System: 6; Air Bags: 4; Tires: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 7; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 11084510 · 2018-04-11 (April 11, 2018)
TAKATA INFLATORS: MULTIPLE SERVICE ATTEMPTS TO FIX SPEAKER BLUETOOTH ISSUES. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE. CONSISTENTLY HAPPENED. GARBLED INAUDIBLE COMMUNICATION USING HANDS FREE PHONE SPEAKER. WAS IN SERVICE 6 TIMES FOR SAME ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11084510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11145136 · 2018-11-03 (November 3, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT DUSK AT 50MPH WHEN THE SUNROOF IN MY Q3 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES AND RAINED GLASS DOWN ON ME. I WAS UNHARMED AND ABLE TO EXIT, BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AS IT WAS A TREMENDOUSLY LOUD AND STARTLING EVENT. AUDI DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROJECTILE THAT CAUSED THE BREAKAGE AND ARE REPLACING IT AS BEING "UNDER WARRANTY".
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11145136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11220011 · 2019-06-14 (June 14, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 AUDI Q3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE DIMENSION OF THE TIRES PERTAINING TO A CASTER DIAGNOSIS. THE COLOR GREEN DISPLAYED IF THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND ALIGNED CORRECTLY WHEN INSTALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE INSPECTION CASTER TESTING REMAINED IN THE RED WITHIN LESS THAN 100 MILES OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS WERE CONTACTED: AUDI NORTH AUSTIN (12971 POND SPRINGS RD, AUSTIN, TX 78729, [phone removed]) AUDI DOMINION (21105 I-10, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78257, [phone removed]…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11220011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11257889 · 2019-09-24 (September 24, 2019)
BACK UP CAMERA WON'T WORK WHEN CAR TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE, NOR WHEN MANUALLY PRESSING PARK ASSIST BUTTON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS BEFORE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, TODAY BACK UP CAMERA WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING WHEN PUTTING TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11257889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291837 · 2019-12-29 (December 29, 2019)
DRIVING DURING THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK I HEARD THIS EXPLOSION AND A SOUND BEHIND. WHEN I PULLED OFF I NOTICED MY MOONROOF WAS SHATTERED. JUST ABOUT TO FELL OFF OR BLOW AWAY. NO OBJECT HAD HIT THE CAR. IT WAS SIMPLY A HUGE EXPLOSION.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11388824 · 2021-01-19 (January 19, 2021)
THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF AUDI Q3 HAS POOR QUALITY BREAK PADS AND ROTORS, IF YOU LIVE NEAR THE OCEAN LIKE ME IN MIAMI BEACH, THE BREAKES GET DAMAGED AT ONLY 8,000 MILES INTERVALS AND THEY CAN FAIL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY HAVE FULLY WASHED THEIR HANDS. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RETAINING CLASS ACTION COUNSEL TO PURSUE CLASS ACTION LITIGATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11388824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11445347 · 2021-12-28 (December 28, 2021)
noticed a clicking sound in the steering column that was intermittent; after a week, the airbag light lit up and stayed lit ... per the manual, contacted Audi immediately for service. Was told it was a "clock spring module" and that it would take a few weeks for the part to come in. I was also told that the airbag would likely not activate in a crash ... they could not guarantee it would also not automatically just deploy. It has now been over 2 months and the service department at Audi has told me that they have no idea when that part wil…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11445347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11450718 · 2022-02-07 (February 7, 2022)
CPO with 20k miles that I bought back on August 25, 2021 from Audi. It is equipped with push/start. Vehicle won't start. I have tried to use both key-fob with fresh brand new battery. Did not work I even checked to see if the battery was good. Still it won't start. I ran my scanner got a U0101 Loss communication to TCM (Transmission Control Module). I had Audi came with a flat bed to pick up the vehicle on January 24, 2022 (Vehicle have around 26k miles). Just Last Friday February 4, 2022 Audi dealership in Rockville, Maryland text my wife said…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11450718 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗