Audi Q3 8U 2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive (2013–2014)

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 1.6 and 2.0 TDI (EA189) diesel engines: problems, costs and what to check

  Recall work, EGR and DPF faults and injector repairs are common. Buy with recall proof, a belt invoice and a clean fault memory.

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 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.
4. Look through the wheels at the brake discs. Bad result: deep grooves, rust or discs worn to the limit. No scanner needed.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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. Recall paperwork (no scanner). Ask the dealer for a record of the software update, and of the flow straightener on a 1.6. Bad: no record.
2. Fault memory (needs a scanner). Bad: EGR codes P0401 or P0402, turbo codes P2563 or P2564, or DPF codes such as P2002.
3. Test drive. Bad: judder, lost power or limp mode.
4. Injectors (no scanner). Ask whether the injectors were replaced or revised. Bad: rough running with no injector work on record.
5. Swirl flaps (needs a scanner). Bad: limp mode on a 2.0 TDI.
6. DPF (no scanner). Ask how the car was driven and whether the filter was cleaned. Bad: a DPF warning lamp, or short trips only.
7. Coolant (engine cold). Check the level and look for an exhaust smell in the cabin. Bad: any coolant loss. The EGR cooler is a common cause.
8. Timing belt invoice. Bad: no dated invoice for the belt, tensioner and water pump, or past 210,000 km or 5 years with no change.
9. Turbo (needs a scanner). On a 2.0 TDI past about 150,000 km. Bad: boost codes or oil leaks at the turbo.
10. Flywheel (manual only). Drive in 2nd gear at about 1,400 rpm. Bad: a rattle.

Running costs

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

ADAC versions