Audi A3 Complaints

905 consumer complaints on file.

#10278603July 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DSG SHIFTING ISSUES. ON SLIGHT INCLINES SUCH AS DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES, WHEN IN REVERSE, I'LL ACCELERATE AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE. MANY TIMES, NEIGHBORS THINK I AM REVVING MY CAR. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM START OR A SLOW SPEED ON D OR S MODE, THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY HIGH CLOSE TO 4000-5000RPM. A DSG SERVICE HAD BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER A FEW YEARS AGO AND I HAD ANOTHER ONE DONE LAST MONTH SUSPECTING THAT IT COULD BE THE FLUID BUT TO NO AVAIL, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278353July 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE AN AUDI A3 2008 WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. I DROVE IT ON VACATION FROM COLUMBUS OHIO TO NH ABOUT A 15 HR DRIVE. WHEN I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE RPM'S WOULD DIP AS I WOULD APPLY THE BREAK CAUSING THE CAR TO NEARLY STALL. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO REACT QUICKLY AS TO MAKE SURE NOT TO HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE BREAK THE CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD CAUSING ME TO ABRUPTLY HAVE TO HIT THE BREAK. I TOOK IT TO AUDI AND THEY CLAIM THAT IN HOT WEATHER THIS HAPPENS AND IS A SIDE EFFECT OF THE MECHATRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE VEHICLE BUT THAT IT IS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO REPLACE THE UNIT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY FAILS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD CONSIDERING I FEEL LIKE I AM TAMING A WILD STALLION ON THE OPEN ROAD. THIS MUST BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278152July 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR HAD OCCASIONAL LEAKS HAD TAKEN IN FOR FIX. FIXED BUT STILL HAD OCCASIONAL LEAKS. GOING AROUND CORNERS AT LOW SPEED, OCCASIONALLY CAR WOULD JERK WHEN THE GAS WAS APPLIED LIKE IT HAS HITTING THE WRONG GEAR. HAD BLINKING PRNDS LIGHT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. CAR STARTED ROUGH NEXT DAY WITH ENGINE ICON FLASHING. TOOK CAR FOR SERVICE, AUDI TECH FOUND LOOSE BOLTS IN TRANSMISSION PAN CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND SMALL METAL PARTICLES IN PAN. ROAD TEST FOUND "HARD SHIFT IN REVERSE AND 1ST". REPLACED TRANSMISSION. CONCERNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE COULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE HARM TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277376July 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2006 AUDI A3 3.2 QUATTRO DSG TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. TRANSMISSION ALSO UPSHIFTS AND DOWN SHIFTS ABRUPTLY DURING ROUTINE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276831July 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A3 3.2 W/ DSG. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL ONE DAY, COMPLETE DISASTER. WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS WHEN YOU START UP THE CAR, DRIVE ANY DISTANCE AND COME TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL GO NEUTRAL, THE PRNDS WILL START TO FLASH, AND COME TO A JOLTING STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT GOING AGAIN, IS TO POWER OFF THEN START UP AGAIN. THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CAR HAS GONE NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND I'LL HAVE TO COME TO A STOP. THIS OCCURS 99% OF THE TIME. BEING IN THE D.C. AREA, THERE'S LOTS OF TRAFFIC SO POWERING DOWN AND UP AGAIN AT EACH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ISN'T SAFE FOR ME AND OTHERS AROUND. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 5 WEEKS NOW B/C THE REPLACEMENT PART (TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT / MECHATRONIC UNIT / DSG) IS FROM GERMANY AND HAS TO BE "CODED TO YOUR VIN". IT ALSO HAS TO GO THROUGH US CUSTOMS BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE DEALER. BEING OUT OF WARRANTY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FAULT THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276715July 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN
WAS A NORMAL DAY OF DRIVING, CAR WAS WARMING UP. I LIVE IN FLORIDA SO IT WARMS UP PRETTY QUICKLY. I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO 4TH STREET WHEN I GAVE THE CAR A LOT OF GAS, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOTHING. IT JUST REVVED UP AND THEN AFTER ABOUT 1 OR 2 SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE. AFTER THIS 1-3 SECOND DELAY, THE CAR WAS DRIVING LIKE NORMAL. BUT THE INITIAL HESITATION ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED BECAUSE I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. MY DSG HAS NO FAULT CODES, YET IT HESITATES AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES SCARES ME. MY OTHER COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH IT HESITATING AND JERKING IN REVERSE. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BACK INTO STUFF. REVERSE IS VERY INCONSISTENT. MY FINAL COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. THE FUEL PUMP USES A CAM FOLLOWER. THESE CAM FOLLOWERS WEAR OUT, AND CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. MY FUEL PUMP FAILED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPLACED. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LATER I INSPECTED MY NEW PUMP AND FOLLOWER AND FOUND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FACE OF THE CAM FOLLOWER. THIS IS UNHEARD OF WITH A CAR LIKE THIS. WHEN THE CAM FOLLOWER FAILS, THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILS - HOW CAN VW/AUDI MANUFACTURE SOMETHING THIS UNRELIABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276420July 11, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE AN '07 AUDI A3 2.0TDI SPORTBACK WTIH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I DON'T KNOW IF I AM QUALIFIED TO FILL UP THIS FORM SINCE MY CAR IS OVERSEAS (IN THE PHILIPPINES). I JUST WANT TO SHARE MY TROUBLES WITH MY AUDI'S DSG TRANSMISSION. WHEN I HAD ABOUT 18,000KM IN THE CLOCK, MY DSG STARTED TO MAKE SOME GRINDING NOISE AND DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING GEARS. I BROUGHT IT TO MY GARAGE TO HAVE MY DSG INSPECTED. THE MECHANICS FOUND OUT THAT THE CIRCLIP HOLDING THE CLUTCH PACK OF THE DSG FLEW OFF. THE FIX WAS DONE BY REPLACING THE CIRCLIP OF THE CLUTCH PACK. THE CAR THEN WENT FINE. FASTFORWARD TO 2 NIGHTS AGO (JULY 10TH OR ABOUT ONLY 1,500KM LATER), MY DSG'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED SHOWING MY THE "FLASH OF DEATH" WHEREIN THE "PRND" LIGHTS KEPT ON FLASHING ACCOMPANIED BY DIFFICULTY IN CHANGING GEARS! I AM EXPERIENCING SUDDEN LURCHING ON FIRST GEAR AND THE REVERSE GEAR TOTALLY DOESNT ENGAGE ANYMORE!!! I HAVE MY OWN DIAGNOSTIC TOOL (VAG-COM FROMROSS-TECH) AND IT TELLS ME THIS "PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE 2 (N216): OPEN OR SHORT TO PLUS". I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND MY MECHANICS/GARAGE AND I HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT THE PROBLEM IS A FAILED MECHATRONICS MODULE ON MY AUDI'S DSG TRANSMISSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275696July 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. SECOND TO FIRST DOWNSHIFT WOULD BE SEVERE WITH A LOUD "CLUNK" FROM THE DSG. WENT TO DEALER AND VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY TCU(MECHATRONICS MODULE). PART IS ON BACKORDER AND WILL TAKE OVER 1 MONTH TO GET IN. WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE IS OKAY TO DRIVE BUT WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF RELIABLE PERFORMANCE AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO OTHER TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS I DON'T AGREE. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY OTHER AUDI AND VW OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN GETTING THE REPLACEMENT PART. APPARENTLY VAG IS FOCUSED MORE ON PRODUCING NEW VEHICLES THAN MAKING SURE THE VEHICLES ALREADY ON THE ROAD ARE OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS COMPANY HAS NO CONCERN FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272929June 5, 2009
SUSPENSION
CHRONIC TIRE CUPPING DUE TO A MISMATCH BETWEEN VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS, SUCH AS WEIGHT, AND SUSPENSION TYPE. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM MYSELF AND THEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE ON MULTIPLE DISCUSSION BOARDS THE SAME PROBLEM IS MENTIONED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. ASSESSMENT BY EXPERIENCED MECHANIC IS THAT CAUSE MUST BE INAPPROPRIATE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268277May 9, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROBLEM IS BLINKING HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. AT NIGHT IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AND RESULTS IN A FLASHING EFFECT AS BRAKES ARE USED. CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO BE FLASHING LIGHTS AT NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN SPEC AND ALL 2009 AUDI A3 CARS WITH HALOGEN LAMPS EXHIBIT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256050January 22, 2009
SEAT BELTS
CENTER SEATBELT LOCKS IN THE FULLY RETRACTED POSITION EVERY TIME THE REAR SEAT IS LOWERED AND REQUIRES TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248566November 12, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI A3'S OPEN SKY (SUNROOF) SUN SHADE LATCHING MECHANISM. THE SUNSHADE HAS A PLASTIC CLIP ASSEMBLY WHICH ALLOWS THE SHADE TO COVER THE SUNROOF AREA. THIS DESIGN IS WEAK AND PRONE TO BREAK. THIS HAS BEEN NOTED BY NUMEROUS OTHER A3 OWNERS. IN APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS, WE BROKEN THE CLIPS 3 TIMES AND THIS IS WITH VERY INFREQUENT USAGE AND EXTREME CARE. AUDI SERVICE STAFF OPENLY ADMIT THIS IS AN ISSUE, HOWEVER AUDI ONLY SELLS THE ENTIRE SUNSHADE ASSEMBLY AS A FIX - NOT JUST THE CLIP. THIS IS A $200+ PART, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I BELIEVE AUDI SHOULD REDESIGN/RECALL THIS ASSEMBLY OR AT LEAST OFFER A STANDALONE LOCKING REPLACEMENT PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247628November 4, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DROVE OVER A RAISED MANHOLE COVER. (1.5-2 INCHES ABOVE GROUND) BOTTOM OF CAR HITS COVER & DEPLOYS AIRBAGS. WAS GOING LESS THAN 15 MPH. IMPACT WAS SO MINOR THAT NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY FRIEND'S FACES TOUCHED EITHER AIRBAG. CAR WAS NOT STOPPED BY MANHOLE COVER. WE ROLLED ANOTHER 50 FEET BEFORE I STOPPED THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE. AIRBAG SENSOR MISREAD SITUATION WHICH PUT US AND OTHERS IN DANGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245535October 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHADE COVERING THE SUNROOF FAILED IN HER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNCTION ALONG WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOREOVER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALSO HAD TO BE RE-WIRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EACH TIME A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THEY WERE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. MOST RECENTLY, THE BATTERY FAILED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY $257 FOR THE REPAIR. IN JULY OF 2007, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER MANY TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED HER FOR THE BATTERY REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,837 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238460August 16, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN WEATHER HEAT CONDITIONS ARE ABOVE 90F THE CAR'S FUEL PUMP WILL SPORADICALLY GLITCH/SHUT -OFF AND PREVENT FUEL TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE FOR COMBUSTION. THIS MAKES THE CAR STALL MOMENTARILY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A START POINT AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY VERIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACE WITH A SUPERCEEDING PUMP. AUDI SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE 2006-2008 A3, AND A4 VEHICLES. MY CAR HAS 66,000 MILES AND HAS GONE PAST THE WARRANTY LIMITS FOR A NO-CHARGE REPLACEMENT. THIS FAULT CONDITION IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221162March 14, 2008
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY, TIRES:BEAD, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, CHILD SEAT:BASE
PLEASE DISREGARD THIS A TEST FOR THE NEW DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188151April 17, 2007
TIRES
(1) HOWL, HUM CHOPPING NOISE. BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT WITHIN SPEC PER AUDI DEALERSHIP. (2) EXTREMELY NOISY. UNEVEN WEAR ACROSS EACH TIRE. UNEVEN WEAR TIRE TO TIRE. POOR WEAR AT 10,000 MI (3) SEARS IS THE PIRELLI DEALER IN THIS AREA AND IS THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR TIRE ADJUSTMENTS. THEY (RYAN) STATE THE TIRES ARE WEARING POORLY AND UNEVENLY. THEY CAN'T GET PIRELLI TO PRE-AUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENTS. IF THEY REPLACE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY'RE DEFECTIVE, AND PIRELLI BELIEVES THE TIRES ARE NOT DEFECTIVE, SEARS WON'T BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENTS. IT'S REPORTED THAT PIRELLI IS VERY RESISTANT TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRE ADJUSTMENTS. THIS LEAVES THE SEARS IN THE AWKWARD POSITION OF BEING UNABLE TO PROPERLY SERVICE PIRELLI TIRES. I'VE CONTACTED PIRELLI CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO EXTEND ANY CONSIDERATION OF MY CLAIM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182139February 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
ENGINE COOLANT LINE FLANGE FAILURE. CAUSES ENGINE COOLANT TO DRAIN FROM VEHICLE .THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THE 2.0 ENGINES. PART UNAVAILABLE IN THE US (ON BACK ORDER). THE CAR WAS PARKED, LUCKILY. COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR EXPENSE IF ON THE HIGHWAY. DRAINED WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS WHILE PARKED. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE, WHY ISN'T AUDI REPLACING THIS WITH A METAL FLANGE INSTEAD OF A PLASTIC ONE? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162278July 13, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1) NO PROBLEM LEADING UP TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. 3 MONTHS AND 7100 MILES. 2) TRANSMISSION FAILED MID-COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK...CAR STILL IN SHOP, WILL TAKE AT LEASE A FEW WEEKS TO FIX DUE TO LACK OF PARTS 3) NOTHING DONE...PARTS ARE ON ORDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096290October 24, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OUR CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW 2001 325CI CONVERTIBLE PRUCHAED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE CAR DRIVEN MY MRS. KLUEPFEL HAD JUST TURNED RIGHT OUT OF THE LIBRARY ONTO ROUTE 535, HILTOP ROAD MENDAHM AT A SPEED OF 10MPH WHEN LOST POWER (ALL IDIOT LIGHTS WERE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD) WITH THE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CAR WAS TOWED UNDER POLICE ORDERS TO MORRISTOWN BMW, 170 MADISON AVENUE, MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960, PHONE 973-455-0700, FAX 973-455-0273. THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THEY FOUND NO FAULTS IN THE SYSTEM DIAGNSOTICS AND TAOL US THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UP TO A MONTH BEFORE THE BMS OF NA FIELD REP COULD STOP BY AND RENDER A DECISION. MY WIFE WAS VERY SHOOK UP AND CONCERNED THAT SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR ON TURN IT OUT OF HARMS WAY OF THE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD IN FRAONT OF HER. SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS WITH A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Audi A3