2011 Audi A3: complaints, problems and recalls

PURCHASED A NEW 2011 AUDI A3 TDI LAST SATURDAY. THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY WHILE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION THE DSG TRANSMISSION BRIEFLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND I SAW THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE SHOOT UP AND HEARD THE ENGINE WHINE. I WAS IN MANUAL MODE AT THE TIME. I DOWN SHIFTED AND LET OFF THE GAS AND IT RE-ENGAGED. THE FOLLOWING DAY (TODAY) THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS ALSO IN MANUAL MODE AND WAS AGAIN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. I WILL BE CALLING THE DEALER MONDAY, BUT IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE SINCE LEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399438 at NHTSA ↗

1) NORMAL DRIVING. 2) FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN TOTAL FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. 3) FUEL PUMP AND ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415442 at NHTSA ↗

YOU MOBILE PHONE CONNECTS TO THE AUTOS RADIO SYSTEM. THE AUTOS DEFAULT RING VOLUME IS AT AN UNSAFE VOLUME AND CANNOT BE MODIFIED. TWO AUDIOLOGISTS HAVE BOTH ATTESTED TO THE FACT THAT THE VOLUME IS AT AN UNSAFE LEVEL. AUDI SAYS THE REALIZE THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL OFFER NO FIX. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY HEARING AND FOR MY WIFE AND CHILD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10447052 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3 TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471151 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE DANGEROUSLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR SYMTOMS LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY IN MORNING TRAFFIC; WOULD NOT START AGAIN. POWER LOSS EFFECTED BOTH THE BRAKING AND THE STEERING, MAKING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHILE IT COASTED TO A STOP. CALLED #77 STATE POLICE IN VA, TRANSFERED TO FAIRFAX COUNTY POLICE, OFFICER CALLED TOW SERVICE. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (AUDI OF CHANTILLY). SERVICE DEPARTMENT FIRST SAID A POSSIBLE BAD FUEL FILTER, THEN SAID "NON-COMBUSTIBLE FUEL" AND THEN SAID "KEROSENE" IN THE TANK. SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER PROVIDED NO EMPERICA…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511167 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN AN AUDI A3 2011, TDI. I HAD TWO SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WITH THIS TDI. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN THE CARS JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 50,000 MILES. I DROVE THIS CAR IN CITY STREET AND THE ?GLOW-PLUG? INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE AUDI SERVICE. THEY TOLD ME THAT I CONTAMINATED WITH UNLEADED FUEL. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE I ONLY USE ONE GAS STATION AND USUALLY, I USED THE SAME DIESEL PUMP. AFTER AUDI DEALER TALK TO THE AUDI OF AMERICA, THEY DECIDED…

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544337 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR IS JERKING IN BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND GEAR. SEEMS THE TRANSMISSION CANT DECIDE TO STAY IN 1ST OR SECOND. ALSO- THE CAR SHIFTS DOWN TO 1ST INAPPROPRIATELY QUICKLY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557106 at NHTSA ↗

SAME ISSUE AS CAMPAIGN 97Z9 ON THE VW TIGUAN WITH FUSE F16 ON THE FUSE PANEL IS MELTING. THE PART NUMBER IS THE SAME AS THE TIGUAN'S. 1K0937125D. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598963 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Reported: 2019-12-04 (December 4, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.