2021 Audi Q3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2021 Audi Q3, and owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2021 Audi Q3
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Steering
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…
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Storage (fuel system)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Audi Q3 vehicles. The vent pipe within the fuel tank may have been damaged during fuel tank assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the internal vent pipe for damage and replace the charcoal canister and the fuel tank, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2022. Owners may contact…
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Seat belts and retractor (seat belts)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe,…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…
15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Audi Q3 have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 80,500 miles. Complaints peaked in 2023 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 17, 2026 · Steering
“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q3. The contact stated while attempting to refuel the vehicle, fuel spilled out of the filler neck and fell onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to dealer, where it was”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 3, 2026 · Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Audi Q3 (Q3 S-line quattro, Q3 quattro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–22 / 28–30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
Compare Audi Q3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi Q3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Audi Q3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 Audi Q3 | 2 | 23 |
| 2016 Audi Q3 | 3 | 28 |
| 2017 Audi Q3 | 3 | 8 |
| 2018 Audi Q3 | 1 | 26 |
| 2019 Audi Q3 | 4 | 10 |
| 2020 Audi Q3 | 3 | 65 |
| 2021 Audi Q3 | 3 | 15 |
| 2022 Audi Q3 | 5 | 33 |
| 2023 Audi Q3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2024 Audi Q3 | 2 | 18 |
| 2025 Audi Q3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2026 Audi Q3 | 1 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2021 Audi Q3
How do I know if my 2021 Audi Q3 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2021 Audi Q3; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V606000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Audi models
- A42,895 complaints
- A61,658 complaints
- Q51,342 complaints
- Q71,047 complaints
- A3731 complaints
- S4588 complaints
- A5325 complaints
- TT319 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.