2019 Audi Q3 recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
4 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Steering
What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling one 2019 Audi Q3 vehicle. Production deviation in the belt pully can prevent the circlip from properly engaging the steering rack.
What could happen: The circlip can detach and catch on surrounding components, causing the steering system to lock and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace the steering rack, free of charge. The recall was completed February 28, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 48P7.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2019 Q3.
- Book a repair at any authorized Audi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 21V027000 (manufacturer code 48P7).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-253-2834.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STEERING:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling one 2019 Audi Q3 vehicle. Production deviation in the belt pully can prevent the circlip from properly engaging the steering rack.
Consequence: The circlip can detach and catch on surrounding components, causing the steering system to lock and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace the steering rack, free of charge. The recall was completed February 28, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 48P7.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
2. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. The passenger air bag may not properly deploy through the instrument panel tear seam.
What could happen: In the event of a crash, the passenger air bag may not properly deploy and inflate, and small plastic parts may enter the cabin, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the instrument panel and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 10, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70H7.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2019 Q3.
- Book a repair at any authorized Audi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 20V273000 (manufacturer code 70H7).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-822-2834.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q3 vehicles. The passenger air bag may not properly deploy through the instrument panel tear seam.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the passenger air bag may not properly deploy and inflate, and small plastic parts may enter the cabin, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the instrument panel and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 10, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70H7.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
3. Wheels / tires
What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
What could happen: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2019 Q3.
- Book a repair at any authorized Audi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 22V815000 (manufacturer code (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
4. Steering
What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. 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.
What could happen: A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involv…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2019 Q3.
- Book a repair at any authorized Audi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 26V590000 (manufacturer code 48LG and 48VT).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-893-5298.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STEERING
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.
Notes:
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Digital tire pressure gauge
- 2019 Audi Q3 owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (3), Engine (2), Fuel system (2), Body / structure (1), Lights (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
04/24/2025 · Body / structure
The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q3. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving while it was raining, the contact felt water dripping on her. The contact stated had observed water dripping from the sunroof panel in three places to the gear shift, and the passenger’s and driver’s seats and the floorboard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired…
02/11/2023 · Electrical system
After multiple attempts to have my 2019 Audi Q3 repaired the vehicle is still sitting at Audi of Columbia with the following issues (leaking water, drainage system is compromised, mold in the roof lining, sunroof is leaking).
11/18/2022 · Fuel system
Vehicle stalls even while actively engaged in driving. Audi diagnosed performing as designed and advised nothing that they can do until diagnosed as “not performing as designed”. Poses imminent crash issue as vehicle will stall at any time. Please investigate. I am terrified to drive the car from place to place.
07/15/2022 · Forward Collision Avoidance
While driving, Audi Pre sense warning illuminated on dash, then emergency braking occurred while seatbelt tightened. There were no other cars around (neither in front or on the side) I did not hit anything in the street. Safety put at risk from unnecessary braking. Thankfully no cars were behind me. This did startle me but I maintained proper control of the…
04/22/2022 · Fuel system
Vehicle fuel pump fails intermittently even while actively engaged in driving. Engine stalled while driving putting me at risk for an accident. Issue was hard to diagnose because the fault would clear after an episode and reappear 300-400 miles after being driven again. Check engine light appears and then after allowing car to sit for a few hours, the car w…
01/05/2021 · Unknown Or Other
WITH NO WARNING CAR DIED ON THE FREEWAY IN THE RAIN "DRIVE SYSTEM FAILURE". CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.
11/23/2020 · Transmission / drivetrain
WHILE ON THE ROAD, ON THE FIRST MONTH OF DRIVING THE CAR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 2-5 MPH WITH A NOTE ON THE DASH SCREEN TO CALL SERVICE. I CRAWLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. GAS PEDAL AND BREAKS NOT WORKING, PULLING THE EMERGENCY PARK BUTTON TO STOP THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO AUDI SERVICE IN FAIRFIELD CT FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND F…
06/24/2020 · Electrical system
ON THREE OCCASIONS, TOUCHSCREEN FAILED TO TURN ON PREVENTING REVERSE CAMERA FROM ACTIVATING. SCREEN STAYED BLANK OR WAS UNRESPONSIVE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION -- SWITCHING IN AND OUT OF REVERSE DID NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. *TR