2021 Audi Q3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
70/100
#4 most-complained of 11 Q3 years
The 2021 Audi Q3 has a Complaint Index of 70 and ranks 4th worst out of 11 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Fuel System complaints lead at 33% share, with median failure mileage of 67,000, plus three recalls covering steering, fuel system, and seat belts.
- Complaints
- 15
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 29 hwy
Top 2021 Audi Q3 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System5 (33%)
- Electrical System3 (20%)
- Engine3 (20%)
- Other2 (13%)
- Seat Belts2 (13%)
- Structure & Body2 (13%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (7%)
- Lane Departure1 (7%)
- Steering1 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (7%)
What owners report
- Fuel gauge shows a full tank while the car unexpectedly stalls and won't restart, later traced to a faulty fuel tank sensor.
- Owners report suction jet pump/fuel tank issues causing difficulty refueling, similar to a related recall on other Audi models.
- Rear child safety locks fail intermittently, preventing rear doors from opening from inside even after a software update.
- Driver-side door has popped open on its own while driving, accompanied by a loud bang and dashboard alerts.
- Steering and brakes were reported to fail simultaneously, causing the vehicle to veer off the road.
- Seat belts failed to restrain occupants properly during a rear-end collision, with seats reclining and breaking on impact.
2021 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 22V673000Sep 8, 2022Fuel System13,004 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Audi Q3 vehicles. The vent pipe within the fuel tank may have been damaged during fuel tank assembly.
Risk: A damaged vent pipe may allow fuel to spill out of the filler neck when the fuel cap is opened, increasing the risk of an injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the internal vent pipe for damage and replace the charcoal canister and the fuel tank, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20DS.
- NHTSA 21V606000Aug 5, 2021Seat Belts45,496 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other:retractor
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
2021 Audi Q3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 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.
2021 compared with other Q3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Audi Q3 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Q3 has a Complaint Index of 70, ranking 4th worst among the 11 model years with data, and carries a Caution verdict.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2021 Audi Q3?
- Fuel System complaints are the most common, making up 33% of reported issues, with a median failure mileage of 67,000.
- Does the 2021 Audi Q3 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2021 Q3: a steering rack mounting bolt recall, a fuel tank vent pipe recall, and a rear seat belt assembly recall.
- How does the 2021 Q3 compare to other Q3 years?
- The 2021 Q3's Complaint Index of 70 is worse than 2015 (40), 2017 (0), 2018 (50), and 2019 (10), but better than 2020 (90), 2022 (80), and 2024 (100), which carry Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Audi Q3?
- The 2021 Q3 gets an EPA-rated 24 mpg combined (21 city/29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.