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2018 Audi Q3 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2018 Audi Q3 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 26owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 11%fail the UK MOT
26 complaints, against an average of 21 for the other 10 Audi Q3 model years.
Every Audi Q3 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2018 Audi Q3?
The components named most often in the 26 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2018 Audi Q3 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 26 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2018 Audi Q3 been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Exterior Lighting: Turn Signal 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 Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Is the 2018 Audi Q3 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAFailure of the front led turn signal
Risk: A failure of the front LED turn signal may not always be detected in certain circumstances
Fix: A software update of the on-board supply control unit
EU Safety GateThe function control device of the Body Control Module (BCM) may be incorrectly configured.This may cause a malfunction of the front light-emitting diode (LED) turn signal lights (blinkers) without the required warning indicator (acoustic/optical), increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2018 Audi Q3 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2018, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2018 Audi Q3 owners report?
12 of the 26 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
On 5/18/2026 my wife left home to run an errand in our newly purchased 2018 Audi Q3. About 1-2 miles away from home, she experienced a strange sound coming from the engine bay, the car lost accelerating power, and the car displayed a warning message that the oil pressure was low and to stop operating the car. The power briefly returned, and she was able to safely return home. Thankfully, she hadn't gotten onto the highway, where the power loss could have caused loss of control of the car resulting in a crash that could have harmed her or others, perhaps fatally. After she returned, I used a…
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q3 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Conti ProContact, Tire Size: 255/40/19, DOT Number: (NA). While driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact experienced a blowout. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and replaced the tire. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. However, upon inspection, the contact found a hole the size of a quarter on the tire. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving approximately 20-30 MPH, the rear driver’s side tire sustained a blowout. The contact pulled over to the side of the road…
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a carbon build-up in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not…
Steering wheel clicking and accessories and functions not working along with airbag (malfunction) light illuminated on 2018 Audi Q3 with 66,000 miles.
The entire air conditioning system had to be replaced at the tune of $2422. The car is only 5 1/2 years old and it was not covered under warranty. I have researched this issue online and there are numerous people complaining about this very same issue. Why haven't a recall been campaigned? air /heat air compressor, condenser and A/C kit had to be replaced.
In 2020, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. extended the warranty on its transfer case for 2011 - 2018 Porsche Cayenne and Macan models. This was in response to what one article described as “[m]any Porsche Cayenne and Macan owners have experienced recurring problems with their 4wd transfer case. We have the issues and the symptoms, such as vibrations under acceleration, highlighted in our common problems section.” Porsche and Audi share vehicle architecture for SUV models. In an April 2017 press release, Porsche touted the fact that Audi and Porsche share architecture with respect to the two…
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.
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q3. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the steering wheel hand activated controls ceased functioning. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to control of the vehicle however, the contact was unsure if the air bags would deploy in the event of a crash. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become constant with the air bag warning light remaining illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The…
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q3. The contact stated that on numerous occasions, the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The contact then stated that while driving at undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the gas cylinder, fuel needed to be flushed and two unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was…
The steering wheel started to make a weird noise while turning the airbag light then came on the steering wheel buttons stopped working. Took the car to dealer and the clock spring was defective non working. This is a safety issue I paid 821.57 to fix this issue out of pocket. My car only has 50 k in mileage and the airbag would have not deployed if I was in an accident. This sounds like a safety issue needing a recall for this vehicle
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q3 equipped with Continental tires, Tire Line: ContiproContact, Tire Size: P225/40R/19, DOT Number: AF5WWA46 1717. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the tire pressure monitor indicated that the driver’s side rear tire pressure was low. The contact also had heard a humming noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled off the road into a service station and noticed that the rear driver’s side tire only had 20 PSI. The contact inflated the tire to 35 PSI and continued to his destination. The vehicle was taken to a tire…
THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF AUDI Q3 HAS POOR QUALITY BREAK PADS AND ROTORS, IF YOU LIVE NEAR THE OCEAN LIKE ME IN MIAMI BEACH, THE BREAKES GET DAMAGED AT ONLY 8,000 MILES INTERVALS AND THEY CAN FAIL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY HAVE FULLY WASHED THEIR HANDS. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RETAINING CLASS ACTION COUNSEL TO PURSUE CLASS ACTION LITIGATION.
2018 Audi Q3: questions owners ask
Is the 2018 Audi Q3 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi Q3; the most common categories were engine (7, 26.9%), electrical system (6, 23.1%), air bags (4, 15.4%). There is 1 safety recall.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi Q3?
Across 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (26.9% of complaints), electrical system (23.1% of complaints), air bags (15.4% of complaints), tires (7.7% of complaints), fuel system (3.8% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2018 Audi Q3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2018 Audi Q3; the most recent (campaign 19V385000, 2019-05-23) concerns Exterior Lighting: Turn Signal. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2018 Audi Q3 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
6 of the 26 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Audi Q3 (23.1%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11531020, July 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Can the sunroof on the 2018 Audi Q3 shatter or fail?
4 of the 26 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Audi Q3 (15.4%) describe the sunroof or panoramic roof shattering, exploding or failing. One owner wrote: "Heard a loud exploding sound while driving down the street. Quickly realized that the sunroof exploded and shattered on it own. No impact and nothing fell on it. Just a random explosion." (NHTSA complaint 11552312, October 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Audi Q3?
3 of the 26 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Audi Q3 (11.5%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "My daughter was driving with her brother and a friend and stopped at an intersection on red signal. The car stopped and would not start." (NHTSA complaint 11521999, May 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2018 Audi Q3?
3 of the 26 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Audi Q3 (11.5%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. One owner wrote: "The steering wheel started to make a weird noise while turning the airbag light then came on the steering wheel buttons stopped working. Took the car to dealer and the clock spring was defective non working." (NHTSA complaint 11494918, November 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Q3
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2018 only.