Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2021 Audi Q3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Loss of Steering Control from Bolt Failure
- 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.
Fuel Tank Vent Pipe May Be Damaged
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- A damaged vent pipe may allow fuel to spill out of the filler neck when the fuel cap is opened, increasing the risk of an injury.
- 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 Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20DS.
Seat Belt Locking Retractor Malfunction/FMVSS 208
- Summary
- 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, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence
- An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- 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 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (15)
15 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The fuel/propulsion system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 26.7% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 20% |
| Engine | 3 | 20% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 13.3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 13.3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 6.7% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 6.7% |
| Lane departure | 1 | 6.7% |
| Seats | 1 | 6.7% |
How 2021 compares with other Q3 years
Best and worst Q3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 | 3 |
| 2018 | 26 | 1 |
| 2019 | 10 | 4 |
| 2020 | 65 | 3 |
| 2021 | 15 | 3 |
| 2022 | 33 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 |
| 2024 | 18 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 |
| 2026 | 5 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Audi Q3 suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 350 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 30 / 25 | $2,700 | 350 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 384 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Q3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Audi Q3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Audi Q3 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 26V590000 (steering), 22V673000 (fuel system), 21V606000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Audi Q3 problems?
Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Fuel/propulsion system (4), Electrical system (3), Engine (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Audi Q3 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Audi Q3 get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Audi Q3 suv awd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (16.4% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Q3 compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Audi Q3 model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (8) and the 2020 the most (65). The 2021 drew 15. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.