Audi A3 Complaints
905 consumer complaints on file.
- #10369403December 6, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AS I WAS ACCELERATING UPWARD ONTO THE HIGHWAY RAMP THE VEHICLE STALLED AND JERKED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. IT STOPPED FOR ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 7 MORE MILES UNTIL I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY. IT OCCURRED AFTER THE STOP I MADE AFTER I LEFT THE HIGHWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10368718December 2, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE PURCHASE AS A CPO IN EARLY 2009, MY 2008 AUDI A3 AND ITS DSG TRANSMISSION HAVE EXHIBITED IRREGULAR AND DANGEROUS SHIFTING BEHAVIOR. THE TRANSMISSION SURGES UNPREDICTABLY AT LOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IN 1ST OR REVERSE WITH BRAKES OFF AND LITTLE/NO GAS. THIS LOW SPEED SURGING BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC AS THE CAR OFTEN UNPREDICTABLY JUMPS TOWARDS OTHER VEHICLES. ALSO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY DROPPED OUT OF GEAR AND FAILED TO RE-ENGAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS. ON ONE OCCASION, THIS PAUSE OCCURRED DURING A LEFT HAND TURN ACROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC AND NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. IN SUMMER 2010 AUDI REPLACED THE MECHATRONIC UNIT UNDER WARRANTY AND REFLASHED THE DSG. THIS FIXED THE ISSUES FOR 1-2 MONTHS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEMS HAVE SINCE REAPPEARED. IT'S SEEMS CLEAR THAT THIS LINE OF TRANSMISSIONS HAVE PERSISTENT AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS PROBLEMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10368191November 29, 2010SUSPENSION
CAR SUSPENSION/SETUP LEADS TO EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. LATEST SET OF TIRES (FALCON) ARE CUPPED AT 10,000. HAS HAPPENED TO THREE PRIOR SETS OF TIRES (TOTAL OF 4 SETS AT 80,000 MILES). DEALER CLAIMS IT IS THE WRONG TIRE COMPOSITION, BUT OFFERS NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN BUYING THE EXPENSIVE CONTINENTAL TIERS THEY SELL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10363918November 3, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON MY WAY TO WORK IN MY 2007 AUDI A3-ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOSE POWER AND MY CAR STOPS ACCELERATING AND SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL. I SEE THAT THE P D N S LIGHTS ARE FLASHING SO I ATTEMPT TO RESTART MY CAR. IT STARTS TO GO AGAIN AND THEN SPUTTERS FORWARD WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. LUCKILY I WASN'T FAR FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR AGAIN AND GET IT HOME WHILE THE CAR REVVED LIKE CRAZY GOING LESS THAN 20MPH. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY AUDI/VW'S EXPERIENCE THIS IN THEIR VEHICLES. THESE ARE ALL CHARACTERISTIC OF A FAULTY MECHATRONIC UNIT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAR'S DSG. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10363565November 1, 2010TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3 EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, TIRE SIZE 225/14/18. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGNAL, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR DISPLAYED A LOW PRESSURE READING. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD SLIGHTLY FLATTENED; AND REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REFERRED HIM TO A TIRE CENTER FOR THE TIRE DIAGNOSIS. THE TIRE CENTER INFORMED THAT THE TIRE SHREDDED FROM THE TIRE RIM. ALSO, THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE NOT ROAD WORTHY AND THE SIDEWALL HAD BUBBLES. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,600. THE DOT NUMBER WAS EJT70CCJ3109.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10362365October 26, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS FOR A 2006 AUDI A3 2.0T WITH THE FSI ENGINE AND THE DSG TRANSMISSION. BOTH MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCE A FEW DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WE LOST THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE VIA THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR'S LCD GEAR SELECTOR DISPLAY THEN BEGAN TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY TO INDICATE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF SOME TYPE. WE DID REGAIN 1ST GEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS AS WELL BUT THIS PUT US AT DANGER AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A FAMILY CAR WITH ONLY 42590 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM THEN RE-OCCURRED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ABOUT 3 MORE TIMES AND EVEN FAILED WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO CALL A COUPLE OF DEALERSHIPS TO GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER AS WELL ON WHETHER THIS WAS COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF RECALL WARRANTY AS WELL AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO TRY AND MAKE ME PAY FOR THIS UNTIL I ASKED. THE SERVICE FOR A FAILED DSG TRANSMISSION IS EXORBITANTLY PRICED AND ALSO UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 42590 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN AS A FAMILY CAR STRICTLY. NOT TO MENTION IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NOT DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OR ABUSE. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FAILED MECHATRONIC UNIT AND EVEN NOTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS WERE ALL AT THE PROPER LEVELS. THE OLD PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ME TO VIEW AND I DID NEGLECT TO ASK FOR IT AS THAT IS USUALLY MY PRACTICE WHEN GETTING PARTS REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10352993August 31, 2010POWER TRAIN
2010 AUDI A3 TDI HAS INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PAUSING PROBLEMS. THE LACK OF POWER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED FROM A DEAD STOP AND WHILE MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS RARE, BUT HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10344657July 22, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2008 AUDI A3 2.0T DSG (DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX) HAS BEEN HAVING ABRUPT SHIFTING AND HESITATION. THE THREE MAIN TIMES ISSUES OCCUR ARE: 1.) MOVING FROM A STOP, EITHER IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. WITH LIGHT THROTTLE INPUT, SIMILAR TO IN PARKING SITUATIONS OR SLOW MOVING STOP/GO TRAFFIC, THE CAR/TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT ENGAGED AND THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGES AND LURCHES FORWARD/BACKWARDS. THIS IS WHEN I FEEL THE CAR IS MOST LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. 2.) WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP (SUCH AS AT A STOP LIGHT/SIGN OR FOR TRAFFIC), THERE IS AN ABRUPT THUD WHICH APPEARS TO BE WHEN THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING AUTOMATICALLY INTO 2ND GEAR. THIS FEELS LIKE IT'S DOING DAMAGE TO THE CAR. 3.) WHEN SLOWING DOWN, FOLLOWED BY MILD ACCELERATION (SUCH AS WHEN TURNING RIGHT/LEFT ONTO A PERPENDICULAR STREET WITHOUT REQUIRING A STOP), THE CAR HESITATES, THEN REVS VERY HIGH (APPEARS TO CHOOSE TOO LOW OF A GEAR), IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY GOING INTO THE "RIGHT" GEAR. THIS IS ALARMING TO DRIVER/PASSENGER AND IS ANNOYING AND DISTRACTING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE MECHATRONICS UNIT, HOWEVER THERE'S NO RECALL FOR MY CAR SO THEY JUST GAVE ME THE CAR BACK AND SAID "CALL BACK IN A MONTH, MAYBE THEN THERE WILL BE A RECALL". *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10342564July 12, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT APPEARS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ON AND OFF. DEALER STATES ITS A "INTAKE RUNNER MOTOR". THIS STARTED WITHIN 10,000 AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 55K. DEALER SUGGESTS REPLACEMENT BEFORE FAILURE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10341775July 7, 2010POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 06 AUDI A3 WITH ABOUT 57K MILEAS AND WHILE TRAVELING TO CALIFORNIA, ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY I FELT THE CAR HESITATE SEVERAL TIMES AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF ACCELERATION. MY ONLY ACTION WAS TO STOP PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND DOWNSHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10341130July 2, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT SUDDEN, AND BRIEF LOSS OF ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 2,000. ONE TIME THE POWER LOSS WAS FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I STARTED TO MOVE, THERE WAS A PAUSE AND QUICKLY THE POWER RETURNED. THE SAME BEHAVIOR HAPPENED PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT INTO TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRENCE CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS AN A3 TDI (CLEAN DIESEL MODEL). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10340184June 26, 2010SUSPENSION
I HAVE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM WITH MY AUDI A3 THAT HAS CUPPED THE TIRES TO THE POINT OF DESTRUCTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10339931June 24, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW, I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DOWN TO FIRST GEAR. IT OCCURS AFTER A SLOW COMMUTE OVER A PROLONGED HILL. ONCE I REACH THE TOP AND ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST, RESULTING IN EXTREME RPMS. I HAVE TO SHIFT THE CAR DONE TO LOW GEAR THEN BACK TO D(RIVE) TO RESET IT. THE ISSUE SOUNDS EXTREMELY SIMILAR TO ISSUES ENCOUNTERED WITH THE DGS SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE IS A 2006 AND THEREFORE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE 2007-2009 VW AND AUDI RECALL. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST I AM ABOUT TO INCUR TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10333927May 31, 2010SUSPENSION:REAR
2006 AUDI A3 REAR WHEEL VIBRATION/SUSPENSION "LOOSENESS" AND TIRE CUPPING. EXCESSIVE NOISE AT NORMAL SPEEDS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10323328April 1, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I GOT A 2006 A3 (AUTOMATIC) WITH 90K MILES ON IT. WE STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS 2 WEEKS AGO, BASICALLY WHILE DRIVING (AT ANY SPEED) TRANSMISSION WOULD SPORADICALLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL FOLLOWED BY A JOLTING/CLUNKING NOISE, AND THEN PRNDS LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF ONTHE DASHBOARD. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES WITHIN 1 WEEK. THE SCARY THING IS THAT DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, SUCH I-95, MY WIFE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A 18-WHEELER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TALKED TO AUDI NA COMPLAIN LINE, AND THEY MENTIONED THERE WASN'T ANYTHING REPORTED TO THEM, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM, AND NO WILLINGS TO HELP TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING PARTS. I DON'T SEE THIS ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE GAS PEDAL ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING. MANY COMPLAINS OR CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON AUDI/VW FORUMS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10322590March 29, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3 QUATTRO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE; THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10321090March 19, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP DEFECTIVE. CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED. VEHICLE ALSO DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT TIMES WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF LACK OF COMBUSTION IN ENGINE. HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS WHEN CROSSING LANES OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THIS. MANY TIMES THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE ACCELERATION OCCURS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10318555March 10, 2010SUSPENSION, TIRES
MY 2007 AUDI A3 HAS SEVERE, UNBEARABLE TIRE NOISE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON THE TIRES. I REPLACED MY 1ST SET OF PIRELLI P6 ALL SEASONS WAY BEFORE THEIR TREAD WAS WORN OUT DUE TO THE ROAD NOISE ONLY TO FIND THAT THE NOISE WOULD SOON RETURN AFTER APPROX. 7500 MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT SET. I CANNOT REPLACE TIRES EVERY 7500-10000 MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316362March 3, 2010POWER TRAIN
MY AUDI A3 DYNAMIC SHIFT GEARBOX, HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES FROM ABOUT 30K MILES, WHICH IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE ESCALATED TO A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE GEARBOX. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE AUDI SERVICE AT 48000 MILES, ABOUT: JERKINESS WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR; LACK OF ADEQUATE ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP; CAR DIES WHEN STOPPING ON INTERSECTIONS WHILE DRIVING IN CITY CONDITIONS; SHIFTING TO INCORRECT (NEUTRAL) GEAR WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; AUDI DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS UNDER WARRANTY, AND IT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT HAS SHOWN NEGLIGENCE IN DIAGNOSTIC THE PROBLEM, PRIOR TO A COMPLETE MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IS SERVICE AWAITING A REPLACEMENT OF THE DSG (MECHATRONIC AND GEARBOX) WHICH ARE ESTIMATED TO COST AT ABOUT 7000 - 10000 DOLLARS. ACCORDING TO THE FACTS AND MY SERVICE RECORDS, IT IS MY BELIEVE THAT AUDI SHOULD BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316031March 3, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT DIPPED (LOW BEAM) HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. SPOKE WITH DEALERS AND OTHER MECHANICS. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE BULB. MAY BE THE BALLAST, BUT MAYBE NOT. DEALER HAS NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM. MANY INCIDENCES OF THE PROBLEM REPORTED ON INTERNET FORUMS. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A TRIAL FIX. BALALSTS ARE 400+ AND BULBS 300+. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THE MONEY AND HAD NO GOOD RESULTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0