If you’re driving a vehicle, you want to know that it will definitely stop when you want it to. There can’t be any question about the functioning of the brakes or the brake pedal. Some Audi Q3 owners are facing just this question though. At the end of December 2020, Audi recalled its 2020 Q3 SUVs due to brake pedal issues. Here’s what we know about the problem.

The 2020 Audi Q3 brake pedal recall

The issue is specifically with the brake pedal plates of the 2020 Audi Q3. The “brake pedal plates can bend or detach under the pressure applied during sudden stopping,” according to Car Complaints. If that happened, it would be more difficult for the driver to make contact with the brake, and the risk of crashing could increase. The recall affects about 350 Audi Q3 SUVs from the 2020 model year. That includes 313 SUVs in the U.S. and 37 additional SUVs in Canada.

Owners should take their Q3 to an Audi dealership to have the brake pedals and brake pedal plates inspected. Dealers will check the welds joining the brake pedals and the brake pedal plates and replace parts as needed. The recall should begin on January 31, 2021. Owners with any questions should call Audi customer service at 800-253-2834 and use reference number 46i7. While the problem can be remedied relatively easily, it is concerning to have a recall like this just one year into the model year’s lifecycle.

2020 Audi Q3 driver seat recall

An earlier recall from October 2020 also affects the 2020 Audi Q3. This one, according to the NHTSA, is for an incorrectly bolted driver’s seat frame. If the incorrect bolt connection failed during a crash, there could be an increased risk of injury. In this case, the seat structure might need to be replaced after inspection. The recall reference number is 72L4.

The 2020 Audi Q3

Car and Driver gives the 2020 Audi Q3 a pretty positive review. It likes the flashy style of this subcompact crossover SUV inside and out. The Q3 has a large front seat but a smaller rear seat, although it still has enough room for cargo. The 2020 Q3 has a 228-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but the engine does have some turbo lag. It has all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2020 Q3 has a nicer interior than the previous year’s. It comes standard with leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, and an eight-way power-adjustable front seats. Ambient lighting and a digital gauge cluster are available options. The Q3 comes with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 10.1-inch touchscreen is also available.

The 2020 Audi Q3 has good safety ratings with a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2020 Q3 comes standard with “a rearview camera, Audi Pre Sense Basic (which helps protect occupants by rolling up windows and tightening seat belts if it detects an imminent collision), and Audi Pre Sense Front (a type of forward-collision warning) with pedestrian detection,” describes U.S. News.

Its available advanced safety features include automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and a surround-view parking camera system.

While it is worrisome to have potential problems with the brakes of any vehicle, once owners are able to have their 2020 Audi Q3 SUVs inspected and repaired if necessary, they’ll have a great vehicle once again. This attractive subcompact SUV has good technology and top safety ratings, although the driving experience isn’t the most engaging.