10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,815 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #6

Dec 152017

A3

  • 64,230 miles
1.car slips on wet snow when applying brakes with brake assist on 2. 30 amp fuse for right side control module blows off every week after replacing to a black char

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #5

Jan 122017

A3 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
After starting the car and moving a short distance, the dash display showed multiple warnings regarding the exterior lights. Approximately 12 exterior lights had all gone out at once. After some research on the issue I checked the fuse box in the engine bay and fuse F16 (30A) had melted with residue on the contact but not failed. The contact on the fuse box also had residue and the surrounding plastic was melted as well. The same exact issue occurred on my 2009-2011 VW tiguan and a recall was issued (NHTSA campaign number: 13V569000 and VW recall number: 97Z9/2V). The part recalled in the tiguan is the same exact part used in the 2012 Audi A3 (part #: 1K0937125D). Aoa should recall the part as was done by VW. There are multiple safety issues that are caused by this failure such as loss of exterior lighting while driving at night and possibility of fire caused by overheating. Attached are photos of the melted fuse and fuse box as well as the VW tiguan recall notice.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #4

Apr 022016

A3

  • 84,700 miles
After starting the car and driving about 50 feet, the vehicle driver display screen signaled that multiple exterior lights had failed simultaneously. Sensing that multiple light bulbs would not fail at once unless there was a larger electrical problem, I promptly made an appointment at the local Audi service center the next day. After diagnosis by Audi technicians, I learned that the fuse box under the hood had melted due to overload of circuits or wiring in the box. Had I not taken the car in for repair, the overload could have caused a fire in the engine bay. I researched this problem online and found other occurrences experienced by Volkswagen/Audi vehicle drivers with the same symptoms. Please add this incident to your record of cases. Thank you.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #3

Nov 042015

A3

  • 50,209 miles
While driving my lights would randomly go out both during day and night. Dash warning would be bulb out needing replacing but nothing was ever wrong with the bulbs or turn signals. Issue was intermittent and warning would go away on it's own or after car restarted. Later when dash warning came on and stayed on I took it into service which later was diagnosed to be a melted fuse box panel on F16 & F17. Both fuse slots were melted along with F16 fuse (15amp) and burn marks along the housing. The dealership repaired it but would not cover the repair under warranty or acknowledge the known issue which was recalled on VW side but not by Audi. The fusebox is 1K0937125D. Audi of America should have had this covered under warranty from when the symptoms started, or recalled the part as was done on VW side. This is a safety issue due to lights while driving at night, and potential fire issue with the melting of panel and fuse.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #2

Jul 012015

A3

  • 71,000 miles
While driving at 50mph, an mil indicator illuminated on the dashboard. A consistent change in power or drivability was not experienced immediately, but intermittent moments of slight power loss were noticed (1 second drop in power) during both cruise or acceleration during the remaining drive home after the light illuminated. When I arrived home, I inspected the engine for any obvious signs such as disconnected or loose electrical connections, oil level, etc. I did find a pool of oil on top of the cylinder head pooling around the injector ports. This caused me great concern, so on July 3, I drove the vehicle to the nearest Audi dealership. After two days, an asst. Service manager called me to present a diagnosis that the exhaust flap, associated with the emissions system, required replacement and that a technical service bulletin was issued by Audi for this specific problem. The oil pooling on top of the engine was attributed to remnants from a previous service visit to this same dealership. The asst. Service manager reported that the oil was cleaned from top of engine and then the vehicle was test driven with no perceivable oil discharge occurring afterward. My concern is that the exhaust flap is an issue for all vehicles with the cbea engine type and should be replaced by Audi due to faulty quality. Being an emissions component, the quality of the emissions control must be impacted or at least detrimental to other components in the system which regulate the emission of noxious greenhouse gases. I am concerned that the drivability could suffer to a greater extent overtime if the emissions system becomes compromised by this faulty equipment. My hope is that Audi will open a campaign to replace this component for loyal customers and prolong the life of the tdi clean diesel and its remarkable reduced emissions technology.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #1

Feb 062015

A3

  • 40,750 miles
The F16 fuse which is recalled on the VW side melted, causing the smell of burnt plastic and exterior lights going out while driving on the interstate at night. The dealer on top if this refuses to acknowledge this issue, and will not properly fix the car. I replaced the fuse with another, the recall on the VW side is 13V569000, aoa claims they do not have this problem, VW redesigned the fuse panels in its 2012 golf/tiguan/jetta, but the Audi A3 still uses the exact same fuse and fuse panel as the models on the recall list and tsb list.

- Melbourne, FL, USA