2016 Audi A3 CABRIOLET: complaints, problems and recalls

SINCE PURCHASING MY AUDI A3 ON 3/26/2016 I HAVE A FLAT TIRES IN 6 DAYS ON 4/2/16. CAR TIRES ARE OEM AND ARE CONTIPROCONTACT 225/40 18 92H. TIRE FAILURES HAD HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED (20-30 MPH) GOING OVER A POTHOLE. HOWEVER, I HAVE DRIVEN ON THESE SAME CANTON ANN ARBOR ROADS FOR 5 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TIRE DAMAGE FROM A POTHOLE BEFORE. I CONTACTED SEVERAL COMPANIES FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND ALL OF THEM SAID THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THESE TIRES IN STOCK AND THESE ARE DISCONTINUED TIRES. I ALSO FOUND THESE TIRES ON CLEARANCE AT SEARS. I DECIDED TO FILE A …

Owner-reported narrative. 675 miles reported. Look up ODI 10855077 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN....UPDATED 12/14/16 *BF UPDATED 08/10/2017*JS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10920211 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE A3 E-TRON. THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN STARTING THE CAR AND THE CAR BEING ENGAGING THE POWERTRAIN AND BEING "READY" TO DRIVE. DURING THAT DELAY, ONE IS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR BEFORE THE ENGINE IS 'READY'. THIS CREATES SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR ON A HILL, AND THE CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS AND YOU DO NOT HAVE STEERING OR POWER BREAKS TO STOP THE CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR IS TO TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK (WITHOUT POWER STEERING), PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, AND POWER CYCLE THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10929393 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS NO WARNING, AND NO IGNITION LOCKOUT, WHEN THE ETRON POWER PORT DOOR AND COVER IS LEFT OPEN AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. (THE POWER PORT IS HOW TO RECHARGE THE BATTERIES IN THE CAR). THIS ALLOWS WATER TO BE FORCED INTO THE HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WHICH COULD TRIGGER AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OR MALFUCTION IN THE SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY EXPLODE THE LITHIUM ION BATTERIES THAT POWER THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED ON THE 2017 MODEL, BUT THERE IS NO SOLUTION (YET) FOR A 2016 ETRON ACCORDING TO DEALER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10944395 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS UNKNOWN HOW THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948733 at NHTSA ↗

WE RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALLS FROM AUDI: NHTSA RECALL #16V647 AND #16V642. WE WERE INFORMED BY AUDI THAT THE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER. THE CLOSEST AUDI DEALER IS IN HONOLULU, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO SHIP OUR CAR FROM MAUI. GIVEN THIS WAS AN AUDI RECALL, IT WAS MY EXPECTATION THAT THEY WOULD EITHER PAY THE COSTS OR AUTHORIZE THE WORK TO BE DONE ON MAUI BY THE VW DEALER, WHICH IS ONE OF AUDI'S SISTER COMPANIES. NEITHER RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED AS OF TODAY. SINCE THESE ARE SAFETY RECALLS, I WOULD FULLY…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984399 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING 50-60 MPH ON THE FWY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK/STUTTER AND THEN IT LOST SPEED. THE JERKING IS SIMILAR TO A NEW DRIVER LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHERE YOU'RE THROWN FWD AND BACK SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY. AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BACK TO FWY SPEED, IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT KEPT SLOWING DOWN INSTEAD. NO CEL ILLUMINATED. I DECIDED TO EXIT AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT.

Owner-reported narrative. 19,878 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000378 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A CPO 2016 A3 1.8T FROM AUDI OF PALO ALTO ON MAY 20, 2017 WITH A LITTLE UNDER 19100 MILES. GREAT FAST CAR. UNTIL JUNE 17, 2017 WHEN IT HAD 19878 MILES. THE CAR STARTED TO STUTTER/SPUTTER/JERK WHILE ON THE FWY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50-60MPH ON THE FWY, CRUISING, AND THEN IT STUTTERED. IT LOST THE POWER TO ACCELERATE TO KEEP UP THE FWY PACE AND IT SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY SO I PULLED OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER (AUDI OF CONCORD). IT WAS THERE FROM 6/17 TO 6/29. DEALER SAID IT HAD A FAULTY TURBO, STATING THE WASTEGATE FAILED, …

Owner-reported narrative. 20,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002951 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 TT roadster, A3 cabriolet, A3 sedan and A3 e-tron, 2016-2017 TT coupe, 2017 A4 sedan and Q7 and 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97CB.

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.

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.