Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Audi Q3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving on a highway at 65 miles per hour, it was a rental car and the car automatically short stopped by itself and i was unable to move it. the dashboard lights looked like they were blinking and then my car was hit from behind
Please investigate the 2020 Audi Q3 and issue a recall - this is a major driver safety issue. I purchased this vehicle new from the Audi Crown Clearwater, FL dealership in late 2019. I am taking it for repair a THIRD time because after it rains, the interior gets flooded with water which pours into the car from the rear-view mirror area which affects driver visibility, lights, electrical components, and more. The water damage is visible and there is so much built-up saturation from the leak that it causes the interior touch lights to stay on. …
While waiting at a signal, i got at message that my maps could not continue because I had no power, then the park assist came on with no explanation. After that, I got the message to put the car in park to prevent it rolling away. I tried to restart, but it would not. As the signal changed and traffic had to move around me, I put on the emergency lights and continued to try to start the car. It took 3-4 tries. I then took it to the dealer who did an inspection and test drive, but nothing showed up. I was about to get on the freeway when this happened and worried about driving. Even after inspection of the vehicle, i am hesitant about driving on the freeway and worried about this happening again, this time with the engine in gear.
Rained. Got into my car and had water dripping down from the lights/dome of the car. Water was short circuiting the lights and they were turning on by themselves. Tried to turn them off but sensors wouldn't respond. Water was dripping down to the console where the start engine and other controls including the charging ports/wireless charging pad. Water also leaked from the front passenger side housing down to the floor. Occurred at 37.5k This has happened once before earlier in may. I called the dealership but were unable to help due to appt booked out a month. If they cannot reproduce the issue they won't fix it. Occurred first time at 35k
The sunroof in the Audi Q3 leaks and the water drops from the ceiling INTO the cabin. Water also comes through the passenger side panel and drips onto the floor causing flooding of the floorboards. This is a KNOWN issue and Audi has released a TSB (technical service bulletin) to attempt to fix these, but it's just a band aid. It keeps coming back over and over. Water intrudes into the center lights and they flicker and short out. Water drips from these lights into the center gearshift area and it is an extreme safety hazard. PLEASE force Audi to fix this and make it right with their customers. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL
There is a large flaw on these vehicles. The sunroof framing becomes damaged. This creates an issue of water leaking in the interior. It causes an electrical issue as well as creates a distracted driving environment. I was driving when this happened and I had to start controlling the water leaking from the roof of my vehicle. This is a large safety issue that Audi knows about and even has a technical documentation to repair this issue.
Rear hatch randomly operable / inoperable. "Reset" computer without success. Dangerous situation as anything inside hatch is not not accessible. Was told by Audi that the entire rear hatch latch system needs replacement and this is "a common issue"...
I purchased a 2020 Audi Q3 S-Line (VIN: [redacted] ) on [redacted], with 27,564 miles on it. I bought the vehicle from a dealership that specializes in high-end aftermarket cars, and they provided a maintenance report stating the vehicle had passed all inspections at the time of sale. The vehicle had been imported from Canada to the U.S., and the Carfax report reflected consistent maintenance at authorized Audi dealerships in Canada, including a full inspection and alternator/electrical system check roughly a year before my purchase - with no problems reported. In early July 2025, I began experiencing issues with the MMI system: A loud, persistent humming sound when using Bluetooth or the radio Audio glitches and failed system reboots No dashboard warnings or battery alerts After researching, I suspected a low-voltage or charging issue. …
When accelerating the vehicle jerks like it is losing power. It has done this on both the interstate and on regular roads in motion. I have had to pull to the side of the road in fear that the vehicle will stall on me. On several instances I have been driving the vehicle and several warning lights show up and then it will not accelerate at all. Thankfully I have been able to roll off of the road each of these times. Theres no warning or any indicators that come up prior to the car completing dying in the road. I took the car to the dealership and was told theres software issues but nothing they can do for it until an update comes out. I was told to turn off the auto shut off feature and it will work OK, but that has not helped. The vehicle is unsafe to drive because it could completely fail at any given moment without notice. After further research this is a known issue with 2020's. …
My 2020 Q3 purchased December 21, 2019 malfunctioned in the middle of an intersection January 22, 2020. It had 1400 miles on it. The steering wheel locked and I had no engine. I could not turn the steering wheel and it shut off the brake lights, which left me in a seriously unsafe situation. This was the third time it happened. The other two instances happened in a parking lot. I thought I had done something wrong with the start/stop. My dealership has dismissed my safety concerns and have offered no resolution to the problem, other than disengage the start/stop every time I get in the vehicle. There was no guarantee of when this would be fixed and was told it could be months to get the parts. There was also no guarantee that this wouldn't happen with the start/stop already disengaged. …
Electrical complaints in other Q3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2020 Audi Q3?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 Audi Q3, 33% of the model year's 66 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2020 Audi Q3 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2020 Audi Q3, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Audi Q3 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 2,000 miles, and 100% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.