vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Audi A3 CABRIOLET: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

87 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

33,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 87 complaints (43.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior910.3%
Engine operation78.0%
Fuel system concerns78.0%
Electrical and battery issues66.9%
Transmission and shifting44.6%
Steering behavior33.4%

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.

Air Bags
38
Engine
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
9
Electrical System
7
Fuel System, Gasoline
6
Exterior Lighting
5
Power Train
5
Unknown Or Other
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags38
Engine9
Fuel/Propulsion System9
Electrical System7
Fuel System, Gasoline6
Exterior Lighting5
Power Train5
Unknown Or Other4

Air Bags: 38; Engine: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Electrical System: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Exterior Lighting: 5; Power Train: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
22
25,000 to 49,999
20
50,000 to 74,999
16
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00022
25,000 to 49,99920
50,000 to 74,99916
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 24 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.

2014
4
2015
9
2016
7
2017
9
2018
15
2019
17
2021
6
2022
19
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20144
20159
20167
20179
201815
201917
20216
202219
20231

2014: 4; 2015: 9; 2016: 7; 2017: 9; 2018: 15; 2019: 17; 2021: 6; 2022: 19; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10644326 · 2014-10-13 (October 13, 2014)

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2.0 AUDI A3 FROM THE DEALER THIS MAY. I GOT A LOW OIL WARNING WITH ONLY 2700 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THE OIL IS DARK AND DIRTY COMPARE TO THE LONER CAR I GOT. IT HAS BEEN THREE TIMES I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE DEALER, BUT THEY NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FIRST TIME, THEY TOPED UP THE OIL. AFTER TWO WEEKS, THE OIL WAS LOW AGAIN, SO I BROUGHT IT BACK. THIS TIME, THEY CHANGED A NEW OIL TANK CAP FOR ME, BUT TWO WEEKS LATER, THE OIL WAS LOW. I DROVE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE, THIS TIME ACTUALLY THE AU…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,689 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644326 at NHTSA ↗

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 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 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 10669609 · 2015-01-02 (January 2, 2015)

TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. UNABLE TO RESTART. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669609 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10689613 · 2015-02-20 (February 20, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS WARNING LAMP INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TIRES WERE LOW. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DEFLATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450.

Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10689613 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10695495 · 2015-03-19 (March 19, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HESITATE AND FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO TURNED ON INDEPENDENTLY AND THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED WITHOUT THE KEY BEING INSERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH IDLE RPM OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAUSING THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FA…

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10695495 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

15V229000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Reported: 2015-04-17 (April 17, 2015)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Golf, and GTI manufactured on February 17, 2014, to May 22, 2014, and Audi A3 manufactured on February 16, 2013, to April 23, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle will not start, or if the engine is running, it will stop and the vehicle will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any affected fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi at 1-800-253-2834.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V824000 · Seats | Air Bags:Side/Window

Reported: 2015-12-08 (December 8, 2015)

Volkswagen Group of America, LLC (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet vehicles manufactured June 5, 2014, to April 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driver or front passenger seat whose cover may be incorrectly stitched, preventing the side air bag from properly deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence: Improper side air bag deployment may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's and/or front passenger's seatback cover, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on February 4, 2016. The recall began on February 29, 2016 . Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74C9.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V647000 · Fuel System, Gasoline | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control

Reported: 2016-09-07 (September 7, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.

Consequence: As fuel accumulates in the EVAP system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298, Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 20Y6 and 20Y5. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 24V-110.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V280000 · Equipment:Other:Labels

Reported: 2017-04-26 (April 26, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Audi A3 1.8T FWD S tronic and 2.0T Quattro S tronic vehicles. The safety certification label has an incorrect vehicle production date. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Consequence: In the event of a vehicle safety recall, an incorrect production date may prevent owners from determining if the recall affects them, increasing their risk of injury or a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install an overlay label containing the correct vehicle production date, free of charge. The recall June 23, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51F5.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V474000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification

Reported: 2019-06-19 (June 19, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.

Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.

NHTSA campaign record ↗