2020 Audi Q3 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi Q3 over 7 years — 14 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 10 Q3 years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Steering, Pedals and linkages, and Seats.

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

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (22 of 65), then Engine (20) and Fuel and propulsion system (10). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Q3 has 10 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2021 has 15 complaints, 3 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

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 2020 Audi Q3. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall Steering 2026-09-11 · NHTSA campaign 26V590000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.

Remedy Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.

Recall hydraulic brakes, pedals and linkages 2020-12-16 · NHTSA campaign 20V786000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Audi Q3 vehicles. The brake pedal plate can bend or detach under the pressure applied during sudden stopping.

Remedy Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the weld between the brake pedal and the brake pedal plate and, as necessary, replace the entire brake pedal, free of charge. The recall began January 12, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46i7.

Recall Seats 2020-10-19 · NHTSA campaign 20V644000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling one 2020 Audi Q3 vehicle. The driver's seat frame may have incorrectly been bolted to the seat rail.

Remedy Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the bolt connection and, as necessary, replace the seat structure, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72L4.

Complaints by component (65 total)

Electrical system

Engine

Fuel and propulsion system

Steering

Powertrain

Speed control

Service brakes

Exterior lighting

Structure

Air bags

Engine and engine cooling

Forward collision avoidance

Lane departure

Tires

Visibility and wipers

Wheels

Show 8 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V590000 (Steering); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.…"
Steering · filed 2026-09-16
"The sunroof leaked during rain causing both known and unknown damage to electrical components in the overhead panel. Lights came on and went off intermittently."
Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-03
"Last week 4/28/26, I purchased four Crossclimate 2 235/50R19 tires from Costco in [XXX] . Order #XXX. My question is two of the tires do not have a DOT number on the side wall. Two tires have DOT [1426] Along with…"
Tires · filed 2026-05-03
"I purchased this vehicle new in June 2020. Since January 2022, it has experienced recurring water intrusion into the passenger cabin during heavy rain. Water leaks from the ceiling around the overhead console near the…"
Exterior lighting, Structure, Unknown or other · filed 2026-01-22
"I purchased my 2020 Audi Q3 in August of 2020. I am submitting this complaint regarding the recurring and unacceptable issue with my Audi. In February of 2023 my vehicle started shaking and stalled while driving. I…"
Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-01-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2020 Audi Q3 SUV AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

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 quattro	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	19	27	22 MPG	$2950

Specs and fitment

F3 Q3, 2019–present

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 (all temps; Audi/VW-approved) , 6 qt capacity

Tire size 235/55R18, 235/50R19, 255/40R20

Towing capacity 1,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V-273 covers certain 2019 Q3 vehicles where the passenger air bag may not deploy properly through the instrument-panel tear seam, and small plastic parts may enter the cabin; dealers inspect and replace the instrument panel if needed. Recall 22V-673 covers certain 2021-2022 Q3 vehicles where the vent pipe inside the fuel tank may have been damaged during assembly, allowing fuel to spill from the filler neck when the cap is opened; dealers inspect the vent pipe and replace the charcoal canister and fuel tank if necessary. Recall 26V-590 covers certain 2019-2021 Q3 vehicles (with some Volkswagen models) where a steering-rack mounting bolt may corrode and break, which can break the steering-rack housing and cause loss of steering control; dealers replace the right-side steering-rack mounting bolt. Separate 2022 campaigns also address rearview-camera software and a manufacturing-date check for a rear window that may crack.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Audi Q3 Next year 2021 Audi Q3 See every Audi Q3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Audi Q3 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2020 Audi Q3?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (22 of 65), then Engine (20) and Fuel and propulsion system (10). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Is the 2020 Audi Q3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Q3 has 10 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2021 has 15 complaints, 3 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Audi Q3 been recalled?

The 2020 Audi Q3 has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Audi Q3?

Owners have filed 65 complaints about the 2020 Audi Q3 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Audi Q3 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Audi Q3 is 22 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).