Recalls: Audi 8U Q3
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Audi 8U Q3
2012-15 Audi 8U Q3 TDI: defeat device and NOx emissions
In October 2015, Audi Australia issued a recall for Audi 8U Q3 vehicles with 2.0-litre EA189 diesel engines that were available for sale from 2012 to 2015. According to the recall notice, the exhaust emissions for these vehicles ‘may not meet regulatory requirements when the affected vehicle is driven under normal conditions’ (see ‘Diesel engines: NOx emissions “defeat device”‘, below). For the 2.0-litre EA189 engine, a software update will be introduced which takes advantage of improved simulation of air currents inside the air intake system. Volkswagen aims to implement the software update from January 2016; the labour time for installing the updated software is around half an hour. Owners could determine whether their vehicle was included in the recall by using a VIN checking tool at audi.com.au (PRA 2015/14956).
2014-16 Audi 8U Q3: rear brake lights may not illuminate in emergency braking function
In July 2017, a recall was issued for Audi 8U Q3 vehicles that were manufactured between June 2014 and November 2016. If an emergency braking function was initiated via the electromechanical parking brake (EPB) button, the rear brake lights may not illuminate and this could pose a hazard for other road users. However, the brakes and brake lights were not affected by this issue when braking via the regular service brake foot pedal. For the VINs of the recalled Audi 8U Q3 vehicles, please see PRA 2017/16192.
2016 Audi 8U Q3: passenger airbag may not have sufficient gas
In February 2018, a recall was issued for Audi 8U Q3 vehicles that were manufactured from September 2016 to November 2016. In these vehicles, the passenger airbag may not have been filled with the required volume of gas – this was due to a production fault that caused a defective weld joint on the gas generator for the airbag. In the event of a collision, the passenger airbag may therefore not deploy as intended and the risk of injury for the passenger would be increased. To fix, the airbag unit was to be replaced. For the VINs of the recalled Audi 8U Q3 vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16626.
2015-18 model year Audi 8U Q3 with LED headlights: indicators may stop working
In August 2019, recall campaign 97DK was issued for 2015-18 model year Audi 8U Q3 vehicles that had LED headlights. If the vehicle’s external front indicator light stopped working, the driver may not receive the corresponding warning. If this occurred, oncoming vehicles may not be aware of the driver’s intention to turn – this increased the risk of a collision and injury to all road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17744.
Problems and faults: Audi 8U Q3
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
2012 Audi 8U Q3 125TFSI: chain tensioner retainer failure
For 1.8 TFSI/TSI and 2.0 TFSI/TSI EA888 engines – such as the Audi 8U Q3’s 125TFSI (engine code: CCZC) – that were manufactured from 2008 to 1 May 2012, the chain tensioner retainer was susceptible to failure. If this occurred, the pistons and valves could collide and cause serious engine damage. The chain tensioners could fail as early as 30,000 kilometres and it is recommended that owners have the most recent chain tensioner retainer fitted as a preventative measure.
Background
The tensioner on the camshaft chain used oil pressure to maintain tension. When there was no or low oil pressure, the tensioner would fall back on its ratchet to maintain tension. The ratchet, however, could slip and release chain tension – this would cause the chain to move on the sprockets and skip a couple of teeth before sufficient oil pressure accumulated to tension the chain. By skipping teeth, the engine’s camshaft timing was altered and the ECU would continue to adjust camshaft timing – generally, this caused either rough running or the vehicle would not start. It is understood that if the chain skipped around six teeth, then the pistons could collide with the valves in the cylinder head such that the engine had to be rebuilt or replaced.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a failed chain tensioner retainer include:
- The engine won’t start;
- On start-up, there is a rattling noise from the engine bay for a few seconds (until sufficient oil pressure accumulated);
- Illumination of the ‘check engine’ light, potentially accompanied by camshaft timing errors; and,
- Misfires (if the valves are bent).
Retainer revisions
The part number for the original chain tensioner retainer was 06H 109 467 AB. While a revised chain tensioner retainer was first introduced in engines built from 17 May 2010 and a second revision was introduced for engines built from December 2011, it is the third revision of the retainer – part number 06K 109 467 K – which was introduced for engines built from 1 May 2012 which fixed the problem. For further information on this problem, please see Golf GTi UK Forum: Timing Chain Tensioner Failure.
Diesel engines: NOx emissions “defeat device”
Australian-delivered Audi 8U Q3 vehicles powered by 2.0-litre diesel engines that were available for sale from 2012 to 2015 had software in the electronic control module (ECM) that could sense – via sensors measuring the position of the steering wheel, vehicle speed, the duration of the engine’s operation and barometric pressure – when the vehicle was undergoing emissions testing. The ECM would then run a ‘dyno calibration’ to produce lower nitrous oxide emissions during testing. At all other times, the ECM would run a separate ‘road calibration’ which reduced the effectiveness of the emission control system, specifically the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or the lean NOx trap.
Based on testing conducted by the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), NOx emissions for the ‘road calibration’ were 10 to 40 times higher than US standards – this led the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a notice of violation under the Clean Air Act. As a result, these vehicles did not meet the environmental standards claimed by Audi.
