The 2016 Audi Q3 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 127,890 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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 comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
Consequence
Without an indicator informing the driver of an inoperable turn signal, the driver may turn or change lanes without a signal, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module (BCM), free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97DK.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Audi Q3 vehicles. If the parking brake is used during emergency braking, the brake lights on the vehicle will not activate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps,…
Consequence
A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6.
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…
Consequence
If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
1crashes1fires
ENGINE
7
AIR BAGS
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
STEERING
2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
SEAT BELTS
1
SEATS
1
Total complaints38
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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%…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Audi Q3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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