2016 Audi Q3 Complaints

ENGINE — Filed 01/12/2024

The engine oil consumption rate is alarming going thru quarts or entire oil change in a week or two of driving depending how much it was driven. Audi has admitted the pistons are at fault along with piston rings. It is unsafe and can cause engine to seize up and lose control which can lead to dangerous situations or accidents. I was never informed with a class action settlement from Audi. I have lived at the same address for 21 years. I never received a letter from Audi of the class action settlement due to oil consumption.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 12/01/2025

To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this communication to you per an attorney referral. I have an Audi that was included in the Turbo Class Action Lawsuit. See [XXX] My VIN was included in the lawsuit. The lawsuit was won on December 4th 2025. The class action lawsuit only covers and reimburses consumers who had paid out of pocket (prior to a certain date) expenses incurred fixing the Turbo. I have a letter from a Master Mechanic who is saying my engine problems are due to the turbo being bad however, I have not had the issue fixed. The class action lawsuit does not cover consumers who have not had the Turbo fixed or replaced. Please advise on what I should do or refer me to the appropriate person who can guide me through this process. My vehicle is not under warranty and although the class action lawsuit was won, there is no recall issued at this time. See attached. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 12/01/2025

The vehicle emits a smell of fuel into the cabin of the car, and if the windows are up, this makes the driver sleepy and could cause a crash. It does not read fuel levels properly. The car has been taken to Butler, who said they could not find a problem. It was then taken to Audi Agusta (Gerald Jones), they replaced a fuel line that had to be correctly tigheted by another servicer Autobahn Automotive in Augusta Ga. That all happened in October and November of 2025. It is December 2025 with the same issue and no correction at this point.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 10/15/2025

In 4/2024 car wouldn’t start. Took to Audi for new battery and was told Water pump failed so it was replaced with delays. In 3/2025 noticed no heat and car took a long time to warm up. Took back to dealership replaced thermostat. Still no heat so I was told ok to drive but need to flush heater core to fix heat issue for $3500. Started my car on 8/14/2025 had multiple lights come on dash (lights, brake, TPMs, epc, and brake fluid) so I turned off. Took to mechanic for inspection told something strange different codes instructed to take to dealer. On 10/8/2025 took back to Audi for evaluation and first they stated my fuse box panel was slightly melted couldn’t code read. Ordered part, 2 weeks, and would be $2,000 for repairs. On 10/15/2025 they state I have Coolant migration from over flow and it would be $35,000 for repairs which exceeds vehicle worth to buy another. Have not experienced any coolant loss since water pump failed and was replaced in 2024.

STRUCTURE — Filed 04/10/2025

Owned car for 4 years. Car has a panoramic sunroof in two sections. rear section is glass and does not move. Front section is glass and does actuate. On [XXX]. All was fine. Driving on smooth highway, [XXX (at XXX]. No other vehicles within site behind or in front around me). Sunroof was 100% closed the entire trip. Suddenly my front (moveable segment) of the sunroof literally exploded, raining glass all over me. I maintained control of the vehicle and arrived at work 20 min later. Was able to take photos when the sun came up. No apparent cause. I found no other debris in the car except the glass. No vehicles were around me at the time. Temperature was high 50s that morning. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE — Filed 06/28/2024

Had pistons and rings replaced by Audi dealership. After repairs were completed my car was burning through excessive amounts of oil. The engine seized while I was driving on highway. A replacement engine was installed after that by Audi. Now have clusters lights on dash after picking up car from the dealership. My car was not listed in class action lawsuit. I want to know why? When all of the repairs were what was in the lawsuit.

ENGINE — Filed 09/22/2024

I was driving through Franconia Notch on [XXX] when my engine suddenly started to slow down my speed I was on a part of highway that had no pull off and was one lane divided highway. I was no longer able to able to maintain a speed over 40 mph and no where to pull off put me in a dangerous situation. I did eventually make it out of the notch but not after a few miles. I took it to an Audi verified dealer and was told (I have a video) that this was due to a spontaneous consumption of oil event which is a known problem and needs a new engine. I contacted Audi and they said my car year was not included in the class action lawsuit and would not cover my engine and should become included I would be notified by mail. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — Filed 08/12/2024

My Audi Q3 was in repair at Audi Spokane WA for an issue with the steering wheel, horn and airbag. I had it inspected at a shop in Moscow ID who diagnosed the damage as the Wheel Clock Spring. Lux Auto Hause advised that I contact Audi Dealership and stated the clock spring is under warranty. I made the next available appt with the dealership because Audi required my vehicle to be inspected at the dealership in Spokane WA before covering a warranty repair. The dealership is approximately 150 miles away and Audi stated in their letter that my Q3 had to meet qualifying factors for the warranty repair which were passenger airbag light that stays on and steering wheel controls not working. Audi covered the warranty repair and returned my Q3 with the steering wheel controls broken and Audi damaged my cruise control. I could hear plastic pieces in my vehicle steering wheel. I requested that they reinspect the supposed repair and waited for another 4 hours at the dealership. Audi did nothing about the damage and insisted it is damage from something else. Audi stated 2 times…we cleared the passenger airbag light which seemed to be their only concern. Audi left me with my vehicle seriously damaged, they did not repair the steering wheel or the hand controls and damaged my ability to drive my Audi with the cruise control. I filed a complaint with Audi in MI and they did not initiate a repair for the damage they caused my Audi Q3. When I attempted to provide the diagnostic from Lux Auto Hause that proved my cruise control did not have an error code prior to being at Audi- they ignored me. Lux Auto Hause is 1 of 2 Authorized European repairers in my area. I have had successful repairs completed there and can’t understand why Audi would be negligent when I can prove the damage didn’t exist prior to the clock spring breaking. My Audi Q3 steering, hand controls and after being at the dealer-my cruise control. Is this something the NHTSA can investigate?

SUSPENSION — Filed 06/11/2024

Drivers rear wishbone control arm has a baseball seize hole corrosion. Passenger rear wishbone has surface cracks. Significant safety consern if driver rear wishbone failed while driving . Dealer recommended not to drive vehicle replacement of the component is required

ENGINE — Filed 08/30/2023

The Audi dealership in Tysons Corner VA is denying to repair a known flaw that has resulted in Failed emissions. This is a constant struggle with the VW brand, kindly help how to resolve. The following are attached a) The emissions failure report from DEQ with the CEL code P2015 b) Technical service bulletin that details that repair and how it should be covered c) The extended warranty d) EPA guidance on their website of coverage for this issue (pic attached) These dealerships are making a lot of money while not fixing emissions problems that they are causing global warming.

VISIBILITY — Filed 04/25/2023

The contact's wife owns a 2016 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the rearview mirror detached. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was determined that the rearview mirror needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,465.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — Filed 06/05/2022

My vehicle's Airbag clock spring control unit has failed and does not work. This happened in June 2022. This part controls my airbag, my horn, vehicle display unit and other functions like the radio controls along with navigation. I had this confirmed by my local car repair shop. There is currently an air bag warning light illuminated which has been on consistently since June 2022. My horn does not work and has not worked since June 2022. Just prior to this failure the steering wheel made a plastic like crinkling noise. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Audi Services has indicated in email and over the phone that this part is indefinitely on back order. Without this fixed the car will not pass my state's inspection requirements. I have also been informed that this clock spring control unit is the same part used in the recall that VW Tiguans currently have.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 11/01/2021

My rear lights are not working properly. I had a malfunction warning and for the right rear light. Which is making all the lights not functioning. It almost had me rear ended.

TIRES — Filed 08/08/2021

255/40 R19 100H Rear driver side tire spontaneously blew while parked. Tire side wall shows about 1.5 inch linear mark with irregular border (not cut by a person but occurred naturally). Also has a near by person's dash cam video showing gun like "pop" sound when the tire blew spontaneously.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 07/29/2021

Failure of seal between injector and fuel rail caused fuel to be sprayed into engine compartment. I believe the injector seal was damaged during a prior service. Fuel sprayed onto the front of the engine and gasoline fumes filled cabin. Check engine light came on after engine died from lack of fuel. Safety issue is the accumulation of gasoline in the engine compartment & the car continues to pump fuel. No apparent safety measure to cut off fuel when excessive fuel is being delivered to engine. I repaired vehicle, but only replaced the bad o-ring and another o-ring that appeared to be damaged. I left the other 2 o-rings in place. I couldn't find a contact for Audi that could address my concern. My concern is the design. The seal between the fuel rail and the injector is a pressure fit seal. If the o-ring seal fails, fuel sprays out through the failure point into the engine compartment. Fumes in the engine compartment could be ignited by the sparks inside the starter or other electro-mechanical switching that generates sparks. Vehicle is available for inspection.

SEAT BELTS — Filed 07/19/2021

Passenger-side rear seat belt buckle (latch) no longer secures the seat belt tongue (latch plate). Repeated attempts were made to engage the tongue and reset the buckle with no success. Seat is currently unusable.

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/06/2021

MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON , SCAN SAYS THAT IGNITER IS SHORTING TOO GROUND, PASSANGER SIDE ISSUE Q3 'S ARE BUILT ON THE A3 PLATFORM AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE A3 AIRBAG RECALL 2015-2019

WHEELS — Filed 03/03/2021

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR LOSES CONTROL AND IS FISHTAILING. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND PULL OFF THE ROAD AT AN EXIT RAMP. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT. I DO NOT RECALL RUNNING OVER ANYTHING OR HEARING A POP, THE TIRE SIMPLY EXPLODED. THE TIRES ARE CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCONTACT 255/40/19. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR DID NOT INDICATE LOW PRESSURE BEFORE THE BLOWOUT OR FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) — Filed 08/14/2020

CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING. LIGHT,BRAKE, SEAT LIGHT,SYSTEM LIGHT,TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT, STEERING LIGHT, EVERYTHING IS MALFUNCTION INCLUDING THE BATTERY LIFHT,LIGHT, UT WOULDN'T START,HAD THE BATTERY REPLACE AND ALL THE LIGHTS STILL ON ON THE VEHICLE. AFAID TO DRIVE IT THAT IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. WOULD NOT START SITTING HAD TO JUMP IT TO GET HOME.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 02/05/2020

OCCASIONAL SHORTAGE IN TURN SIGNAL AND BREAK LIGHTS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 10/21/2019

I WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED FIRE/SMOKE FROM THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS THE START OF A FIRE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE MMI SCREEN. THE CONNECTION FOR PHONE GOT CHOPPY BUT DID NOT GO OUT COMPLETELY.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 08/16/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY AND WOULD CONSTANTLY DECELERATE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES OFTEN. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI DOMINION (21105 I-10, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78257, (888) 478-2089) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. DURING THE THIRD REPAIR, THE DEALER BROKE ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. SINCE THEN, THE FAILURES RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 11/01/2017

THE RADIO TO THE VEHICLE BECOMES NON-OPERATIONAL INTERMITTENTLY, I.E. THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS. START THE CAR IN THE MORNING, AND NOTICED NO RADIO, AND LOSS OF VOLUME CONTROL. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE RADIO BECOMES FUNCTIONAL, AND THE VOLUME CONTROL IS ENABLED. THIS HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER RECENTLY IT HAS BECOME AN ANNOYANCE, AND DISTRACTING. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS PARKED NIGHTLY IN A GARAGE, AND THIS OCCURS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN A STATIONARY POSITION, AND CONTINUES DURING BACKUP OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND MOVING FORWARD ONTO THE STREET.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 10/02/2017

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED TWICE WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR HAD TO TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME WE COULD JUMP IT AND DRIVE IT THERE AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR CURRENT LEAKAGE AFFECTING Q3S. I BROUGHT MY CONCERN TO AUDI BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN MY GARAGE AND WOULD NOT START. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN DURING THE DAY. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE CAR IS 2 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS OLD.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 10/03/2016

BACKUP CAMERA AND ALARM SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE RESULTING IN BACK-UP COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR, NO PERSONAL INJURIES. OWNER WAS NOT WARNED ABOUT DELAYS IN CAMERA/ALARM ACTIVATION AT DEALER ORIENTATION. OWNERS MANUAL PROVIDES NO SUCH WARNINGS. P 87 OF MANUAL, LAST ITEM UNDER "INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM" MENTIONS POSSIBLE DELAY IN CAMERA ACTIVATION. NO WARNING AT ALL ABOUT DELAY IN BACKUP ALARM ACTIVATION. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT PARKING LOT EXIT GATE. DRIVER LOOKED OVER SHOULDER AND IN MIRRORS, SAW NOTHING, ENGAGED REVERSE, SAW BLANK SCREEN, NO WARNING ALARM, BACKED INTO ANOTHER CAR WHICH WAS BELOW VISIBILITY BUT DIRECTLY IN RANGE OF BACKUP CAMERA AND ALARM, WHICH ACTIVATED ON IMPACT. DEALER REPAIRED MY CAR AS COURTESY. AUDI CORP CLAIMED NO PRODUCT DEFECT DESPITE FACTS AS ABOVE, SUPPORTED BY DOCUMENTATION INCLUDING STATEMENT BY DRIVER MY CAR AND OTHER CAR. ACTUAL DEFECTS AS ESTABLISHED ARE : DELAYS IN ACTIVATION OF BACK UP CAMERA AND ALARM SYSTEM, AND FAILURE TO WARN OWNER/DRIVER BY DEALER AND OWNERS MANUAL. DEALER WAS RESPONSIVE. AUDI CORP REACTION WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF PARENT VW OF NA WITH EMISSION CONTROL ISSUE, DENYING DEFECT UTIL CONFRONTED WITH CONCLUSIVE PROOF. DANGERS TO CARS OR CHILDREN BEHIND BACKING VEHICLE ARE OBVIOUS GIVEN REASONABLE RELIANACE ON BACKUP CAMERA/ALARM. DRIVER WAS USED TO A VW JETTA (SAME CORP PRODUCT) FOR WHICH CAMERA AND ALARM SYSTEMS ACTIVATE IMMEDIATELY WHEN CAR PLACED IN REVERSE.