2016 Audi Q3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (6) · Fuel/Propulsion System (4) · Engine (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi Q3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal 2019-05-23 · campaign 19V385000 · 23,241 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking 2017-06-26 · campaign 17V400000 · 24,754 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Exterior Lighting 2016-09-06 · campaign 16V642000 · 79,895 vehicles
Defect: 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) num
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (670)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-09-22 · TSB_2020552_15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Showing the 6 most recent of 670 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System“load gas smell coming from front and inside of car. no leaks on ground under car. …”
2026-06-23 · Engine“the engine oil consumption rate is alarming going thru quarts or entire oil change in a week or two of driving depending how much it was driven. audi has admitted the pistons are at fault along with piston rings. it is unsafe and can cause engine to seize up and lose control which can lead to dangerous situations or accidents. i was never informed …”
2026-02-18 · Unknown Or Other“to whom it may concern: i am writing this communication to you per an attorney referral. i have an audi that was included in the turbo class action lawsuit. see [xxx] my vin was included in the lawsuit. the lawsuit was won on december 4th 2025. the class action lawsuit only covers and reimburses consumers who had paid out of pocket (prior to a cer…”
2025-12-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the vehicle emits a smell of fuel into the cabin of the car, and if the windows are up, this makes the driver sleepy and could cause a crash. it does not read fuel levels properly. the car has been taken to butler, who said they could not find a problem. it was then taken to audi agusta (gerald jones), they replaced a fuel line that had to be corr…”
2025-10-16 · Unknown Or Other“in 4/2024 car wouldn’t start. took to audi for new battery and was told water pump failed so it was replaced with delays. in 3/2025 noticed no heat and car took a long time to warm up. took back to dealership replaced thermostat. still no heat so i was told ok to drive but need to flush heater core to fix heat issue for $3500. started my car on…”
2025-04-16 · Structure:body“owned car for 4 years. car has a panoramic sunroof in two sections. rear section is glass and does not move. front section is glass and does actuate. on [xxx]. all was fine. driving on smooth highway, [xxx (at xxx]. no other vehicles within site behind or in front around me). sunroof was 100% closed the entire trip. suddenly my front (moveable s…”
2025-02-03 · Engine“had pistons and rings replaced by audi dealership. after repairs were completed my car was burning through excessive amounts of oil. the engine seized while i was driving on highway. a replacement engine was installed after that by audi. now have clusters lights on dash after picking up car from the dealership. my car was not listed in class action…”
2024-10-10 · Engine“i was driving through franconia notch on [xxx] when my engine suddenly started to slow down my speed i was on a part of highway that had no pull off and was one lane divided highway. i was no longer able to able to maintain a speed over 40 mph and no where to pull off put me in a dangerous situation. i did eventually make it out of the notch but n…”
2024-09-02 · Steering“my audi q3 was in repair at audi spokane wa for an issue with the steering wheel, horn and airbag. i had it inspected at a shop in moscow id who diagnosed the damage as the wheel clock spring. lux auto hause advised that i contact audi dealership and stated the clock spring is under warranty. i made the next available appt with the dealership beca…”
2024-06-11 · Suspension“drivers rear wishbone control arm has a baseball seize hole corrosion. passenger rear wishbone has surface cracks. significant safety consern if driver rear wishbone failed while driving . dealer recommended not to drive vehicle replacement of the component is required…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.