FaultScore

Audi A3 engine problems

75 of the 945 complaints filed about the Audi A3 are about the engine — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2016.

75

Complaints

8%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

2006 A3 7 9.3%

Median failure at 72,000 miles

2007 A3 5 6.7%

Median failure at 62,500 miles

2008 A3 2 2.7%

Median failure at 28,791 miles

2009 A3 6 8.0%

Median failure at 52,500 miles

2010 A3 6 8.0%

Median failure at 34,451 miles

2011 A3 6 8.0%

Median failure at 46,050 miles

2013 A3 4 5.3%

Median failure at 35,900 miles

2015 A3 10 13.3%

Median failure at 72,802 miles

2016 A3 13 17.3%

Median failure at 74,517 miles

2017 A3 9 12.0%

Median failure at 47,000 miles

2018 A3 4 5.3%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

2020 A3 1 1.3%
2022 A3 1 1.3%
2023 A3 1 1.3%

What owners said

2015 Audi A3 Fredericksburg, VA

ENGINE

I have an appointment at Audi of Richmond on Wednesday 08/19/26 and was told to have the car there on Tuesday the day before the appointment to fix the recalls. I called Audi USA roadside assistance and also the actual dealership about a complimentary tow based of the fact the reason it stop driving was because of one of the recalls. They said they can’t cover it because they can’t confirm that was the cause that keeps it from driving which confuses me because a fuel pump recall should trigger a stop drive anyway because of fire hazard at the very least. I will upload pictures of the scanner codes that let me know it was the fuel pump recall.

NHTSA complaint #11757471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Audi A3 at 44,000 miles Fort Myers, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side air bag occupant sensor failed to identify a passenger seat in the seat. A dealer was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that PODS had failed and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.

NHTSA complaint #11751789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Audi A3 Vero Beach, FL

ENGINE

Coolant Water Pump and Thermostat -- Coolant temperature indicator gauge runs from normal to high after about 10-15 miles drive. Coolant levels are good and no signs of leak. Engine light is activated along with warning messages. Engine Warning: Drive System Malfunction. Please call for service. The vehicle goes into "Limp Mode" and warns to not exceed 4,000 rpm. I am in the process of having this repaired by a mechanic. FYI--- There was a previous RECALL for this in 2017. Clearly the problem still occurs.

NHTSA complaint #11745097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2020 Audi A3 Loxahatchee, FL

ENGINE

At 70,000 miles with only one owner, it develops transmission problems, making it unsafe to drive and control the car; control of the car is lost. Here is the link from the Dealer [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11743138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Audi A3 at 128,000 miles Baraboo, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2013 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the glow plugs failed to function and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to several dealers, where it was diagnosed with exhaust system failure. The contact was informed that the exhaust system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

NHTSA complaint #11724757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Audi A3 San Ysidro, CA

ENGINE

Blown turbo with propeller broken off lodged into the pre-catalytic converter, which caused damage to the catalytic converter/exhaust requiring a new turbo and a complete new catalytic converter and exhaust system. They also found major oil leaking from the upper timing cover gaskets, which I later found documented on the accounting service record as not repaired at that time few months from my purchase. These known engine damages were a major contributor to the engine failures that I’m faced with today. Oil starvation from known oil leaks, damaged gaskets, and failing parts caused oil starvation of the turbo, constant overheating with coolant and oil problems since purchasing the car and which ultimately froze the turbo and snapped the propeller. I’m still struggling without an operating vehicle for over a year, and trying to afford these expensive repairs, which should’ve been covered under the 15 year PZEV warranty and/or recalls of these known parts failures. It was at the dealership in plenty of time for the SMOG certification, which was the sole reason for the appointment and it being at AudiSD, which they refused to do. These are extremely expensive repairs, these are known issues with several class action lawsuits and recalls behind them, yet they simply refuse to take ownership, deny any support, and making excuses for their lack of responsibility. I asked several times for them to do the right thing, take the car back and refund my money or give me an equivalent car to what I was promised when I purchased it, they refused and no management has been involved. I deserve to be compensated for my time over the last several years dealing with these repeated issues, compensation for all the parts I have been forced to buy, refunded the amounts I’ve paid for technicians to truly diagnose the problem and for the repairs I’ve yet to be able to afford, as well as the towing and other charges I have incurred as a result of purchasing this vehicle from AudiSD

NHTSA complaint #11723149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Audi A3 Littleton, CO 1 injured

ENGINE

In August 2025, my 2017 Audi A3 (VIN [XXX] ) experienced repeated stalling, strong gasoline odors inside the cabin, and a check engine light immediately after Audi completed recall-related service. The safety issue was later confirmed by the dealership to be caused by a failed suction jet pump (NHTSA Recall 24V110), which allowed fuel to enter the EVAP system and leak into the rear seat area and cabin. The leak was so severe that the rear seat and flooring had to be replaced due to fuel saturation. Before the problem was properly identified, I was repeatedly told the issue was “just the gas cap,” despite reporting fuel smell, rapid fuel loss after filling the tank, and the check engine light. During this time, I unknowingly drove a vehicle with a significant fire hazard. The cabin fumes caused physical symptoms and unsafe driving conditions. I was not notified of this recall at the time I purchased the vehicle in March 2022, nor was I notified of a second recall affecting the passenger occupant detection system (69BY), despite having purchased a one-year maintenance warranty. I only became aware of the recalls after experiencing the hazardous symptoms described above. The problem was confirmed and reproduced by the Audi dealership. Fuel odor, fuel loss, and warning lights first appeared within 24 hours after the initial service visit, and the safety defect was later linked to the recall-related component failure. This defect presented a serious risk of fire and exposure to gasoline fumes to both myself and other road users. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11703596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Audi A3 at 122,000 miles Carlsbad, NM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the engine overheated. There was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming abnormal amounts of coolant without signs of a coolant leak. The contact stated that the engine seized. The coolant reservoir was inspected and there was no coolant in the reservoir. While attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact recently replaced the coolant pump, coolant control valve and the expansion tank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V619000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN, nor the model were included. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

NHTSA complaint #11679093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Audi A3 San Antonio, TX

ENGINE

Hello, I dropped my car off at Audi and Dominion in San Antonio Texas on Thursday July 10th for a repair this was a recall for the fuel pump system in something in the mechatronic controls. They had my car until Saturday I was informed that the repairs were done under warranty. Then on Saturday July 19th as I began to drive the vehicle a alert for my transmission malfunction appeared on my dashboard and I Lost first gear. I had my car taken to Audi on Dominion where I was informed by several service staff that this is a common malfunction after the last software update that was done the week prior and that it could take up to 48 hours to do the repair and recall warranty work on my vehicle. Audi on Dominion has had my vehicle for 5 days and has not given me an answer as to know whether or not the repairs will be approved as this is covered under my extended warranty. My car was working perfectly fine until I was forced to take it in for this recall of which Audi has failed to provide a loaner vehicle or give accurate information as to whether or not the repairs will be covered. I have been informed that I will be responsible for the cost of the repairs. These repairs are only brought upon due to Audis forcing me to bring the car in for the recall repair as it would have voided out the rest of my vehicles warranty. As of today I am still without a vehicle and without an answer from Audi. I have tried reaching out to Audi of America without any response.

NHTSA complaint #11675534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Audi A3 St Paul, MN

ENGINE

I was driving on the freeway at 60 mph when I received a warning code of a transmission problem. The code said the car was driveable but I should take it in for service. About 1-2 minutes after that the car lost all power. Unfortunately I broke down in the left lane in a construction zone without a shoulder. The state patrol had to temporarily shut down all three lanes of the highway to push me out of the traffic lane I was blocking. That was unsafe for me and for the state patrol and for the tow truck driver. The car was up to date on all recommended service, had been acting normally until the moment it failed, had not given me any warnings and is only 6 years old. I had the car towed to the dealer and the dealer reported that the Mechatronic unit (transmission computer) failed. Replacing the Mechatronic took a week and cost $5000.

NHTSA complaint #11662230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Audi A3 at 92,000 miles Denver, CO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle hesitated while starting. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure persisted before starting. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was an engine misfire and a leak in the fuel pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V647000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

NHTSA complaint #11622918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Audi A3 Mission, TX

ENGINE

The Audi San Juan -Texas Address: 1001 East Expressway 83 ,San Juan, Tx. 78589 .Do not want repair my car for a recall WATER PUMP and in the future can cause fire .Audi A3 2017

NHTSA complaint #11617608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Audi A3 West Palm Beach, FL

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine and low oil warning lights illuminated. The contact also became aware that there was fuel leaking from the charcoal canister. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the evaporative emissions and charcoal canister needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA complaint #11607390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Audi A3 Knightdale, NC

ENGINE

The suction jet pump inside the fuel tank is designed to purge fuel from the Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) system. This mechanism could leak and cause a fire. I have informed Audi about the issue but they indicated there isn't a fix for the repair currently. They even stated there isn't a deadline or date they could give me for the repair.

NHTSA complaint #11605800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Audi A3 Baton Rouge, LA

ENGINE

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Power Train system failed also engine light is now on How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Me and my toddler were in the vehicle when it started to jerk in bad traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the mechanic said this is a serious problem and i should be concerned. He stated i should not drive my vehicle. It was inspected by a certified mechanic. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, everything happen at one time.

NHTSA complaint #11582005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2023 Audi A3 Quakertown, PA

ENGINE

My 2023 Audi A3 with less than 3,000 miles completely stopped in the middle of a highway in Saugerties, New York. 4 hours away from home. I had my dog and my little sister with me and in the freezing pouring rain we had to get out and redirect traffic/ try to find help. I called Roadside assistance. They never came on [XXX] and didn't call back till 10pm to say they couldn't get to us because of the 8 inch snow storm. We had no heat because the car would not turn back on. 5 Ubers/ 3 lyfts and all taxis didn't come. Finally 1 uber came and took us to a nearby camp site where they allowed pitbull dogs. The next day, I had to call over 60 times to get someone to just tow my car to Audi Albany. Audi Albany would not drive me a loaner car because it was an hour away. With a lot of arguing Audi roadside/tow services finally allowed me to drive with the tow truck driver to Audi Albany. They gave me a loaner but said I had to book another hotel night because I was not allowed to drive the loaner back to my home yet. I was stuck in Saugerties NY for 2 nights 3 days. We both got sick from Sunday waiting for roadside assistance for over 5 hours. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11569511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 Audi A3 Brookfield, CT

ENGINE

While driving the alternator failed. The battery also failed. Multiple instances at the dealer trying to repair.

NHTSA complaint #11541559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Audi A3 Poughkeepsie, NY

ENGINE

At 100,000 miles my engine lost all compression in cylinder 4 causing the vehicle to suffer a serious lack of power and become a danger to drive. Upon further research I have found that this is not uncommon for the Audi/VW 2.0 Liter TFSI (direct injected) engines. It appears that injector issues lead to either lean or rich running conditions that essentially melt the pistons and/or rings. I did have to have the engine replaced as there was no way to reliably verify whether the engine could be re-built so another engine was sourced from a salvage yard. The entire cost for the job was roughly $9,000. Again, this appears to be more common than a person should expect for an engine with such low mileage.

NHTSA complaint #11501654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Audi A3 Harbor City, CA

ENGINE

Consumer bought this car at 30,040 miles. The car currently sits with 89,000 miles. I have had 18 recommended service visits totaling $19,240 and then on July 15, 2022 with no pre indicators or warnings the engine dies after a 95k full multipoint inspection that consumer had 3 weeks prior. The car has an impeccable Maintenace record. I did everything the dealer told me; and I still almost died on the 101 fwy going 70 mph on a conference call; the flashers didnt even work; the car dead and came to a hard halt and trucks were screeching around me with smoke coming from their tires because of the extreme hard stop and slamming on breaks, i was screaming for my life praying no one would slam into me. Metro who roams the fwy saved my life; without him i would be dead because of AUDI's HORRIBLY MANUFATCTURED VEHICLE. It seems as though the dealer purposefully sabotages my car as a woman; i have no alternative but to fix it and now they want $27,000 MORE for a new engine AND starter. so, in total; to drive 57,000 miles I've paid $37,000 cash for the car (I own the title)/ plus $19,240 in maintenance /repairs and now they want another 27,000 for the engine. i have no more money to give them. i recently returned my 3rd rental vehicle and i am out of funds on transportation. Ayudame ! How is this ethical? Song and Beverly consumer warranty act sect 1793.2.(d) & (g). California Health and Safety Codes 43204-43205.5. Audis Emission standards. California Code of regulations sect 3396.1-3399.6. Cal Code Regs. tit.16 / 3396.1. Thank you for reading this. ps. i have every receipt and document; so if you need anything further i am so organized it's ridiculous; please don't hesitate to ask.

NHTSA complaint #11487306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Audi A3 Bayside, NY Crash

ENGINE

vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated Unable to control or stop Crashed into bush 2014 AUDI checked said no issuue Vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags Audi checked Said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a full stop at a light Anothet auto in front Audi suddenly switched gear and started to accelerate Would not stop Crashed into car in front Gear stayed frrozen in neutral for a few mimutes.

NHTSA complaint #11482996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Audi A3 problems