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Audi Q3 45 TFSI e Advanced edition common faults.

2019–2025, SUV, petrol, 150 HP.

The fault list covers: DGEA engine, DQ250 transmission.

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5 fault write-ups. 3 important. 7 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

3 important faults

expensive3

DQ250 (6 speed wet DSG): mechatronics and clutch pack

expensive

The solenoids of the mechatronics unit wear out: slow or harsh shifting, then limp mode. A characteristic sign is the partial or complete loss of reverse. Wear of the clutch pack or the wrong spring force causes jerking and slipping. Because of the wet design it fails less often and at higher mileage than the dry DQ200, but when it does fail, it is expensive.

above 150,000 km

What to check

  • Pull away slowly from standstill and watch how smooth the 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 shifts are
  • Select reverse several times, cold and warm: is it delayed, does it engage at all
  • Under load (on a slope) watch whether the clutch slips
2 more steps in the write-up

Blocked panoramic roof: water in the cabin

expensive

The drain channels of the panoramic roof block up or crack, water runs into the cabin, the carpet soaks through, and the electronics in the floor get wet too. It shows up on cars built between 2019 and 2021. A car without a roof is not affected, but a listing does not always say whether a roof was fitted, so you have to look.

What to check

  • Check whether the car has a panoramic roof at all
  • Pour water into the four corners of the roof, and see where it drains underneath
  • Lift the front and rear carpets and feel the foam
2 more steps in the write-up

EA211 (1.0 to 1.5 TSI): water pump and thermostat module leak

expensive

In the EA211 the water pump and the thermostat are one plastic module, and the pump is driven not by the timing belt but by a separate toothed belt behind the exhaust camshaft. There are usually two problems with it: the plastic housing warps or cracks (slow coolant loss, a sweet smell, rising temperature), or the drive belt ages (a chirping noise, then an engine left with no cooling). The housing is particularly sensitive if oil reaches it: for example from a leaking crankcase ventilation. The module has to be replaced whole: dismantling it warps it in itself.

What to check

  • Check the level in the expansion tank, and ask whether it needs topping up
  • After a cold start smell the engine bay: a sweet smell means coolant
  • Look for dried, whitish pink deposits on the exhaust side of the cylinder head
2 more steps in the write-up

comfort1

Infotainment that freezes, false warnings

comfort

The most common complaint on the Q3 is the infotainment system: the touchscreen does not respond, dash warnings flicker, the system freezes, or a sensor is faulty. One survey found a fault of this kind on 44 per cent of Q3 cars, and half of the repairs spent more than a week in the workshop. A software update fixes many cases and the update is free, so before you buy, ask whether the latest version is installed.

What to check

  • Leave the system running for the whole test drive and watch for freezing
  • Try the parking sensors and the driver assistance systems
  • Restart the car several times: a fault after a cold start is characteristic
2 more steps in the write-up

cheap repair1

DSG selector lever: failure of the P position switch

cheap repair

The dash shows "Error: Workshop! Only leave vehicle in position P" with an audible warning. The message appears in whatever language the car is set to, for example "Fehler: Werkstatt! Fahrzeug nur in Stellung P verlassen" in German.

Show the rest

The message points at the gearbox, but the fault is not there. A tiny switch sits in the module under the selector lever and signals that the lever is in park (P). Its contact wears and can also burn. That makes the signal unreliable, and the car warns you. The fault codes appear as 617752, P173400 or B116229.

At first it is intermittent. Sometimes the message comes up, sometimes not, so a short test drive easily misses it. Later it becomes permanent, and the gearbox can drop into limp mode.

This fault looks more expensive than it is. The maker released a separate retrofit switch kit for it (5Q0713128A for the black module, 3Q0713128 for the white one), which can be fitted in half an hour. The kit costs 70 to 100 pounds. At a franchised dealer, however, the whole selector lever module sometimes gets replaced, which costs 626 to 1,000 pounds there. So the difference between the two routes is roughly tenfold.

The affected group is post 2013 MQB platform Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda cars with a DSG gearbox. The switch is in these gearboxes, because that is what these cars have in common. The part itself is not part of the gearbox but of the module under the lever.

What to check

  • Watch the dash after starting: the message is intermittent and can be missed on a short loop
  • Move the lever from P to D and back several times, then get out and lock the car
  • Ask whether the selector lever switch has been replaced already, and ask for the invoice
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Audi Q3 45 TFSI e Advanced edition

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall7 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 10 September 2021

A12/01389/21Safety recallInjuries10 September 2021 · EU Safety Gate

The bolt of the pressure-input shaft situated between the electromechanical brake servo and the brake pedal may come loose. As a result, the mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the brake servo would no longer be guaranteed, increasing the risk of an accident. In the event of an emergency, the vehicle can be immobilised by activating the electronic parking brake. The product does not meet the requirements set out in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 10/09/2021

The authority's notice

A12/00221/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Due to a manufacturing error, the belt-pulley securing ring of the steering system may not be fully engaged. As a result, the securing ring may become detached and subsequently jam with surrounding components, leading to possible locking of the steering system.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00345/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Due to a manufacturing error, a weld joint between the brake pedal and the brake-pedal plate could break when the brake pedal is suddenly applied. This can result in complete detachment of the brake-pedal plate, increasing the risk of an accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00541/22Safety recallBurns, Fireno date · EU Safety Gate

Design engine covers installed on all affected vehicles could detach from their fixings depending on the conditions of use (e.g. very sporty driving, or poor road surfaces) and their age. A loose engine cover could come into contact with the hot area of the exhaust gas turbocharger, increasing the risk of burns or fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00667/22Safety recallFire, Injuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The fuse in the high-voltage (HV) system may have been produced with an insufficient amount of extinguishing sand. In the event of a short circuit in the high-voltage system, a voltage flashover could occur inside the vehicle and subsequently pose a risk of fire and injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00879/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The breaking point for the release of the front passenger airbag in the console may not have been fabricated correctly. As a result, the airbag may not penetrate the console as required in the event of deployment. This will impair its restraining and protective functions, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/01482/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The screw connection attaching the seat frame to the seat rail may not be correctly executed. As a result, it may fail in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

DGEA · 1.4 TSI eHybrid

110–180 kW (150–245 HP) · hybrid

DQ250 · 6-speed DSG, wet clutch

DSG · 6 speed

Clutchwet
Torque limit400 Nm
MakerVolkswagen

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
45 TFSI e Advanced edition
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
1395 cc
Power
110 kW (150 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
2019–2025

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Engine oil and oil filter

    • LongLife30,000 km or 2 years(valid only with LongLife-approved oil)
    • 15,000 km or 1 year

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • DSG oil change, WET clutch gearbox

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Coolant (antifreeze) change

    • first: 193,000 km or 10 years, then 97,000 km or 5 years(G13 / G12++: first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles or 5 years)

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All F3 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms