2020 Audi Q3 Electrical System Problems

Rear hatch randomly operable / inoperable. "Reset" computer without success. Dangerous situation as anything inside hatch is not not accessible. Was told by Audi that the entire rear hatch latch system needs replacement and this is "a common issue"...

I purchased a 2020 Audi Q3 S-Line (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX], with 27,564 miles on it. I bought the vehicle from a dealership that specializes in high-end aftermarket cars, and they provided a maintenance report stating the vehicle had passed all inspections at the time of sale. The vehicle had been imported from Canada to the U.S., and the Carfax report reflected consistent maintenance at authorized Audi dealerships in Canada, including a full inspection and alternator/electrical system check roughly a year before my purchase — with no problems reported. In early July 2025, I began experiencing issues with the MMI system: •A loud, persistent humming sound when using Bluetooth or the radio •Audio glitches and failed system reboots •No dashboard warnings or battery alerts After researching, I suspected a low-voltage or charging issue. I took the car to an auto parts store for diagnostics, and at 28,932 miles, they found the battery was severely depleted and the alternator had failed completely — it was no longer charging the system. This means the alternator failed only 1,368 miles after purchase, which is highly abnormal for a well-maintained, low-mileage luxury vehicle. Alternators typically last 80,000 to 150,000 miles. Audi has acknowledged similar issues in Q5 and A4 models, but nothing yet on the Q3. While I know the vehicle is out of warranty and was not purchased from an Audi dealership, I am requesting: 1.That this issue be formally documented and investigated for possible recall or defect pattern. 2.That Audi consider a goodwill repair, based on mileage, maintenance history, and how soon the failure occurred after passing inspection. 3.That this be flagged specifically for Q3s imported from Canada, as mine was. This failure could have left me stranded with no warning. I’m reporting it not only for my own case, but to potentially help others who may be silently experiencing the same issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The sunroof in the Audi Q3 leaks and the water drops from the ceiling INTO the cabin. Water also comes through the passenger side panel and drips onto the floor causing flooding of the floorboards. This is a KNOWN issue and Audi has released a TSB (technical service bulletin) to attempt to fix these, but it’s just a band aid. It keeps coming back over and over. Water intrudes into the center lights and they flicker and short out. Water drips from these lights into the center gearshift area and it is an extreme safety hazard. PLEASE force Audi to fix this and make it right with their customers. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL

There is a large flaw on these vehicles. The sunroof framing becomes damaged. This creates an issue of water leaking in the interior. It causes an electrical issue as well as creates a distracted driving environment. I was driving when this happened and I had to start controlling the water leaking from the roof of my vehicle. This is a large safety issue that Audi knows about and even has a technical documentation to repair this issue.

I was driving on a highway at 65 miles per hour, it was a rental car and the car automatically short stopped by itself and i was unable to move it. the dashboard lights looked like they were blinking and then my car was hit from behind

THE PANEL NEAR THE SUNROOF CONTROL BUTTONS AND LIGHTS HAS A LEAK. IT LEAKS WATER EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR DURING A CAR WASH. MY SAFETY AND OTHER SAFETY ARE PUT AT RISK BECAUSE THIS WATER LEAK IS COMING OUT OF MY LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL CORDS FROM ABOVE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS BUT NO RECALL HAS FORMED FOR THIS MAJOR ISSUE. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS OR MESSAGES APPEAR FOR A WARNING, IT JUST OCCURS.

Please investigate the 2020 Audi Q3 and issue a recall - this is a major driver safety issue. I purchased this vehicle new from the Audi Crown Clearwater, FL dealership in late 2019. I am taking it for repair a THIRD time because after it rains, the interior gets flooded with water which pours into the car from the rear-view mirror area which affects driver visibility, lights, electrical components, and more. The water damage is visible and there is so much built-up saturation from the leak that it causes the interior touch lights to stay on. The contact at the dealership who assured me she would help if this ever happened again after the first two fixes was evasive when I tried to ask what measures they took to fix it the first two times (in an effort to understand what they did before as well as suggest they need to attempt something different) and admitted that other Q3s were having this issue. She told me to call Audi America like another customer did, but refused to share the contact number or specify what I should tell them. This is a completely unacceptable situation created by Audi which poses a hazard for drivers. Not to mention Audi failing to stand behind a luxury brand image by putting the burden on customers to jump through hoops to seek recourse for a defective vehicle.

Rained. Got into my car and had water dripping down from the lights/dome of the car. Water was short circuiting the lights and they were turning on by themselves. Tried to turn them off but sensors wouldn’t respond. Water was dripping down to the console where the start engine and other controls including the charging ports/wireless charging pad. Water also leaked from the front passenger side housing down to the floor. Occurred at 37.5k This has happened once before earlier in may. I called the dealership but were unable to help due to appt booked out a month. If they cannot reproduce the issue they won’t fix it. Occurred first time at 35k

While waiting at a signal, i got at message that my maps could not continue because I had no power, then the park assist came on with no explanation. After that, I got the message to put the car in park to prevent it rolling away. I tried to restart, but it would not. As the signal changed and traffic had to move around me, I put on the emergency lights and continued to try to start the car. It took 3-4 tries. I then took it to the dealer who did an inspection and test drive, but nothing showed up. I was about to get on the freeway when this happened and worried about driving. Even after inspection of the vehicle, i am hesitant about driving on the freeway and worried about this happening again, this time with the engine in gear.

CAR LEASED JULY 2020, HAS 1936 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 4/14/21, TOOK TO DEALER , LEFT FOR REPAIR . DEALER STATES 'REPLACE FUEL PUMP MODULE ' REQUIRED . THIS CAR ALSO HAD PROBLEM IN MARCH 2021 WHICH I REPORTED WHERE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SAID SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS REQUIRED FROM RECALL THAT I HAD NOT GOTTEN NOTICE FOR .

CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, DRIVING 30 MILES AN HOUR, HAD NO POWER OR STEERING . DEALER 'NEVER HEARD OF IT' BUT HAD A RECALL SOFTWARE UPDATE I HAD NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT FOR THE 'ENGINE CONTROL UNIT''SOFTWARE EA888 BOSCH AND CONTINENTAL. AND 'INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE PERFORMANCE CAUSED LOST POWER TO VEHICLE ' ALSO CLOCK SETS TO MIDNIGHT AND THEY DON'T HAVE A FIX FOR IT

I BOUGHT MY 2020 Q3 SLINE PREMIUM ON AUGUST 15, 2020. THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED TWICE, FIRST ON AUGUST 17, 2020 AND SECOND ON AUGUST 20, 2020. IN BOTH CASES, THE ENGINE STOPPED AS SOON AS I STOPPED IN AUTO WITH MY PARKING BRAKES ENGAGED. THE DISPLAY SCREEN ALSO WENT DEAD/BLANK IN BOTH CASES. IN BOTH CASES I HAD TO RESTART BEFORE I CAN DRIVE. I ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN STOPPED AND THE AUTO STOP ENGAGES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN A CORNER FROM A RED LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IDENTIFIES TAR ON THE ROAD AS LANES AND JERKS THE CAR AWAY AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL THE STEERING BACK.

WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE JERKS LIKE IT IS LOSING POWER. IT HAS DONE THIS ON BOTH THE INTERSTATE AND ON REGULAR ROADS IN MOTION. I HAVE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL ON ME. ON SEVERAL INSTANCES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS SHOW UP AND THEN IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THANKFULLY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ROLL OFF OF THE ROAD EACH OF THESE TIMES. THERES NO WARNING OR ANY INDICATORS THAT COME UP PRIOR TO THE CAR COMPLETING DYING IN THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERES SOFTWARE ISSUES BUT NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR IT UNTIL AN UPDATE COMES OUT. I WAS TOLD TO TURN OFF THE AUTO SHUT OFF FEATURE AND IT WILL WORK OK, BUT THAT HAS NOT HELPED. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT COULD COMPLETELY FAIL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WITHOUT NOTICE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2020'S. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST MONTH 1/2

WE WERE SITTING ON A FREEWAY OFF RAMP AT A STOP. WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOP, THE CAR SHUDDERED AND THE CONSOLE LIT UP AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE FASTER THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS A MIRACLE WE WERE NOT REAR ENDED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS RELATED TO THE START/STOP FUNCTION AND IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT AUDI DOES NOT YET HAVE A FIX FOR. IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR IS SITTING AT THE DEALER WHO TO DATE HAS DONE NOTHING. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE START/STOP FUNCTION PRIOR TO THIS WHERE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD FROM A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND YOU COULD NOT STEER FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE CAR WOULD START TO MOVE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE VEHICLE STALLS FOR NO REASON WHILE BEING DRIVEN. AUDI HAS ADVISED US THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE BUT THE SOFTWARE IS NOT AVAILABLE YET. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YESTERDAY AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 5 WEEKS WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED DUE TO MULTIPLE ELECTRIC MALFUNCTIONS.