2015 Audi A3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
91 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 91 complaints (49.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 45 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Seat Belts | 10 |
| Seats | 10 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
Air Bags: 45; Electrical System: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Seat Belts: 10; Seats: 10; Engine: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 56 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2020: 24; 2021: 17; 2022: 19; 2023: 5; 2024: 10; 2025: 8; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 11298286 · 2020-01-09 (January 9, 2020)
VENT MOTORS FOR DEFROST FLAPS STOP WORKING CAUSING SCREEN TO FOG WITH VERY THICK MIST. CAN HAPPEN RANDOMLY EVEN WHILE BLOWER IS ON THE SCREEN POSITION AT FULL BLAST
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11298286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11298287 · 2020-01-09 (January 9, 2020)
WATER PUMP / THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILURE CAUSING COOLAT TO LEAK. ALL OF MY COOLANT WAS DRAINED BEFORE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11298287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11301550 · 2020-01-24 (January 24, 2020)
THERE WAS RECENTLY A PODS RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS GOING TO THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR THE RECALL DID NOT FIX THE ISSUES FOR MANY PEOPLE. CAR WILL RANDOMLY THINK SOMEONE IS SETTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND ACTIVATE AIRBAG AND CAUSE THE SEATBELT LIGHT TO CHIME CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO TURN ON AND OFF. THE SENSOR IMBEDDED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS FAULTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11306575 · 2020-02-02 (February 2, 2020)
THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURS ON NEARLY ALL MQB CHASSIS VW/AUDI'S WITH THE EA888 GEN 3 2.0 TFSI ENGINE. IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11306575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11308302 · 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)
EVERY 2 MIN. HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BY IT SELF FOR 2-3 SECONDS.. THEN TURN BACK ON.. PEOPLE ON FRONT OF YOU THINK THAT YOU HIGH BEAM THEM... BUT THE DANGER IS WHEN YOU DRIVE LIKE ON BRIDGE OR HIGHWAY WHERE NO STREET LIGHTS.. ROAD MAKING TURN.. AND YOUR HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF FOR COUPLE OF SECONDS.. AND THIS ON/OFF HEADLIGHTS THING GOING ON STOP.. DOESN'T MATTER IF VEHICLE IN MOTION.. PARKED OR EVEN ENGINE NOT RUNNING...
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11310473 · 2020-02-21 (February 21, 2020)
AFTER RECENT CAR INSPECTION DUE TO RECALL FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55 000 MILES ON IT. OTHER AUDI MODELS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR AUDI A3 2015. AS A MANUFACTURER AUDI MUST TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY PARTS AND IT SHOULD REPLACE THEM ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318915 · 2020-03-22 (March 22, 2020)
MY CAR KEEPS HAVING A SAFETY SYSTEM FAULT. THERE ARE TWO ERRORS: 1. THE "PAASENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR STAYS ON EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT 2. BUCKLE SEATBELT SIGN IS ON WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER I TOOK MY CAR FOR A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE OF THE AIRBAG BEING OFF! THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320398 · 2020-04-07 (April 7, 2020)
AUDI HAS A RECALL TO FIX THE WIRING IN THE PODS SYSTEM, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE COMPONENTS TO DETECT AND PROTECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT EXISTS. THE RECALL DOES NOT FIX THE SENSOR ITSELF WHICH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN EXISTING FAILURE ISSUE. KNOWING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AUDI HAS YET TO RECALL THE SENSOR AS PART OF THE SYSTEM TO DETECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS IS AS BAD IF NOT WORSE THEN THE AIRBAG RECALL THAT EXISTS TODAY. THEIR EXPLANATION IS THAT THE SENSOR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE ITS A DIFFERENT COMPONENT THAN THE WIRING H…
Owner-reported narrative. 107,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320398 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V198000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly
Reported: 2021-03-22 (March 22, 2021)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V110000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2024-02-14 (February 14, 2024)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. 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 VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
NHTSA campaign record ↗