Used Car Checklists

2018 Audi Q3: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, engine, and airbags. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

Audi Q32018
Owner complaints
25
Recalls
1
Crashes reported
0
Reliability
Good
74/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Run the VIN before you go

A history report shows accidents, title brands, odometer readings, and open recalls for this 2018 Audi Q3. Ask the seller for the VIN; it is also on the dash at the base of the windshield.

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/9 checked

1

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3

2

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/1

3

Cold start, engine bay, and underside

Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2

4

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Which Q3 is it?

EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Audi Q3. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.

VersionDriveEPA rating
2.0L 4-cylAWD, FWD23 mpg
  • Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Q3 that averages well under the EPA 23 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Audi Q3, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

  • Electrical5No crashes

    Steering wheel buttons stop working and the airbag warning light comes on, a fault blamed on a failed clock spring. It can start out intermittent and become constant, which leaves drivers unsure whether the airbag will deploy in a crash. One case appears near 103,000 miles. Other reports describe a full air conditioning failure that needs a new compressor and condenser, a no-start with a lost-communication code to the transmission control module and a long dealer wait, and a backup camera that cuts out in reverse.

  • Engine4No crashes

    Stalling while driving is the main pattern. The engine loses power without warning, at speed or at an intersection, and may not restart, leaving the car stranded in traffic. A check engine light sometimes comes on first. In some cases dealers diagnose low compression or carbon build-up and call for engine repair or replacement. Reported stall mileages run from 9,600 to about 42,000. Separate complaints describe heavy oil consumption between changes and an oil pressure light that flickers on and off, with dealer repairs failing to fix it.

  • Airbags2No crashes

    The airbag warning light comes on and stays lit, often after an intermittent clicking from the steering column, and the steering wheel buttons stop working. The dealer points to the clock spring module and warns that the airbag may not deploy in a crash. Parts supply is the bigger problem in these reports: one repair sits for more than two months waiting on the clock spring, leaving the car with a disabled airbag in the meantime. One report puts the onset at 66,000 miles.

  • Wheels and tires2No crashes

    Sudden blowouts and slow pressure loss hit the factory Continental ProContact tires. The tire pressure monitor sometimes flags a low rear tire first, along with a humming noise from the back of the car. Inspections turn up quarter-sized holes or a 3-inch gash in the inner sidewall. Rear tires are involved more than once. A blowout at speed carries a risk of losing control, though drivers in these reports pull over safely. The cause of the damage is not determined.

In owners' own words

Excerpts from complaints Q3 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.

Electrical
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.

Filed with NHTSA, February 2024

Electrical
My 2018 Audi Q3 had a defective clock spring which caused the buttons on the steering wheel to not work and the airbag to not work. This is apparently a known issue with certain volkswagen manufactured clock springs and there is a recall on the VW cars and not on the Audi.

Filed with NHTSA, May 2023

Airbags
Steering wheel clicking and accessories and functions not working along with airbag (malfunction) light illuminated on 2018 Audi Q3 with 66,000 miles.

Filed with NHTSA, February 2024

How the 2018 compares with other Q3 years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2018 ranks third for owner complaints among 8 Q3 years, about 1.3 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2018 Average of other years
  • Electrical55
  • Engine40
  • Airbags20
  • Wheels and tires20

Where the 2018 fits in the Q3's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2018 is the fourth model year of the Q3's first generation (2015–2018).

It includes the 2015 update.

What changed for 2015

  • New front grille design
  • Modified air intakes
  • Updated LED headlights and taillights
  • Revised engine options

Recalls to confirm (1)

Recall repairs are free at any Audi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

  1. 19V385000Exterior lightsMay 2019

    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.

Also looking at these instead of a Q3?

Cars shoppers compare with the Audi Q3, with their own 2018 checklists.

2018 owner complaints, side by side