2015 Audi Q3 Problems & Complaints

Averageabout as many complaints as a typical year of the Q3 at the same age

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 2015 Audi Q3 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Q3 at the same age. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling (8 complaints, typically around 51,000 miles). 2 recalls cover this model year.

24complaints
2recalls
0crashes
0fires
1injuries
0deaths

Most common 2015 Audi Q3 problems

  • Engine & cooling~51,000 miles
    833%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~110,000 miles
    521%
  • Suspension~59,000 miles
    521%
  • Other / not specified~27,000 miles
    313%
  • Air bags~86,000 miles
    313%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~9,000 miles
    28%
  • Steering~36,000 miles
    28%
  • Electrical system~85,000 miles
    28%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    28%
  • Lights~5,000 miles
    14%
  • Body & structure~78,000 miles
    14%
  • Locks & latches~77,000 miles
    14%
  • Driver assistance
    14%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    14%

Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Audi Q3 complaints by model year

2015201620172018201920202021202220242026242882610661534186
Owner complaints per model year, Audi Q3. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Q3 years: 2017, 2019. Years to avoid: 2020, 2022, 2024, 2016, 2018. Compare all years →

2015 Audi Q3 recalls (2)

Exterior lighting

NHTSA recall 16V-642 · Sep 6, 2016 · 79,895 vehicles

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.

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.

Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly

NHTSA recall 15V-200 · Apr 3, 2015 · 3,646 vehicles

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.

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.

What 2015 Audi Q3 owners say

Engine & cooling

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.

86,000 miles · Nov 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q3. The contact stated that the front driver's side air bag was replaced under recall in November 2022. The contact stated that one month after the recall repair was completed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

50,000 miles · Dec 2022

Fuel & propulsion system

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 the faulty manifold and a previous oil overfill incident at a certified dealership (Chapman Audi of Tucson). …

Mar 2026

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 history dating back to 2021 of recurring engine oil consumption concerns, fuel contamination of engine oil, and high-pressure fuel pump failure - all serviced at authorized dealerships. …

May 2026

Suspension

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.

59,000 miles · Oct 2023

I was driving and the car went out of control. I had the steering wheel straight, but the rear end started to fishtail in and out of the oncoming lane of traffic. As this happened I had to quickly jerk the steering wheel to get it out of the other lane of oncoming traffic. I had to slow down to 10 mph to get home with the flashers on, all the while it continued to swerve both left and right on it's own. We had the vehicle towed to the Audi dealership (Mohegan Lake Audi) and they said the rear control arms cracked. They say it rusted through causing it to crack. It has not been inspected by anyone else. No warning lights or other indication this would happen. It simply went from normal in-control driving to a car that drove uncontrolled. …

Mar 2023

2015 Audi Q3 engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.0L 4-cyl turbo6-speed automaticAWD20 / 28 / 23
2.0L 4-cyl turbo6-speed automaticFWD20 / 28 / 23

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Audi Q3 a good car?

Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Q3 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Q3 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Audi Q3?

The engine & cooling — 8 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (5) and suspension (5).

How many recalls does the 2015 Audi Q3 have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2015 Audi Q3, the most recent from September 6, 2016 (exterior lighting). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Audi Q3?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2022, 2024, 2016 and 2018. See the full Audi Q3 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2015 Audi Q3 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 51,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.