2020 Audi Q3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
90/100
#2 most-complained of 11 Q3 years
The 2020 Audi Q3 ranks 2nd worst among 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 90 and 65 complaints. Electrical System (37%) and Engine (35%) issues dominate, alongside 3 recalls covering steering, brakes, and seat structure.
- Complaints
- 65
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 27 hwy
Top 2020 Audi Q3 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System24 (37%)
- Engine23 (35%)
- Other18 (28%)
- Fuel System10 (15%)
- Steering10 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (9%)
- Brakes5 (8%)
- Structure & Body4 (6%)
- Airbags2 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)
What owners report
- Steering wheel locks up when the auto start/stop system engages, sometimes while turning through an intersection or exiting a parking lot.
- Vehicle stalls or shuts off unexpectedly at low speeds, including while ascending a hill or crossing an intersection, requiring a manual restart.
- Lane-departure assist misreads road markings such as tar lines and pulls the car toward a guard rail, making it hard to regain steering control.
- Car stops abruptly on the highway with dashboard lights blinking and becomes unresponsive to driver input.
- A tire blew out at low mileage, and the owner reported no replacement tires were available for the 2020 model at the time.
2020 Audi Q3 recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V590000Sep 11, 2026Steering208,724 vehicles
Steering
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.
Risk: A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 20V786000Dec 16, 2020Brakes313 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
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.
Risk: A bent or detached brake pedal plate decreases the contact area for the driver's foot and increases the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 20V644000Oct 19, 2020Structure & Body1 vehicles
Seats:critical fasteners
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.
Risk: The incorrect bolt connection could fail, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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.
2020 Audi Q3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2020 compared with other Q3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Audi Q3 reliable?
- NHTSA data ranks the 2020 Audi Q3 2nd worst out of 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 90 and 65 owner complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Q3 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Audi Q3?
- Electrical System complaints make up 37% of reports, followed by Engine issues at 35%, with owners describing stalling and steering lockups tied to the auto stop/start system.
- Does the 2020 Audi Q3 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2020 Audi Q3, covering a steering rack mounting bolt, a brake pedal plate that can bend or detach, and an incorrectly bolted driver's seat frame.
- How does the 2020 Q3 compare to other years?
- The 2020 Q3's Complaint Index of 90 is much higher than the Best-rated 2017 (0) and 2019 (10) model years, and second only to the 2024 Q3, which has a Complaint Index of 100.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Audi Q3?
- The 2020 Audi Q3 gets 22 mpg combined (19 city / 27 highway) per EPA, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.