YearToAvoid

2015 Audi Q3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#7 most-complained of 11 Q3 years

NHTSA lists 23 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2015 Audi Q3, giving it a Complaint Index of 40 and a rank of 7th out of 11 model years. Its verdict is Good relative to other Q3 years, with Engine problems the top reported area.

Complaints
23
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 28 hwy

Top 2015 Audi Q3 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine9 (39%)
  2. Fuel System5 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (17%)
  4. Airbags3 (13%)
  5. Electrical System3 (13%)
  6. Other3 (13%)
  7. Steering2 (9%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (9%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain2 (9%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (9%)

What owners report

  • Tail lights and rear brake lights stopped working after the lift gate was closed softly while the car was off, a pattern tied to a wiring issue found during dealer service.
  • Sunroof continued closing on its own even after the vehicle was turned off, matching the issue covered by an NHTSA recall.
  • Rearview mirror detached and hung by its wires when owners tried to adjust it, blocking front and rear visibility.
  • Power steering assist was lost completely after extreme cold weather, forcing owners to fight the wheel to steer to the side of the road.
  • Owners reported engine trouble resembling timing chain failure, appearing around the median failure mileage of 51,000 miles.
  • Aluminum trim covering the interior door handle peeled and cut a driver's finger, and separately a passenger door lock intermittently failed to open from inside or outside.
2015 Audi Q3 complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2015Dec 2019Jun 2020Jun 2021Apr 2023Dec 2023Sep 2025Sep 2026
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2015 to Sep 2026; peak May 2026 (5).

2015 Audi Q3 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V642000Sep 6, 2016Electrical System79,895 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    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) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 15V200000Apr 3, 2015Visibility & Wipers3,646 vehicles

    Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Audi Q3 vehicles manufactured April 4, 2014, to November 5, 2014. If the vehicle is turned off while the sunroof is closing, the sunroof may continue to close instead of stopping. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

    Risk: If the sunroof is closing while the vehicle is shut off and a vehicle occupant is in its path, there is an increased risk of injury.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the sunroof control module software, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60C1.

2015 Audi Q3 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,450
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Q3 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good4023223
2016Caution6028323
2017Best08323

All Audi Q3 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Audi Q3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 Q3 has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 7th out of 11 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Q3 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Audi Q3?
Engine issues account for 39% of complaints (9 of 23), followed by Fuel System at 22% and Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 17%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2015 Audi Q3 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Q3: one for a sunroof control module software issue and one for an electrical system problem affecting several Volkswagen Group models including the Q3.
How does the 2015 Q3 compare to other Audi Q3 years?
The 2015 Q3's Complaint Index of 40 is lower than the 2020 (90), 2022 (80), and 2024 (100) model years, all of which carry Avoid verdicts, making 2015 a comparatively better choice.
At what mileage do 2015 Q3 problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 51,000 miles, though Fuel System and Airbag issues tended to appear later, around 80,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.