Major Problems with Audi A3 Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Audi A3 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Audi A3

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Audi A3.

Model Year	Complaints
2019 A3	1
2018 A3	4
2017 A3	10
2016 A3	20
2015 A3	59
2013 A3	18
2012 A3	41
2011 A3	40
2010 A3	48
2009 A3	41
2008 A3	42
2007 A3	50
2006 A3	117

Worst 3 Audi A3 complaints

2006 Audi A3 AIR BAGS Victims: 3

2009 Audi A3 AIR BAGS Victims: 1 Mileage: 87000 miles

2010 Audi A3 AIR BAGS Victims: 1 Mileage: 96000 miles

Browse Audi A3 complaints by category

Problems with AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN and ENGINE are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Audi A3 owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
AIR BAGS there is a white/chalk outline of the passenger airbag my vehicle only has 500 miles on it not sure if...	220 ~ 14642 miles
POWER TRAIN the car has high idle rpm (900+) and therefore begins to accelerate as soon as brake is released. this makes...	59 ~ 54754 miles
ENGINE i bought a brand new 2.0 audi a3 from the dealer this may. i got a low oil warning with...	41 ~ 36077 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM my audi car hasnt been running well. i went to my dealership and no sense of urgency regarding this matter...	40 ~ 39816 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN purchased a new 2011 audi a3 tdi last saturday. the following friday while pulling out into an intersection the dsg...	37 ~ 38964 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2015 audi a3. the contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle accelerated independently...	31 ~ 53155 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING i was behind a newer audi sedan (possible a3 2.0t) at night and was blinded by the brightness from the...	29 ~ 46185 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL while driving in seattle's notorious stop and go traffic my a3 tdi has stalled. it acts as if i have...	18 ~ 39466 miles
SERVICE BRAKES at 5 months - engine almost overheated. car towed to dealer where they found the fan and computer module failed...	14 ~ 55557 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER there is a white/chalk outline of the passenger airbag my vehicle only has 500 miles on it not sure if...	13 ~ 42409 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 issues: 1. after initial start-up the car jumps gears and jolts forward for the first 3-5 minutes of operation...	11 ~ 44173 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE the car lost power while moving in highway traffic. totally loss of power. unable to restart. *tr...	10 ~ 60356 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL i bought a brand new audi a3 2.0t 2015 july 2014. recently while driving to a slushy snow the system...	7 ~ 52390 miles
SUSPENSION 3 issues: 1. after initial start-up the car jumps gears and jolts forward for the first 3-5 minutes of operation...	7 ~ 39000 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE i was driving and suddenly heard a loud explosion on the top of me then i saw a my sunroof...	6 ~ 52633 miles
TIRES tl*the contact owns a 2010 audi a3 equipped with bridgestone potenza tires tire size 225/14/18. while driving approximately 15 mph...	6 ~ 11098 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl*the contact owns a 2010 audi a3 quattro. while driving at approximately 75 mph the engine shut off completely. there...	6 ~ 30596 miles
SEAT BELTS tl* the contact owns a 2015 audi a3. while driving the air bag and seat belt warning indicators illuminated. the...	5 ~ 32981 miles
WHEELS since purchasing my audi a3 on 2/8/2015 i have had four flat tires. dates of tire failure: 2/16/15 2/18/15 3/5/15...	5 ~ 9850 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING my vehicle suffered loss of power and as a result too much of hesitation it behaved as if it is...	4 ~ 35675 miles
SEATS there was recently a pods recall for the wiring harness going to the occupant detection sensor the recall did not...	2 ~ 80500 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2015 audi a3. while driving approximately 55 mph the panoramic sun roof exploded without warning....	2 ~ 50790 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER i was driving and suddenly heard a loud explosion on the top of me then i saw a my sunroof...	2 ~ 13000 miles
STEERING i bought a brand new audi a3 2.0t 2015 july 2014. recently while driving to a slushy snow the system...	2 ~ 13650 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 2006 audi a3 3.2 quattro dsg transmission fails to engage when attempting to accelerate from a stop. transmission also upshifts	2 ~ 40050 miles
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2016 audi a3. while operating the vehicle the check engine indicator remained illuminated. also an...	1 ~ 3 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i have an audi a3 sportback 1.4 tfsi attraction 2009. while driving or when the car is stationary the selector...	1 ~ 58000 miles
STRUCTURE i recently started to use the back part of the car never had used it before had another car for...	1
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2015 audi a3. the contact stated that the tpms warning lamp indicator failed to illuminate...	1 ~ 450 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl8 the contact owns a 2010 audi a3. the contact stated that the glow plug sensor illuminated and the vehicle...	1 ~ 101000 miles
PEDALS AND LINKAGES > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC cpsc: i1360446a. 2012 audi a3 wagon. consumer stated the gas pedal and brakes are too close together. also states cannot	1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY you mobile phone connects to the autos radio system. the autos default ring volume is at an unsafe volume and...	1
SIDEWALL > TIRES tl*the contact owns a 2010 audi a3 equipped with bridgestone potenza tires tire size 225/14/18. while driving approximately 15 mph...	1 ~ 9600 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION 2006 audi a3 rear wheel vibration/suspension "looseness" and tire cupping. excessive noise at normal speeds. *tr...	1 ~ 45000 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS drove over a raised manhole cover. (1.5-2 inches above ground) bottom of car hits cover & deploys airbags. was going...	1 ~ 29000 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES i believe there is a design issue with the audi a3's open sky (sunroof) sun shade latching mechanism. the sunshade...	1 ~ 66586 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT please disregard this a test for the new deployment. *tr...	1
BEAD > TIRES please disregard this a test for the new deployment. *tr...	1
BASE (INFANT) > CHILD SEAT please disregard this a test for the new deployment. *tr...	1
ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY > AIR BAGS please disregard this a test for the new deployment. *tr...	1
HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING engine coolant line flange failure. causes engine coolant to drain from vehicle .the dealer indicates that this is common on...	1 ~ 72000 miles
VISIBILITY tl*the contact owns a 2006 audi a3. the contact stated that the shade covering the sunroof failed in her vehicle....	1 ~ 300 miles

FAQ

What year Audi A3 is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 13 years, Audi A3 models of 2019, 2018, 2017 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Audi A3?

Audi A3 models of 2006 and 2015 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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