2010 Audi A3: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3 QUATTRO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE; THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215.

Owner-reported narrative. 215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322590 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT SUDDEN, AND BRIEF LOSS OF ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 2,000. ONE TIME THE POWER LOSS WAS FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I STARTED TO MOVE, THERE WAS A PAUSE AND QUICKLY THE POWER RETURNED. THE SAME BEHAVIOR HAPPENED PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT INTO TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRENCE CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS AN A3 TDI (CLEAN DIESEL MODEL). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341130 at NHTSA ↗

2010 AUDI A3 TDI HAS INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PAUSING PROBLEMS. THE LACK OF POWER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED FROM A DEAD STOP AND WHILE MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS RARE, BUT HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352993 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3 EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, TIRE SIZE 225/14/18. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGNAL, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR DISPLAYED A LOW PRESSURE READING. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD SLIGHTLY FLATTENED; AND REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REFERRED HIM TO A TIRE CENTER FOR THE TIRE DIAGNOSIS. THE TIRE CENTER INFORMED THAT THE TIRE SHREDDED FROM THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363565 at NHTSA ↗

2010 AUDI A-3 TDI (DIESEL) STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. WILL NOT START. TOWED TO STEVENS CREEK AUDI, CA. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371068 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING HOME AFTER DARK ON A LOCAL BOULEVARD AT ABOUT 45 MPH IN OUR AUDI A3 TDI. VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP "EXPLODED" AND QUIT WORKING. THIS FAILURE CIRCULATED METAL PARTICLES THROUGH THE VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY ARE STILL REVIEWING WITH THE AUDI, BUT DEALER SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ANOTHER TDI NOT LONG AGO AND AUDI HAD THEM REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYS…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380120 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET AT ~35MPH, CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, LOSS POWER, THEN STALLED. UNABLE TO RESTART ENGINE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393533 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF APPLYING GAS AND NOT MOVING; THE ENGINE REVS, BUT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED FROM A FULL STOP OR ALMOST A FULL STOP, WHEN TRYING TO TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WHILE CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION. ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS IN ONE DAY. AUDI DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IF THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE SITUATION, THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING. I LEFT MY CAR FOR THEIR SERVICE MANAGER TO DRIVE INDEFINITELY. IT IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THIS IS A 2010, 2.0T. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406790 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-08-20 (August 20, 2009)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE "DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES.

Consequence: THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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: 2011-10-03 (October 3, 2011)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence: DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.