2013 Audi A3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 20 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 15.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.0% |
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 | 10 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 |
Air Bags: 10; Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Power Train: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Diesel: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 10479505 · 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 1,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500063 · 2013-02-25 (February 25, 2013)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510472 · 2013-05-03 (May 3, 2013)
WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, I FELT WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS A "CLUNK" AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE CAR HAD STALLED, AND I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR ENTIRELY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ON MY WAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,111 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825149 · 2016-02-09 (February 9, 2016)
2013 AUDI A3 TDI., SERVICED FOR 65K MAINTENANCE 10/31/15. NEXT DAY , THE CAR BEGAN ABRUPTLY LOOSING FORWARD MOMENTUM UNDER ACCELERATION, AND DIED IN AN INTERSECTION. TOWED TO AUDI, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BAD DIESEL. THEY FLUSHED THE DIESEL AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. (KROGER DENIED MY BAD DIESEL CLAIM.) ON 11/2/15, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SAME ISSUES. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR AND REPLACED IT. ONE MONTH LATER, 11/6/15, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WITH THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT FLASHING. THIS TIME THE DEALER S…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10825149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643331 · 2014-10-08 (October 8, 2014)
PURCHASED USED 2013 AUDI A3 TDI 3 MONTHS AGO. ONLY USE DIESEL FUEL. DRIVING ONTO I80 WEST WHEN I HEARD/FELT CAR HICCUP, LOST POWER. COASTED TO STOP SIGN, TRIED MULTIPLE TIME BUT WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD COME APART SPEWING METAL SHARDS INTO SYSTEM AND THAT ENTIRE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCH SHOWING DOCUMENTED FAILURES IN VW TDI (SAME ENGINE) HPFP IN 2010, 2011 AND 2012. IS SYSTEM SAFE? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287569 · 2019-12-06 (December 6, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI TEMECULA (40955 TEMECULA CENTER DR, TEMECULA, CA 92591, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DPS FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190810653. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11060844 · 2018-01-05 (January 5, 2018)
TAKATA INFLATOR REPLACEMENT ISSUE ON 12/31/2017 I WAS DRIVING IN LOS ANGELES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A HISSING NOISE AND SOME KIND OF PARTICULATE MATTER SPEWED FROM AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THERE IS A JOIN WITH THE WHEEL. THIS WAS DIRECTED AT MY FACE FOR 10-15 SECONDS WHICH I BREATHED IN AS I WAS DRIVING. I AM ALSO "CONCERNED" ABOUT THE NATURE AND CONTENTS OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER, AND, THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT OR THAT IT MIGHT INFLATE WITHOUT ANY REASON OF ITS OWN ACCORD. *T…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11060844 at NHTSA ↗