Audi Q3 8U facelift 2.0 TFSI, 180 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive (2015–2018)

Research for this car

• Generation guide Audi Q3 8U (2011-2018): known problems and buying guide

  Mostly sound, with no confirmed engine failure; check the Haldex coupling, the S tronic shifts and the recall campaigns before you buy.

• Engine guide VW 2.0 TSI (EA888 gen 3 and 4) petrol: problems, costs and what to check

  A strong engine with known weak spots, so check the water pump, turbo and oil leaks before you buy.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Ask for the Haldex coupling oil and filter record. Scan the car for Haldex and pump fault codes. Bad result: a pump fault code, no oil change on record, or a front axle that drifts to front-wheel drive. A scanner is needed.
2. Pull away from cold and shift through the gears in town. Bad result: jerky starts, judder or notchy shifts. A gearbox fault code needs a scanner.
3. On a 2.0 TFSI, check the oil level cold and after a motorway run. Ask for top-up records. Bad result: a level that drops between services.
4. On a lift, check the stabilizer links and front silent blocks for play. On older cars, check the springs. Bad result: play in the links or bushes, or a broken spring. No scanner needed.
5. Look through the wheels at the brake discs. Bad result: deep grooves, rust or discs worn to the limit. No scanner needed.
6. At night, switch on the xenon lights and watch for flicker. Look inside the lamps for fog or moisture. Bad result: flicker, or moisture behind the lens. A fix needs a workshop.
7. Open the fuel flap with the release, then with the emergency cable. Bad result: a stiff or seized release, or a flap the cable cannot open. No scanner needed.
8. Stop and start the engine at traffic lights several times. Bad result: the start-stop fails to restart the engine or cuts out. Ask a dealer to check it.
9. Ask a dealer for all open recall campaigns by VIN, including the brake light and LED indicator updates. Bad result: an open campaign. The repair is free.

From the engine guide

1. Coolant and water pump (scanner). Check the coolant level when cold. Look for a puddle under the front centre of the car. Read the stored faults for P00B7 (low coolant flow). Ask for an invoice showing the pump and housing were replaced as one assembly. Bad: low coolant, P00B7, or overheating. A missed leak can wreck the engine: 4,000-15,000 GBP for major damage (UK, 2025).
2. Turbo and wastegate (test drive, scanner). Check that boost builds smoothly with no hesitation and no warning light. Ask for turbo or actuator invoices. Bad: boost loss, a warning light, or a turbo replaced with no paperwork.
3. Oil in the intake (scanner). Ask whether the car was driven hard or on track. Check for a rough idle, a check-engine light, and oil in the intake. Bad: any of these, or a track history with no service record.
4. Oil leaks at the back of the engine (no scanner). Look under the engine and where it meets the gearbox. Bad: oil at the rear seal. The fix needs the gearbox separated from the engine, so the job is large.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions