Audi Q3 start-stop problems

Filed Aug 13, 2025 · Engine, Seat belts · GA

The seatbelts on the rear passenger seats no longer recoil. The seats were hardly ever used which may be a reason even those it is a 2024 model. So right now the one behind the driver is 70% out and does not go in and the other side it goes in partially but it will never lock when it should be. The auto start stop has a failure The hydraulic hinges in the back stoped working and the trunk slams now. Since it now slambs it caused a failure of a hinge.

Filed Feb 14, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · FL

My 2021 Audi Q3 SUV had been very dangerous to drive stalling, stopping on the highway and shuttering for about two weeks. While I was going about 70 miles an hour my vehicle stalled. It lead to me almost being killed and rear ended. My vehicle had been displaying a stop start malfunction code and check engine light. I contacted Audi USA Roadside Assistance. Paloma R. Said they would help and towed me to Audi of Jacksonville on Atlantic. I was told the diagnosis was $300 and it would go towards fixing the vehicle. However, my vehicle was not fixed properly with them charging me $300 separate from the repair. My total came to $855, they are a scam. Alex told me over the phone that the $300 would apply to the balance. This is extremely deceptive and I feel they should be investigated. I’m still out of a vehicle with no safe way to get around. As soon as I left the dealership the check engine light was back on. It began to steer, and stop turning. Audi know the diagnosis will not solve the real issue. They also included a part on the repair list that was part of a known recall. The National Highway of Safety has flagged Audi Q3 for coolant leaks and issues. They quoted $657 for a part that would have been covered under a recall. I have a service bulletin. The real issue is listed as a turbo charge replacement which is $3,300. That will not fix my vehicle’s issue and they know it. It’s extremely predatory, after further investigation and research Audi doesn’t have a remedy for the stop start malfunction. Which cause engine failure and a dangerous driving hazard. Audi Of America knows the service will not fix the main problem of the stop/start malfunction. Even after $6,500 worth of repairs its false claims and most importantly a waste of money.

Filed Aug 28, 2021 · PA

Vehicle auto start stop error code pops up on vehicle dashboard. Says “Auto start stop error please contact service” also happens when car is shifted in neutral. Vehicle starting malfunction. Car would try to start but stops and shows error in the dashboard. Then press start button for vehicle to start but with a “Vehicle starting malfunction” Please contact service.

Filed Mar 27, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · 4,500 miles · FL

We stopped at an all way stop intersection and the car's stop-start system had turned off the engine. When the engine restarted the engine hesitated, warning lights lit up on the dash, and the car went into its "limp home" mode. We were in the process of making a left hand turn and the car would not accelerate above a very slow speed. Luckily it was on a city street with a 25 MPH limit and traffic was light. We were able to make it through the intersection and pull to the side of the road. We turned the car off and waited a few seconds and restarted it. The car worked normally after restarting and the problem has not happened again. I have received a notice for a recall that seems to address the issue (oem id: 96h5. Recall name: engine control unit (ecu) software) and have scheduled an appointment with my dealer to have it installed asap.

Filed Mar 12, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · 10,000 miles · CT

On four occasions, the engine stopped working and the steering wheel was not able to be turned. This prevented the driver from moving the vehicle forward and steering off to the side of the road. This is an extremely dangerous situation. If the car is turned off and restarted, the problem resolves with this reset. The intervals between these episodes have been several months. There are no specifically common variables, other than a lower speed - start/stop as in waiting to cross a line of traffic or proceeding through a stop sign. I have taken the q3 to the dealer 3 times now and have been told that a software update is the fix. Recently the car has been making a vibrating noise when coasting, and it lost power in an intersection on the way to the dealer for service. The car completely shut down and even activated the parking brake. We always disable the car's auto start-stop feature, as we suspected that to be involved, but that is not the issue. We feel this car is unsafe and the audi dealer seems unable to diagnose and resolve the problem. Our first audi purchase, we had one of the first 2020 q3 to arrive in the us and four shut-off incidents since we purchased the car in oct 2019. The car was driven less than anticipated due to covid, remote school/work and no travel. Perhaps more frequent driving would have accelerated the claim process for us. Ironically, we chose the car for its safety features primarily for our teen/young adult drivers. The car has shut down for three drivers, twice for our teen and once for each of the parents, so we are confident that the problem exists as described and persists despite attempts to fix it. Each time we felt it was resolved due to a long interval between incidents, but today was more frightening than others due to the intersection where it occurred. This could cause a critical accident.

Filed Jan 18, 2021 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 1,545 miles · TX

On january 16, 2020, I was driving on a local street and started slowing down for a stop sign. I had forgotten to turn off the auto start/stop switch as is my usual practice, so I deactivated it before stopping. When I hit the switch, I got an error message telling me the cruise control was no longer available, the engine warning light came on, and the motor started shuddering. As I tried to pull away from the stop sign, the car wouldn't accelerate more than 7 MPH. Towed to dealer. They are trying to track the fault. I have also had problems with the lane keeping detection system since I bought the car in august, 2020. The system is supposed to come on automatically when the vehicle is started. Half the time it doesn't come on when started; other times, when making multiple stops during a day's driving, it comes on at random times. Some days it never comes on. Other days it comes on each time. Dealer can't find fault. Turning it on manually doesn't guarantee that it'll turn on the next time you start the vehicle.

Filed Mar 12, 2020 · Steering · 350 miles · CA

There is a 3-4 second delay in the steering assist after engine restarts from a start/stop event. (auto start/stop feature) I almost got into an accident because I expected the power steering to be active while the car is on. I attempted to make a right hand turn on a traffic light, when I let go of the brake, the engine started and car started moving forward. I was unable to turn my steering wheel so the car went forward and I almost hit the car in the next lane over. After taking it to the dealership, they said that audi knew about this and stated that this is within specification. (attached their internal technical service bulletin about this particular issue) meanwhile my car was in the shop for a week, I had a loaner audi sq5 that did not have this problem. Nor any of the cars I've ever driven before. I even showed this issue to a few of my friends and even they agreed that this was not safe. What's even more upsetting is that audi's response was "audi technical assistance recommends turning off start/stop system to avoid steering concern" so why would I pay for a feature that I am not able to use and if I do use the feature, I'm endangering myself as well as others on the road? (this is also included in my attachments.) I do home someone can help me because audi will not.

Filed Mar 2, 2020 · Transmission · 523 miles · MD

Auto stop/start system lags, causing steering wheel to lock up, preventing a turn through an intersection, or into a shopping area! This occurred as I was attempting a turn, from a complete stop, into a strip shopping center, in the baltimore area.

Filed Feb 18, 2020 · Fuel system · 1,964 miles · NY

While driving my 2 month old audi q3 this morning the car completely stalled while going approximately 40 MPH. I received an error message, drive line malfunction. The car would not respond at all after applying the accelerator. I was almost hit by 2 trucks!!! I then put the car in park and it was able to start it up. I brought it to the dealer, they just called me and told me they found an error code p060c00 indicating an internal control module problem. They said that there is no known fix at this time but they said that there is a known service bulletin on this issue. They said that I need to disable the auto start stop feature on this car each time I start it up. What do I do now? My wife will not drive this car anymore and does not want me to drive it either! This is not a safe car to drive. Please help!

Filed Feb 3, 2020 · Acceleration, Engine · 310 miles · MD

I purchased my 2020 q3 on dec 31 2019. Within 2 weeks my car stopped at the signal light with a malfunction of auto stop/start issue and would not move forward. I had taken to the dealer and they mentioned that this is a known issue with 2020 q3 and the software to fix the auto stop/start function will not be available untill end of 1st quarter. Now I am seeing the gas consumption high and the vehicle does not drive as before.