Audi Q3 2020 - 35 TDI S Line 5dr S Tronic

An Update: The issue was resolved, and the car is working fine. The reason I can't go over 3 stars, is that it took them 30 days to resolve the issue. Otherwise, all good for now. My Audi Q3 Nightmare: A Tale of Faults, Frustration, and Unanswered Questions I purchased a used Audi Q3 in February 2025 from Hitchin Audi, an approved Audi Centre. The car was fantastic, running smoothly and meeting all my expectations, especially since it had supposedly undergone their rigorous 106-point check. My peace of mind, however, was short-lived. Just two months after driving it off the lot, the car developed a Carbon Emission fault. Initially, I didn't think much of it; after all, it was from an approved dealer, so surely any issues would be minor or easily resolved under warranty. At first, the fault was intermittent, appearing and disappearing, which led me to delay taking it into a service centre. A week later, the fault became permanent. As I was staying in Coventry, I called Coventry Listers to schedule a fault check. Listers informed me that Audi typically charges \xa3150 for a check-up. However, they assured me this fee would be waived if a fault was found and the unit was covered under warranty. I was fine with this arrangement; the car was only two months old, so what could possibly go seriously wrong? A day later, I received a call from Listers Coventry stating they couldn't find the fault and required further tests. This time, they needed my approval for an additional \xa3250. Again, they promised this would be covered under warranty, provided they identified the fault and the problematic unit. I reluctantly agreed, still holding onto the hope that this would be a straightforward process. Another day passed, and yet another call came. This time, they claimed they still couldn't find the fault and required even more extensive tests. The cost? A staggering \xa32000, which I had to approve. At this point, I completely lost my patience. To approve a \xa32000 fault check for a car I'd owned for only two months? What kind of fault was this? Had I been sold a damaged unit? A barrage of questions ran through my mind, and my trust in the Audi brand began to crumble. I immediately decided to reclaim my vehicle and book a fault check with the centre where I bought it, Audi Hitchin. However, despite Listers Coventry's inability to diagnose the problem, I was still charged \xa3410 for their "fault check." Frustrated and out of pocket, I wrote an email to Audi Customer Service, demanding a refund and a thorough investigation into the issue. To Audi's credit, my email was responded to promptly, and I received a call from Hitchin. However, according to Audi, Hitchin refused to issue a refund because they hadn't authorised the service. Listers Coventry, on the other hand, wouldn't refund because they had performed the check, even if they couldn't find the fault. So, whose fault is it? I believe it's mine. My fault for trusting the Audi brand and their seemingly robust "106-point checks." And my fault for trusting Hitchin Audi, believing I was sold a quality car, which I'm now seriously doubting is the case. I've been given July 7th as a date to take my vehicle for a check-up with Hitchin. If they can find the fault after the initial check, then I firmly believe Listers Coventry took me for a ride. If they, too, can't find the fault, my question remains: what next? Why did they sell me a faulty car in the first place? Currently, I'm still driving the car, primarily because there's no noticeable drop in performance or immediate safety concern. However, I'm constantly worried that it will break down in the middle of a motorway, leaving me to bear the cost of rescue and further repairs. So, be warned. Before purchasing a used car, especially from an approved dealer, be absolutely clear on who will bear the responsibility if a fault develops shortly after you pick it up. My experience has been a costly and frustrating lesson in the complexities of used car warranties.

My Audi Q3 Nightmare: A Tale of Faults, Frustration, and Unanswered Questions I purchased a used Audi Q3 in February 2025 from Hitchin Audi, an approved Audi Centre. The car was fantastic, running smoothly and meeting all my expectations, especially since it had supposedly undergone their rigorous 106-point check. My peace of mind, however, was short-lived. Just two months after driving it off the lot, the car developed a Carbon Emission fault. Initially, I didn't think much of it; after all, it was from an approved dealer, so surely any issues would be minor or easily resolved under warranty. At first, the fault was intermittent, appearing and disappearing, which led me to delay taking it into a service centre. A week later, the fault became permanent. As I was staying in Coventry, I called Coventry Listers to schedule a fault check. Listers informed me that Audi typically charges \xa3150 for a check-up. However, they assured me this fee would be waived if a fault was found and the unit was covered under warranty. I was fine with this arrangement; the car was only two months old, so what could possibly go seriously wrong? A day later, I received a call from Listers Coventry stating they couldn't find the fault and required further tests. This time, they needed my approval for an additional \xa3250. Again, they promised this would be covered under warranty, provided they identified the fault and the problematic unit. I reluctantly agreed, still holding onto the hope that this would be a straightforward process. Another day passed, and yet another call came. This time, they claimed they still couldn't find the fault and required even more extensive tests. The cost? A staggering \xa32000, which I had to approve. At this point, I completely lost my patience. To approve a \xa32000 fault check for a car I'd owned for only two months? What kind of fault was this? Had I been sold a damaged unit? A barrage of questions ran through my mind, and my trust in the Audi brand began to crumble. I immediately decided to reclaim my vehicle and book a fault check with the centre where I bought it, Audi Hitchin. However, despite Listers Coventry's inability to diagnose the problem, I was still charged \xa3410 for their "fault check." Frustrated and out of pocket, I wrote an email to Audi Customer Service, demanding a refund and a thorough investigation into the issue. To Audi's credit, my email was responded to promptly, and I received a call from Hitchin. However, according to Audi, Hitchin refused to issue a refund because they hadn't authorised the service. Listers Coventry, on the other hand, wouldn't refund because they had performed the check, even if they couldn't find the fault. So, whose fault is it? I believe it's mine. My fault for trusting the Audi brand and their seemingly robust "106-point checks." And my fault for trusting Hitchin Audi, believing I was sold a quality car, which I'm now seriously doubting is the case. I've been given July 7th as a date to take my vehicle for a check-up with Hitchin. If they can find the fault after the initial check, then I firmly believe Listers Coventry took me for a ride. If they, too, can't find the fault, my question remains: what next? Why did they sell me a faulty car in the first place? Currently, I'm still driving the car, primarily because there's no noticeable drop in performance or immediate safety concern. However, I'm constantly worried that it will break down in the middle of a motorway, leaving me to bear the cost of rescue and further repairs. So, be warned. Before purchasing a used car, especially from an approved dealer, be absolutely clear on who will bear the responsibility if a fault develops shortly after you pick it up. My experience has been a costly and frustrating lesson in the complexities of used car warranties. However, I appreciate the effort Audi CS team has put to address my issue. The issue is, my problem is not solved.