Audi A3 Complaints

905 consumer complaints on file.

#10500063February 25, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING IN SEATTLE'S NOTORIOUS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY A3 TDI, HAS STALLED. IT ACTS AS IF I HAVE "DROPPED" THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE BEING AN AUTOMATIC!!. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON TWO OCCASIONS. THERE IS LESS THAN 5K MILES ON MY NEW CAR. BOTH TIME IT HAS GONE IMMEDIATELY INTO UNIVERSITY AUDI. FIRST TIME, NO ANSWERS. STILL WAITING ON DIAGNOSTICS FROM TODAY'S EPISODES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498447February 17, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WHEN COMING SLOWLY TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. TRAVELING SLOWLY FORWARD OR REVERSE WILL ALSO CAUSE UNEXPECTED SURGES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482343October 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JUMP ABNORMALLY BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE MECHATRONIC UNIT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 91,000. UPDATED 10/22/13 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480997October 18, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A TDI VERSION OF THE AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, THE CAR STOPPED DEAD AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ON INSPECTION BY AN AUDI DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE PUMP FAILURE CAUSED METAL PARTICLES FROM THE PUMP ITSELF TO CIRCULATE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM DOING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM AND POWER TRAIN. AS OF THIS DATE, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS WITH NO ESTIMATED DATE OF COMPLETION. WE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR CATASTROPHIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITH OUR AUDI Q7 TDI IN JUNE OF 2012 WHICH REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM AND OTHER PARTS (SEE ODI # 10480946). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE REASON FOR THE DELAY IN REPAIRING THE A3 RELATES TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF CARS WITH SIMILAR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES WHICH HAS CAUSED A SCARCITY OF PARTS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO TDI VEHICLES FROM BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI. I AM NO ENGINEER, BUT WIDESPREAD FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES SEEM POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS. THIS PROBLEM DESERVES AN INVESTIGATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479505October 10, 2012
ENGINE
AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 18 MILES, TOOK AN EXIT AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471151August 16, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3 TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468942August 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE AN AUDI A3 2006. SEVERAL YEARS AGO (END OF 2009/BEGINNING OF 2010), I STARTED FEELING AND HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD LUNGE FORWARD A FEW INCHES WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS AND DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. THIS WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY AND HAS BEEN INCREASING IN STRENGTH. I WAS TOLD BY AUDI THAT IT WAS A DUE TO A FAULTY MECHATRONIC SYSTEM, WHICH IS LIKE THE BRAINS OF THE CAR. AUDI SERVICE QUOTED ME A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2500 TO REPLACE THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM. I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MANY AUDI A3 OWNERS AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF THE ISSUE, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI AND RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458247May 13, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY BACK TO THE HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS FROM THE WEST RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON, 100+ DEG OUTSIDE TEMP. SUDDEN FUEL CUT OFF/LOSS POWER FOR ABOUT 1 SEC. TOOK IT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IN TANK FUEL PUMP/CONTROL MODULE FAILED THUS CUT OFF SENDING FUEL TO THE ENGINE. UPON PICKING MY VEHICLE THE SERVICE ADVISOR COMMENTED THAT SEVERAL CARS FROM CALIFORNIA WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THIS PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COMPROMISED OUR SAFETY. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT PROBLEM OCCURRED ON SAME YEAR HAS MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456903April 30, 2012
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS, ENGINE LOST POWER AND STOPPED RUNNING SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER A MINUTE OR SO AND CONTINUED MY TRIP TO WORK. CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC AND THE ENGINE JUST QUIT LIKE A MANUAL LEFT IN GEAR AT A STOP SIGN...A SHUDDER THEN NOTHING. NOT SURE IF RELEVANT, BUT I COULD ONLY RESTART THE CAR AFTER COMPLETELY TURNING IT OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447052February 7, 2012
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
YOU MOBILE PHONE CONNECTS TO THE AUTOS RADIO SYSTEM. THE AUTOS DEFAULT RING VOLUME IS AT AN UNSAFE VOLUME AND CANNOT BE MODIFIED. TWO AUDIOLOGISTS HAVE BOTH ATTESTED TO THE FACT THAT THE VOLUME IS AT AN UNSAFE LEVEL. AUDI SAYS THE REALIZE THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL OFFER NO FIX. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY HEARING AND FOR MY WIFE AND CHILD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446661February 4, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
I OWN A 2010 AUDI A3 TDI. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, BEGAN FEELING HESITATION/JERKING IN THE ENGINE, THEN THE "GLOW PLUG" LIGHT CAME ON JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ULTIMATELY THE CAR STALLED WITHIN 30 SECONDS FOLLOWING INITIAL HESITATION IN A MOVING LANE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO COAST UP INTO A PARKING LOT TO SAFETY AND HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. IT WAS IN FOR REPAIR FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK. METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL FILTER INITIALLY THEN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE FUEL TANK WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. SERVICEMEN FIRST SUSPECTED I HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUT UNLEADED IN IT WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE THOUGH I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO WERE ACCUSED OF THE SAME AND FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER AND ONLY GO TO HIGHEST QUALITY STATIONS WITH LABELS OF "ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL". IF IT DOESN'T STATE THAT THEN I HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE. EVERYTHING FUEL-RELATED WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRMEN WERE UNABLE TO TELL ME HOW THE METAL SHAVINGS CAME ABOUT THOUGH THEY WERE INSISTENT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS SINCE THEY DID REPORT, AFTER I QUESTIONED THEM, THAT THE EXACT SAME PARTS REPLACED THE OLD ONES. I AM A HIGH MILEAGE DRIVER WHICH IS WHY I PURCHASED A DIESEL ENGINE. MY WARRANTY WILL SOON EXPIRE. WHEN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURS AGAIN, IF I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE, I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET OVER $8000 WHICH WAS THE ESTIMATE ON PAPER FROM THE DEALER. I HOPE AUDI FURTHER INVESTIGATES THE PROBLEM VERY SOON AND ISSUES A RECALL SO I CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND! *TR *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437213November 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN FROM AUTOMATIC (D) TO M1 (THE LOWEST MANUAL GEAR). WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWS AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASE TOWARD THE RED LINE. IT HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 250 MILES OR SO, USUALLY WHEN I AM GOING ABOUT 20-25 MILES AN HOUR IN CITY DRIVING. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS HOLDING A CUP OF COFFEE AND IT SPILLED OVER MY LAP. I AM WORRIED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN WHEN ANOTHER CAR IS FOLLOWING CLOSELY AND RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING OF THE SLOW DOWN TO THE OTHER DRIVER SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435689November 15, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH AN INTERMITTENT RIGHT HEADLIGHT TILT MESSAGE. THE RIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED PER TSB 2013829/6 ON 4/15/09 BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON THE LEFT SIDE FOR THE PAST YEAR OR MORE. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT NOW TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE DIP WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT TURNS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LEFT HEADLIGHT SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY. WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AND FEEL BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE ORIGINAL TSB WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE BULBS ARE XENON AND VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S BASED ON THE SERVICE ORDER AND INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433092October 27, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN 30-35 MPH TRAFFIC, GLOW-PLUG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE MANUAL, AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND WAS GIVEN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, I NOTICED NOT ONLY THE FLASHING GLOW-PLUG LIGHT, BUT THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, WHICH HAD COME ON AS WELL. ALSO, WHEN I PULLED OUT, POWER SEEMED LIMITED AND ACCELERATION DIFFICULT. NOW ON A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD TO STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE IT TOWED IN. SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, AND UNABLE TO FIND A GOOD PLACE TO STOP, I DROVE HOME. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AND AUDI SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WAS NOT LOOKED AT FOR 24 HOURS (TDI-TRAINED MECHANICS IN A MEETING OR SOME SUCH), BUT ON THURSDAY I GOT A REPORT. THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, SENDING METAL DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED, INCLUDING THE FUEL TANK. THE FIRST-SUSPECTED CAUSE -CONTAMINATED FUEL- HAD BEEN RULED OUT. I WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS A 1-IN-100,000 FLUKE, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN OVER 100 COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA AS OF EARLY 2011, PROMPTING AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427701September 28, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS IS VERY KNOW PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI 2.0T ENGINES THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF BEFORE IT HAPPENED TO ME. BASICALLY CAMSHAFT FOLLOWER BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND CAMSHAFT. THE CAM SHAFT FOLLOWER IS TOO WEAK AND IT BRAKES TOO OFTEN FOR SOME OTHER PEOPLE. THERE IS TON OF COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT TJIS SPEVIFIC PROBLEM. NOW THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS ON BACK ORDER SINCE JULY AND NO ONE KNOWS WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE. I'M STOCK WITHOUT A CAR AND NO ONE CAN HELP OR EVEN TELL ME WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. AUDI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO. PLEASE HELP! *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425140September 13, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO COME ON. "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" OR "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. AUDI REPLACED THE "RIGHT CONTROL IGNITER" ON 9/30/09, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. AUDI REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT BULB ON 10/2/09, AND THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH REDUCED BUT NOT TOTALLY ELIMINATED. BOTH THESE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY WITH NO CHARGE. ON 5/16/11, AFTER CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I STATED THAT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, BUT AUDI COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GET WORSE, BUT THE REPAIRS THAT AUDI PERFORMED SO FAR HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419093August 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY VEHICLE FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS - FAILED TO MOVE ON A STOP SIGN - MOVED VERY WEAKLY WHEN TAKING A LEFT TURN WHILE IN THE CENTER TURN LANE. CARS WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND I BARELY MISSED HAVING AN ACCIDENT. - VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND COMPLETELY FAILED TO MOVE WHILE STILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THIS HAPPENED "PRNDS" FLASHED ON THE DASH. - I HAVE THE VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND AUDI HAS RECALLED MANY CARS (2007 ONWARDS), BUT MY CAR WASN'T RECALLED. THE RECALL NOTICE FROM AUDI IS IN 2009 AND MY CAR WAS NOT IN IT. WHY IS THAT? HOW DOES AUDI DECIDE WHICH CARS TO INCLUDE IN THE RECALL? I THINK THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETELY FLAWED. I BELIEVE AUDI CUT CORNERS AND DID NOT RECALL ALL THE CARS THEY SHOULD HAVE. JUST ENOUGH TO CALM PEOPLE DOWN AS THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO SHOWN ON TV NEWS. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER BY CHANGING THE "MECHATRONICS UNIT" OF MY CAR. THIS FIX IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THEY DID FOR 2007 YEAR MODELS, SO WHY WAS 2006 NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OF AUG 2009. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY CARS ON THE STREET THAT STILL HAS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM, JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. NHTSA SHOULD USE ALL ITS POWER TO RESTART THIS INVESTIGATION AND MAKE AUDI WORK RESPONSIBLY TOWARDS FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418288August 9, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
2010 AUDI A3 TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 10,000 MI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417207August 5, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
OUR 2010 AUDI A3 TDI DEISEL LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER PULLING OVER, WE WERE UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED DUE TO "CONTAMINATED FUEL". WE HAD PUT BRAND NAME DIESEL INTO THE TANK ON EVERY REFILL AND HAVE THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416237July 29, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SENSE OF DELAY IN SHIFTING GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM NOT MOVING TO MOVING, SPEEDING UP, OR SLOWING DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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