Audi Q3 Best and Worst Years (2015–2025)
Across 2015-2025, the Audi Q3 years to avoid are 2020, 2022, and 2024, with complaint index scores of 90, 80, and 100 out of 232 total complaints. The best years are 2017 and 2019, with complaint index scores of 0 and 10.
- Model years
- 11
- 2015–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 232
- Recall campaigns
- 18
- Crashes reported
- 8
- Fires reported
- 2
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Q3 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Audi Q3 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Good | 40 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Engine | 23 | — |
| 2016 | Caution | 60 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Electrical System | 23 | — |
| 2017 | Best | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | 23 | — |
| 2018 | Caution | 50 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Engine | 23 | — |
| 2019 | Best | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Electrical System | 22 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Avoid | 90 | 65 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Electrical System | 22 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Caution | 70 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Fuel System | 24 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Avoid | 80 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 25 | — |
| 2023 | No verdict | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Engine | 24.5 | — |
| 2024 | Avoid | 100 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
| 2025 | No verdict | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
Q3 years to avoid: what went wrong
2024 Audi Q3 Index 100 · 18 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2024 Audi Q3 has the highest complaint index of any year, at 100, ranking 1st worst overall despite only 18 total complaints. Electrical System issues dominate at 33% share with a median mileage of just 569, followed by Brakes at 28%. Owners reported vehicles restarting on their own after being turned off, doors auto-locking above 8 mph and becoming impossible to unlock, and brakes making grinding noises the dealer could not resolve. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns, covering camera control unit software and airbag occupant detection. Two crashes and two injuries were reported.
2020 Audi Q3 Index 90 · 65 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2020 Audi Q3 carries a complaint index of 90 and ranks 2nd worst of the 11 model years. Electrical System complaints lead at 37% share, followed closely by Engine at 35%, Fuel System at 15%, and Steering at 15%. Owners reported issues like sudden stalling on the highway, steering wheels locking during auto start-stop, and vehicles misfiring or shutting off while driving. Median mileage at failure for these systems ranged from 275 to 2,000 miles, suggesting problems surfaced very early in ownership. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this year, covering steering, brakes, and structure/body concerns, with two crashes reported among the 65 total complaints.
2022 Audi Q3 Index 80 · 33 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2022 Audi Q3 has a complaint index of 80 and ranks 3rd worst overall. Collision Avoidance & Cameras top the problem list at 33% share with a median mileage of 9,700, followed by Electrical System at 30% and Fuel System at 27%. Owners reported backup cameras going black, front pre-sense systems failing to warn or brake, and lane-keeping systems that would not release control of the steering. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this year, including infotainment, rear window cracking, and fuel tank vent pipe issues. One crash and two injuries were reported among 33 total complaints.
Most common Audi Q3 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Electrical System68 (29%)
- Engine60 (26%)
- Other51 (22%)
- Fuel System36 (16%)
- Steering20 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras17 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (7%)
- Airbags15 (6%)
- Brakes14 (6%)
- Structure & Body14 (6%)
Frequently asked questions
- What are the worst Audi Q3 years to avoid?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the years to avoid are 2020, 2022, and 2024, with complaint index scores of 90, 80, and 100 respectively.
- What are the best Audi Q3 model years?
- 2017 and 2019 rank as the best years, with complaint index scores of 0 and 10 and only 8 and 10 total complaints reported.
- What is the most common problem area for the Audi Q3?
- Electrical System issues are the most reported problem across all years, accounting for 68 complaints, or 29% of the 232 total complaints, followed by Engine issues at 26%.
- Does the 2024 Audi Q3 have known recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2024 Audi Q3, covering the rearview camera control unit software and the passenger seat occupant detection system.
- Is the 2020 Audi Q3 reliable?
- The 2020 Audi Q3 has a complaint index of 90, the 2nd highest of any Q3 year, driven mainly by Electrical System and Engine complaints that surfaced at low mileage.