2006 Audi A3: complaints, problems and recalls

1) NO PROBLEM LEADING UP TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. 3 MONTHS AND 7100 MILES. 2) TRANSMISSION FAILED MID-COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK...CAR STILL IN SHOP, WILL TAKE AT LEASE A FEW WEEKS TO FIX DUE TO LACK OF PARTS 3) NOTHING DONE...PARTS ARE ON ORDER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,154 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162278 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE COOLANT LINE FLANGE FAILURE. CAUSES ENGINE COOLANT TO DRAIN FROM VEHICLE .THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THE 2.0 ENGINES. PART UNAVAILABLE IN THE US (ON BACK ORDER). THE CAR WAS PARKED, LUCKILY. COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR EXPENSE IF ON THE HIGHWAY. DRAINED WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS WHILE PARKED. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE, WHY ISN'T AUDI REPLACING THIS WITH A METAL FLANGE INSTEAD OF A PLASTIC ONE? *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182139 at NHTSA ↗

PLEASE DISREGARD THIS A TEST FOR THE NEW DEPLOYMENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10221162 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN WEATHER HEAT CONDITIONS ARE ABOVE 90F THE CAR'S FUEL PUMP WILL SPORADICALLY GLITCH/SHUT -OFF AND PREVENT FUEL TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE FOR COMBUSTION. THIS MAKES THE CAR STALL MOMENTARILY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A START POINT AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY VERIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACE WITH A SUPERCEEDING PUMP. AUDI SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE 2006-2008 A3, AND A4 VEHICLES. MY CAR HAS 66,000 MILES…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238460 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHADE COVERING THE SUNROOF FAILED IN HER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNCTION ALONG WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOREOVER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALSO HAD TO BE RE-WIRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EACH TIME A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THEY WERE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. MOST RECENTLY, THE BATTERY FAILED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY $257 FOR THE REPAIR. IN JULY OF 2007, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245535 at NHTSA ↗

DROVE OVER A RAISED MANHOLE COVER. (1.5-2 INCHES ABOVE GROUND) BOTTOM OF CAR HITS COVER & DEPLOYS AIRBAGS. WAS GOING LESS THAN 15 MPH. IMPACT WAS SO MINOR THAT NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY FRIEND'S FACES TOUCHED EITHER AIRBAG. CAR WAS NOT STOPPED BY MANHOLE COVER. WE ROLLED ANOTHER 50 FEET BEFORE I STOPPED THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE. AIRBAG SENSOR MISREAD SITUATION WHICH PUT US AND OTHERS IN DANGER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247628 at NHTSA ↗

I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI A3'S OPEN SKY (SUNROOF) SUN SHADE LATCHING MECHANISM. THE SUNSHADE HAS A PLASTIC CLIP ASSEMBLY WHICH ALLOWS THE SHADE TO COVER THE SUNROOF AREA. THIS DESIGN IS WEAK AND PRONE TO BREAK. THIS HAS BEEN NOTED BY NUMEROUS OTHER A3 OWNERS. IN APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS, WE BROKEN THE CLIPS 3 TIMES AND THIS IS WITH VERY INFREQUENT USAGE AND EXTREME CARE. AUDI SERVICE STAFF OPENLY ADMIT THIS IS AN ISSUE, HOWEVER AUDI ONLY SELLS THE ENTIRE SUNSHADE ASSEMBLY AS A FIX - NOT JUST THE CLIP. THIS IS A $20…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,586 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248566 at NHTSA ↗

CENTER SEATBELT LOCKS IN THE FULLY RETRACTED POSITION EVERY TIME THE REAR SEAT IS LOWERED AND REQUIRES TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPAIRED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 61,837 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256050 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-08-07 (August 7, 2006)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING PRODUCTION OF THE AIR BAG, EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INFLATION MODULE MAY LEAK.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT INFLATE AS DESIGNED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Reported: 2009-09-30 (September 30, 2009)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUDI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-253-2834.

Reported: 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Reported: 2018-01-30 (January 30, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.