2018 Audi Q3 Problems
Compared with other Audi Q3 years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
0/100 0.2× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.2× that of a typical Audi Q3 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 5 of its 26 complaints were filed by the end of 2020.
- Most reported part: Engine (7 complaints, median 42,000 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 26filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 19,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 23 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 28 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Audi Q3 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2018 Audi Q3. The part named most often is engine, with 7 complaints (27% of the total), followed by other or unknown (7) and electrical system (6). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 78% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 19,000 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 588 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 25 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 73 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 3 Audi Q3 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine7 27%
- Other or unknown7 27%
- Electrical system6 23%
- Air bags4 15%
- Tires2 7.7%
- Brakes1 3.9%
- Fuel system1 3.9%
- Steering1 3.9%
- Wheels1 3.9%
Example complaints
Engine: “My car stalled. I could not moved the car. Mobile Mechanic came saw the alternator belt was broke. He repaired the Belt and Alternator. When he started the car, smoke and loud squeal came from engine. He immediately shut it off. The car has less than 60k miles. I have not driven the car as much due to travel.”
NHTSA complaint #11531020, filed 2023-07Other or unknown: “I was driving on the freeway at dusk at 50mph when the sunroof in my Q3 spontaneously exploded into a million pieces and rained glass down on me. I was unharmed and able to exit, but it could have caused a major accident as it was a tremendously loud and startling event. Audi determined that there was no projectile that caused the breakage and are replacing it as being under warranty .”
NHTSA complaint #11145136, filed 2018-11, 8,500 milesElectrical system: “CPO with 20k miles that I bought back on August 25, 2021 from Audi. It is equipped with push/start. Vehicle won't start. I have tried to use both key-fob with fresh brand new battery. Did not work I even checked to see if the battery was good. Still it won't start. I ran my scanner got a U0101 Loss communication to TCM (Transmission Control Module). I had Audi came with a flat bed to pick up the vehicle on January 24, 2022 (Vehicle have around 26k miles). …”
NHTSA complaint #11450718, filed 2022-02Air bags: “noticed a clicking sound in the steering column that was intermittent; after a week, the airbag light lit up and stayed lit ... per the manual, contacted Audi immediately for service. Was told it was a clock spring module and that it would take a few weeks for the part to come in. I was also told that the airbag would likely not activate in a crash ... they could not guarantee it would also not automatically just deploy. It has now been over 2 months and the service department at Audi has told me that they have no idea when that part will be available. …”
NHTSA complaint #11445347, filed 2021-12Mileage when problems were reported
78% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,500 and 42,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2018 Audi Q3 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 20 | 28 | 23 | $3,550 |
| Q3 quattro AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 20 | 28 | 23 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 19V385000May 23, 2019Exterior lighting › Turn signalCovers: Audi Q3 2016–2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Audi Q3 vehicles equipped with LED headlights. An inoperable front turn signal may not illuminate an indicator, failing to alert the driver to the issue. As such, these vehicles fail to…
Recall details for the 2018 Audi Q3 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 588 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038130Sep 25, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
- 11038027Sep 25, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
- 11038042Sep 22, 2026Steering. This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
- 11038024Sep 22, 2026Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
- 11038056Sep 18, 2026Body and structure. This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.
- 11038025Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
- 11038143Sep 9, 2026Other or unknown. This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
- 11038033Sep 8, 2026Body and structure. This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
- 11038026Sep 8, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.
- 11036917Aug 26, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Other model years of the Audi Q3
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | — | 1 | — | 25 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 18 | 4,000 | 2 | 5 | 25 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 34 | 9,700 | 5 | — | 26 | 69 · More | Rising |
| 2021 | 15 | 80,500 | 3 | 5 | 25 | — | Rising |
| 2020 | 66 | 1,937 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 89 · More | Falling |
| 2019 | 10 | 6,550 | 4 | 5 | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 26 | 19,000 | 1 | — | 23 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2017 | 8 | 19,604 | 3 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 2016 | 29 | 25,000 | 3 | — | 23 | 14 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2015 | 24 | 51,000 | 2 | — | 23 | — | Stable |
All Audi Q3 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Audi Q3 have?
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2018 Audi Q3 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2018 Audi Q3 is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 7 complaints (27% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 7.
Has the 2018 Audi Q3 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi Q3 get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Audi Q3 (Q3, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Audi Q3 reported?
Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 19,000 miles and the middle half falls between 8,500 and 42,000 miles; 78% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.