Audi A3 CABRIOLET problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
164 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 107 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 164 complaints (46.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 12 | 7.3% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 76 |
| Engine | 20 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
Air Bags: 76; Engine: 20; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 28 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 57 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 4 |
2014: 4; 2015: 9; 2016: 10; 2017: 24; 2018: 20; 2019: 28; 2021: 21; 2022: 38; 2023: 6; 2024: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10655336 · 2014-11-16 (November 16, 2014)
MY VEHICLE SUFFERED LOSS OF POWER AND AS A RESULT TOO MUCH OF HESITATION , IT BEHAVED AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STOP ON HIGHWAY.IT IS A NEW CAR AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE BAD GAS , CHANGED GAS STATION MADE SURE GAS IS NOT AN ISSUE AND HESITATION/LOSS OF POWER CONTINUES. I WAS ABOUT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE BUT DEALER CALLED ME SAYING MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER HAS BEEN LISTED FOR AN IMP UPDATE IN ORDER TO PREVENT FAILURE OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS AND PEOPLE IN GERMANY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GET THIS FIXED ASAP I.E ; 18 SEPT 2015 . I SCHEDULED …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10655336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669607 · 2015-01-02 (January 2, 2015)
THE CAR LOST POWER WHILE MOVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. TOTALLY LOSS OF POWER. UNABLE TO RESTART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10664004 · 2014-12-12 (December 12, 2014)
I WAS BEHIND A NEWER AUDI SEDAN (POSSIBLE A3 2.0T) AT NIGHT, AND WAS BLINDED BY THE BRIGHTNESS FROM THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS WERE TOO BRIGHT FOR ME TO SAFELY KEEP MY EYES ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING A 2001 LEXUS LX470, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE HEIGHT OF MY VEHICLE MADE A DIFFERENCE ON THE ANGLE OF THE LIGHT. I HAD TO GET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10664004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10667656 · 2014-12-22 (December 22, 2014)
THE CAR HAS HIGH IDLE RPM (900+), AND THEREFORE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE AS SOON AS BRAKE IS RELEASED. THIS MAKES PARKING OR MOVING FORWARD A SMALL DISTANCE DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES CAUSES THE DRIVER TO JAM ON BRAKE WITH THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT. IF DRIVER IS NOT CONSTANTLY AWARE OF SUDDEN MOVEMENT CAR WILL HIT THINGS IN FRONT OF IT. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER AND AUDI USA THAT THIS CONDITION CANNOT BE CORRECTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993707 · 2017-06-07 (June 7, 2017)
CHECK ENGINE/ EPC- BOTH LIGHTS HAVE SIGNALED A DOZEN TIMES. THE FIRST FEW TIMES THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THEM "MISFIRES". EVENTUALLY THE CAR "SYMPTOMS" STARTED TO PROGRESS: WHEN CAR IS IDLING, CAR STARTS TO ACT LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO HARD/JERKY SHIFTS INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. NOW EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT STARTS ACTING UP- GIVING THE FEELING THAT THE CAR MAY STALL. THIS IS A DAILY ISSUE. TWICE NOW CAR HAS FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY. THE WORST SITUATION OCCURRED WHEN CAR WAS BUCKING AND REFUSING TO G…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033197 · 2017-10-13 (October 13, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (AUDI NORTH MIAMI, 1995 NE 142ND ST, NORTH MIAMI, FL 33181) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT [phone removed] AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE AP…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230719 · 2019-07-10 (July 10, 2019)
"PODS RECALL" WE TOOK OUR CAR IN FOR INSPECTION AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO THE AIR BAG NEEDS TO BE BEEFED UP BECAUSE WITHOUT THE RIGHT WIRING CONNECTION IT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEM IF ACCIDENT OCCURS. THIS HASN'T HIT THE RECALL LIST YET BUT IT'S COMING. IF THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WHY CANT THEY JUST GO AHEAD AND FIX THE RECALL BEFORE HAND. THEY ARE WANTING US TO PAY $1100 DOLLARS TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT IS SOON TO BE AN UP AND COMING RECALL, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING FROM THE MANUFACTURER …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11230719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732381 · 2015-07-07 (July 7, 2015)
3 ISSUES: 1. AFTER INITIAL START-UP, THE CAR JUMPS GEARS AND JOLTS FORWARD FOR THE FIRST 3-5 MINUTES OF OPERATION, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. THIS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN JANUARY 2015. 2. ALSO, AT HIGHER SPEEDS (65-85MPH), THE CAR SHAKES NOTICEABLY - THE WHEELS/TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND REALIGNED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT MECHANICS HAVE SAID IT IS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION ISSUE. 3. LASTLY, THE TPMS WILL COME ON EVERY MONTH AND NEED RESETTING DESPITE TIRE PRESSURE BEING INTACT.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10954092 · 2017-02-12 (February 12, 2017)
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. ENGINE CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. ABSOLUTELY NO POWER OR ENGINE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. VEHICLE WENT FROM 65 TO 0 MPH IN SECONDS. NO STEERING CONTROL AS WELL!! COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HEAD OF SERVICE AT AUDI DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME & AUDI IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SAID DO NOT TAKE CAR BACK...THEY'RE PLAYING "RUSSIAN ROULETTE" WITH YOUR LIFE AND WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED.....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11253010 · 2019-09-03 (September 3, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND WHO OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2019. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE CLOSER TO THE CURB. WHEN THE DRIVER SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IT TOOK THE DRIVER EXCESSIVE STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED I…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253010 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 1