Representative model. Photo: RL GNZLZ from Chile, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2021 Audi Q3 recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2021 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 15
Latest campaign: Sep 11, 2026

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Steering	1	Sep 11, 2026	26V590000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Sep 8, 2022	22V673000
Seat belts	1	Aug 5, 2021	21V606000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Sep 11, 2026Latest campaign


Sep 11, 202626V590000	Steering A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V590000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 26V590000 · Sep 11, 2026
Sep 8, 202222V673000	Fuel system, gasoline: storage 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. DetailsHide details for campaign 22V673000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 22V673000 · Sep 8, 2022
Aug 5, 202121V606000	Seat belts: rear/other retractor An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V606000 What's wrong 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." Risk 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). Campaign NHTSA 21V606000 · Aug 5, 2021

Sep 11, 202626V590000

Steering

A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 26V590000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 26V590000 · Sep 11, 2026

Sep 8, 202222V673000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage

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.

DetailsHide details for campaign 22V673000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 22V673000 · Sep 8, 2022

Aug 5, 202121V606000

Seat belts: rear/other retractor

An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 21V606000

What's wrong: 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."
Risk: 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).
Campaign: NHTSA 21V606000 · Aug 5, 2021

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Audi recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2021 Audi Q3? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component15

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

15Complaints filed

2Involving a crash

0Involving a fire

2Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Injuries
Fuel/propulsion system	4	27	0	0
Electrical system	3	20	0	0
Engine	3	20	0	0
Unknown or other	2	13	0	0
Seat belts	2	13	1	2
Steering	1	7	0	0
Fuel system	1	7	0	0
Gasoline	1	7	0	0
Exterior lighting	1	7	0	0
Forward collision avoidance	1	7	0	0
Tires	1	7	0	0
Seats	1	7	1	2
Vehicle speed control	1	7	0	0
Structure	1	7	0	0
Lane departure	1	7	1	0

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Steering
“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized.”
Filed 08/17/2026 · ODI 11757395
Fuel system
“The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q3. The contact stated while attempting to refuel the vehicle, fuel spilled out of the filler neck and fell onto the ground.”
Filed 06/03/2026 · ODI 11741834
Fuel/propulsion system
“I am reporting a recurring fuel system defect affecting my Audi Q3, consistent with Safety Recall 20YF – Suction Jet Pump.”
Filed 05/30/2025 · ODI 11664032

Other Audi Q3 model years

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2021 Audi Q3 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Audi Q3 have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2021 Audi Q3. The most recent, 26V590000 (reported September 11, 2026), concerns steering. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Audi Q3?

Fuel/propulsion system is the most-reported component, named in 4 complaints out of 15 filed with NHTSA (27%). Across all complaints, owners reported 2 crashs and 0 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2021 Audi Q3?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Audi recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Audi dealer.

Check a specific Audi by VIN

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