CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2015 Audi Q3

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

22

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Audi Q3 have filed 22 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2015 and May 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 8 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 51,000 miles, the median across the 15 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

16V642000 · September 6, 2016

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 TT roadster, A3 cabriolet, A3 sedan and A3 e-tron, 2016-2017 TT coupe, 2017 A4 sedan and Q7 and 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97CB.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 79,895 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

15V200000 · April 3, 2015

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Audi Q3 vehicles manufactured April 4, 2014, to November 5, 2014. If the vehicle is turned off while the sunroof is closing, the sunroof may continue to close instead of stopping. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
The risk
If the sunroof is closing while the vehicle is shut off and a vehicle occupant is in its path, there is an increased risk of injury.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the sunroof control module software, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60C1.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 3,646 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 22.

ENGINE 8 36%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 23%
AIR BAGS 3 14%
SUSPENSION 3 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 9%
POWER TRAIN 2 9%
STEERING 2 9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 5%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 1 5%
STRUCTURE 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 4.

2015 2020 2026
2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 78,000 miles

ON THE PASSENGER DOOR, THE ALUMINUM WRAP THAT COVERS THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE USED BEGAN TO PEEL AT THE CREASE. WHEN I REACHED TO OPEN MY PASSENGER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, THE ALUMINUM DEEPLY CUT MY FINGER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF.

NHTSA complaint 11378350. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

towed · 59,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to rusted rear trailing arms, bolts, shocks, and coil springs. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint 11551041. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Vehicle: 2015 Audi Q3 | Engine: 2.0L TFSI 4-Cylinder Turbo Component: Engine Complaint Description: While driving on the interstate at highway speed, the red oil pressure warning light illuminated suddenly and without prior warning. The standard low oil level warning light did NOT illuminate prior to the failure. Oil level was verified as correct and within specification at the time of failure. The vehicle suffered a complete and catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation and rod knock, despite a verified proper oil level and oil pressure. The engine requires full replacement. This failure occurred at only 3,432 miles since the most recent oil change. The vehicle has a documented

NHTSA complaint 11741103, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I am reporting that authorized dealer Audi Knoxville (Harper Auto Square) is KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY attempting to force me to operate an unsafe vehicle. Following an intake manifold repair, the dealership’s service staff identified carbon buildup and fouled spark plugs as a necessary repair, while the manufacturer (Audi of America) has reclassified it as 'maintenance' to avoid coverage. Because this critical 'top-end' work remains incomplete, the vehicle is at high risk for catastrophic stalling at highway speeds. Despite this, the dealership refuses to sign a safety certification for the vehicle. Under threat of property auction and a 48-hour ultimatum to seize my loaner car, they are

NHTSA complaint 11736168, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Vehicle experiences sudden, intermittent loss of motive power, severe engine hesitation, and stalling while operating at highway speeds. Diagnostic scans confirm fault codes P2015 and P0341, indicating a failure of the intake manifold position sensor and camshaft position correlation. These mechanical failures, combined with extreme carbon buildup on the valves, create a hazardous operating condition where the vehicle cannot maintain safe speeds in high-traffic environments. The manufacturer (Audi) has acknowledged the intake manifold failure—which is a known defect under an extended 120,000-mile warranty—but refuses to remediate the consequential engine damage (carbon buildup) caused by

NHTSA complaint 11731952, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My Audi Q3 2015 started with The TPMS on and the traction skid symbol also lit up on dashboard. I brought it to Audi of Warwick, Rhode Island and they did a diagnostic testing on it and found that it was the all-wheel-drive control module on a lot of 2015 Q3 is just like mine had recalls on that same part in my car only has 80,000 miles on it and at 49,000 miles or 50,000. The whole turbo went on that car and had to be replaced.. I feel that the all-wheel-drive control module [XXX] and went on a car with 80,000 miles on it. That’s only driven 15 to 30 miles a day or not even every day. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11687951. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

80,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q3. The contact stated that the horn became inoperable and additionally, the hand controls were not functioning as needed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The horn was also inoperable. The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint 11599198. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

85,600 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil light remained illuminated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who confirmed that the vehicle was experiencing an abnormal oil consumption. The mechanic performed an oil change however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the controls on the steering wheel were inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel air bag was inoperable due to the electrical shortage in the steering wheel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,600.

NHTSA complaint 11574275. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi Q3

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 17 2
2022 32 5
2021 14 2
2020 64 2
2019 10 3
2018 26 1
2016 28 3

Other 2015 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 147 vehicles, 216 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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