2021 Audi Q3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Q3 years
- About as many complaints as other years 7th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Audi Q3. That ranks 7th out of 13 Q3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (4 complaints, 27%). Complaints mention 2 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 15owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Audi Q3 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 27% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 7% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 7% | 94,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Audi Q3 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seat belts:rear/other:retractor
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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).
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The " Steering Failure " message was displayed. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of…
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q3. The contact stated while attempting to refuel the vehicle, fuel spilled out of the filler neck and fell onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due…
I am reporting a recurring fuel system defect affecting my Audi Q3, consistent with Safety Recall 20YF â Suction Jet Pump. The problem began as difficulty refueling and now mirrors an identical issue I experienced with a previous Audi A3, which ultimately leaked fuel severely both while driving…
By the dome light, it leaks water when it is pouring rain very heavily. It also drips water by the passenger side shade visor. The dome lights will dim and get brighter consistently as it is dripping. the driver side headlight also gets foggy when it rains, which causes the one side of the vehicle…
The car stalled while driving. There were no warning lights or indicators before the failure. The car was unable to be restarted so it was towed to a mechanic. It was discovered the car was out of gas however the gauge read there was still a lot of gas in the tank. We then took the car to an Audi…
Other Audi Q3 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 Q3 | 4 | 1 |
| 2024 Q3 | 18 | 2 |
| 2023 Q3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 Q3 | 34 | 5 |
| 2021 | 15 | 3 |
| 2020 Q3 | 66 | 3 |
| 2019 Q3 | 10 | 4 |
| 2018 Q3 | 26 | 1 |
| 2017 Q3 | 8 | 3 |
| 2016 Q3 | 28 | 3 |
| 2015 Q3 | 23 | 2 |
| 2008 Q3 | 1 | 0 |
See all Audi Q3 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
Similar Audi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Audi Q3?
Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Audi Q3?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Audi Q3 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Q3 model years, the 2021 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.