Audi Q3: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Audi Q3 problems by model year, from 209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2020 (44%, 26 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (41%, 9 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (36%, 8 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 4 Audi Q3 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (28%). 2022 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2020 drew the most drivetrain complaints (26 of 52 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Audi Q3 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Q3 | too few to score | – | 9 | 23 | – | 2 |
| 2016 Q3 | high | 41% | 9 | 28 | 2/4 | 3 |
| 2017 Q3 | too few to score | – | 2 | 8 | – | 3 |
| 2018 Q3 | elevated | 36% | 8 | 26 | 3/4 | 1 |
| 2019 Q3 | too few to score | – | 5 | 10 | – | 4 |
| 2020 Q3 | high | 44% | 26 | 65 | 1/4 | 3 |
| 2021 Q3 | too few to score | – | 5 | 15 | – | 3 |
| 2022 Q3 | no elevated signal | 28% | 9 | 33 | 4/4 | 5 |
| 2023 Q3 | too few to score | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Audi Q3 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Audi Q3 fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Audi Q3 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2022 | 22V673000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage | 2022 |
10 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2016 | 16V642000 | electrical system: software | 2016 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V400000 | exterior lighting: brake lights | 2016 |
| May 2019 | 19V385000 | exterior lighting: turn signal | 2016–2018 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V644000 | seats | 2020 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V786000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2020 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V825000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2022 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V064000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2022 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V701000 | visibility: glass, side/rear | 2022 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V806000 | equipment: electrical: infotainment: video (touch)screen/monitor/unit | 2022 |
| Sep 2026 | 26V590000 | steering | 2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Audi Q3
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Audi Q3
What are the worst years for the Audi Q3?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Audi Q3 years are the 2020 (44% of relevant complaints, high), the 2016 (41% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2018 (36% of relevant complaints, elevated). 3 of 4 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Audi Q3?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Audi Q3 years are the 2022 (28%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Audi Q3 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 4 scored years, 52 of 136 relevant NHTSA complaints (38%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2016, 2018 and 2020.
Is the Audi Q3 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 4 Audi Q3 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 38% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Audi Q3?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Audi Q3 years we track, out of 11 in total: 22V673000 (Sep 2022, 2022). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.