Reliable Auto DB

2018 Audi Q3 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Audi Q3 holds 26 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 2 per year. Q3 years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 2 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Turn signal.

2015 Audi Q3
Photo by Vauxford, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

26

Per year

2

Recalls

1

Years on the road

9

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (7 of 26), then Electrical system (6) and Air bags (4).

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Q3 has 8 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 10 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Audi Q3. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall exterior lighting, turn signal 2019-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 19V385000
Summary 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."
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.

Complaints by component (26 total)

Engine
7
Electrical system
6
Air bags
4
Tires
2
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Powertrain
1
Service brakes
1
Steering
1
Wheels
1
Show 1 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

22018320192202172022720233202422026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "On 5/18/2026 my wife left home to run an errand in our newly purchased 2018 Audi Q3. About 1-2 miles away from home, she experienced a strange sound coming from the engine bay, the car lost accelerating power, and the…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-03
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q3 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Conti ProContact, Tire Size: 255/40/19, DOT Number: (NA). While driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact experienced a blowout. The contact…"
    Tires · filed 2026-02-23
  • "The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred.…"
    Engine · filed 2024-07-12
  • "Steering wheel clicking and accessories and functions not working along with airbag (malfunction) light illuminated on 2018 Audi Q3 with 66,000 miles."
    Air bags · filed 2024-02-03
  • "The entire air conditioning system had to be replaced at the tune of $2422. The car is only 5 1/2 years old and it was not covered under warranty. I have researched this issue online and there are numerous people…"
    Electrical system · filed 2024-02-02

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2018 Audi Q3 SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2018 Audi Q3 SUV FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Q3 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $3450
Q3 quattro 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $3450

Specs and fitment

8U Q3, 2015–2018
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-40/5W-30/0W-40/0W-30 (Audi/VW-approved; 2.0T) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 235/50R18, 255/40R19

Known issues for this generation

Recall 16V-642 covers certain 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles (with A3, A4, TT, and Q7 also in the campaign): vehicles may have been programmed with software that inadvertently prevented side marker lights from illuminating, which can reduce nighttime visibility; dealers upload revised software. Other 8U-year campaigns on overlapping VAG platforms should be checked by VIN on NHTSA’s site before purchase or service.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Audi Q3 Next year 2019 Audi Q3 See every Audi Q3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Audi Q3 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 Audi Q3 holds 26 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 2 per year. Q3 years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 2 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Turn signal.

What are common problems with a 2018 Audi Q3?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (7 of 26), then Electrical system (6) and Air bags (4).

Is the 2018 Audi Q3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 Q3 has 8 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 10 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019.

Has the 2018 Audi Q3 been recalled?

The 2018 Audi Q3 has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Audi Q3?

Owners have filed 26 complaints about the 2018 Audi Q3 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Audi Q3 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Audi Q3 is 23 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does an Audi Q3 take?

8U (2015-2018) uses Audi/VW-approved 5W-40/5W-30/0W-40/0W-30 (~4.8 qt); F3 (2019-on) uses 0W-20 (~6 qt).

What does recall 20V-273 cover on the Q3?

Certain 2019 Q3 vehicles where the passenger air bag may not deploy properly through the instrument panel—see the NHTSA campaign for the remedy.

Which Q3 generations does this site track?

8U (2015-2018) and F3 (2019-on).