10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Audi A3:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Feb 242014

A3 4-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
While driving at highway speeds the transmission shifts into neutral loosing the ability to power the vehicle almost causing a multi-vehicle crash. The dealer reports that it is the S-tronic transmission control box causing the issue. The incident has happened twice now with the second time with a near miss almost causing a crash. This control module failed in our vehicle at 34,000 miles (estimate) covered under warranty and now again at 83,000 miles. I have contacted Audi and I am not receiving any assistance for an issue that is clearly a safety item - loosing power at highway speeds which could result in a serious accident with a fatality or injury. This vehicle should have been included in the recall to replace the module with a known good module. Instead, it appears that the first module replacement did not include whatever fix they had done. We are concerned for our safety in driving this vehicle since we Transport our young children in it.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #2

Feb 012009

A3

  • 15,000 miles
I have an Audi A3 2008 2.0 model that was purchased new in 11/07. I started experiencing a hesitation with the transmission a few months ago. Basically, from a rolling start in 1st gear, there can be a jerky action with the car. I don't think this is turbo lag because I can hear the clutch trying to catch onto the gear. On top of that, when I slow the car down (I.e. 40 mph to 0 mph), I feel a jerk every time the transmission downshifts. To my passengers, they feel as if I am slamming on the brakes and then releasing the brakes sporadically. A few online posts tells me that this is possibly a defect with the mechatronics unit and that if not replaced as soon as possible, it could cause serious damage to the transmission.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 152009

A3

  • 19,000 miles
I have an Audi A3 2008 with dsg transmission. I drove it on vacation from columbus Ohio to nh about a 15 hr drive. When I was in stop and go traffic the RPM's would dip as I would apply the break causing the car to nearly stall. Every time this happened I had to react quickly as to make sure not to hit the person in front of me. When I would let off the break the car would surge forward causing me to abruptly have to hit the break. I took it to Audi and they claim that in hot weather this happens and is a side effect of the mechatronic control unit of the vehicle but that it is not significant enough to replace the unit until it actually fails. This seems to be a huge safety hazard considering I feel like I am taming a wild stallion on the open road. This must be fixed immediately. Help!

- Blacklick, OH, USA