Complaints about the 2009 Audi A3 peaked in 2016, with 13 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Wagon, gasoline, AWD/All-Wheel Drive, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from May 9, 2009 to Dec 13, 2022.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18V-082 | Jan 30, 2018 | Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode | Airbags | 162,782 | Part replacement |
| 16V-913 | Dec 20, 2016 | Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle… | Stability and traction control | 135,683 | Software update |
| 16V-079 | Feb 10, 2016 | Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture | Airbags | 151,767 | Part replacement |
| 09V-377 | Sep 30, 2009 | Closing force of an internal spring of the fuel tank ventilation valve is not adequate enough to hold the valve closed under extreme driving… | Fuel system | 10,200 | Part replacement |
| 09V-333 | Aug 20, 2009 | Wiring harness of a temperature sensor in the direct shift gearbox (dsg) may have connector wires that were insufficiently crimped | Powertrain | 16,000 | Software update |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
47 complaints on file, page 1 of 3.
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the traction control and ABS control module warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
NHTSA complaint 11497222vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated Unable to control or stop Crashed into bush 2014 AUDI checked said no issuue Vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags Audi checked Said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a full stop at a light Anothet auto in front Audi suddenly switched gear and started to accelerate Would not stop Crashed into car in front Gear stayed frrozen in neutral for a few mimutes.
NHTSA complaint 11482996I had purchased the car back in August 17th 2021 my power steering my brakes my airbag light and the fuel system fuel leak started happening all at once water was draining out of the middle of the engine . It overheating the engine speed ball down and I automatically I instantly pulled over and turned it off and towed it home 2 days after I bought it. these are also recalls my Audi 2009-a3 2.0 tfsi s tronic has been sitting in my friends driveway for 7 months now because I cannot take the car anywhere I cannot move the car anywhere I cannot start the car and I don't know what else to do so I do need your help I should be eligible it says my VIN number matches the eligible subject vehicle my VIN number is in your system but my car is not showing up it shows up but it's not showing up as a recall or included in the class action settlement if you have any questions please call me [XXX] at [XXX] if you have any input thank you. I do love my Audi I love it very much the day I got to drive it and the only day I got to drive it I was very happy I thought with it until I get it fixed I will not be happy again INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint 11456529DSG transmission will abruptly shift down to first gear and would not respond in any other gear. The shift indicator in the dashboard will light up and blink and the check engine light will come on. There are no warnings before this happens and it will happen at random times. It has happen in separate occasions while traveling at different speeds. When this happens while traveling it creates a dramatic reduction on vehicle speed almost causing the vehicle traveling behind me to rear end me. Once stopped the car will only engage when put on D and will stay at a low gear causing the RPMs to red line even at low speeds making it unsafe to drive due to only being able to reach 5 to 10 MPH. A scan was performed and codes P1814 Press. Ctrl. Valve 1 Open circuit/short implausible signal, and, P1835 Press. Ctrl. Valve 5 Short circuit to B+. This fault is random and there is no warning or indication of when it may happen making the vehicle unsafe at any speed.
NHTSA complaint 11437903THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DSG MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED BY THE CONNECTOR SUPPLIER DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO OPEN AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO PERCEIVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED INTO 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. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint 11389974PURCHASED CAR IN 2010 WITH AROUND 10,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE OVER ABOUT 40MPH. SOMETIMES AFTER SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AUDI DEALERSHIP CAR PURCHASED FROM FOR REPAIR AND INITIALLY REPORTED AS SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPAIRED. COUPLE WEEKS AFTER REPAIR CAR WOULD HAVE SAME PROBLEM, SO TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN REPAIRED SENSOR(S). WITHIN ABOUT THE FIRST YEAR AFTER PURCHASING, ISSUE HAPPENED MULTIPLE (+/-5) TIMES AFTER DEALERSHIP 'REPAIRED' WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM AT THE PARTICULAR TIME. AFTER ABOUT 5/6 TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING DEALERSHIP TOOK A MORE IN DEPTH ATTEMPT AT FIGURING OUT WHAT PROBLEM REALLY WAS, TELLING ME THEY WERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH AUDI & THEIR MECHANICS TO FIND AND FIX THE ACTUAL DEFECT. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR AROUND 3 MONTHS FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH THEY DETERMINED WAS ELECTRICAL AND DECIDED TO REWIRE THE ENTIRE CAR. IN THE MEANTIME, I MOVED OUT OF STATE TO START GRADUATE SCHOOL. I FINALLY GOT IT BACK A FEW MONTHS LATER AFTER HAVING TO PAY TO SHIP IT TO ME AND FOR A RENTAL WHILE WAITING. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, CAR ONCE AGAIN HAD SAME EXACT PROBLEM. TOOK TO NEW LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO ALSO DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS SENSOR(S) & 'REPAIRED' THEM. CONTINUED TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM EVERY FEW WEEKS, WOULD TAKE INTO DEALER FOR REPAIR, GET IT BACK, HAVE PROBLEM, TAKE TO DEALERSHIP, ETC. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT ADDRESS CAR OVERALL BEING DEFECTIVE, THEY'D AVOID CONTACT, NOT RETURN CALLS, HANGUP ETC. CAR EVENTUALLY TRADED IN FOR NEW MAKE WHEN WARRANTY EXPIRED.
NHTSA complaint 11322035DRIVING 30 MINUTES INTO THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE DECIDED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN "D" DRIVE AND IN MOTION. THE "PRNDS" STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASH, WHILE NOT LETTING ME ACCELERATE GOING 65MPH. I HAD TO QUICKLY SLOWDOWN, AND PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE GONE INTO "LIMP MODE". AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT BACK ON, IT DROVE JUST FINE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE MORE 2 DAYS AGO. SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, HOWEVER DEALER CANT DETERMINE THE FAULT WITHOUT A CODE. SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW.
NHTSA complaint 11300553AUDI / VW HAD A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THIS CARS TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. MINE BROKE AT 95000 MILES. SO I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER AUDI OWNERS THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS COSTING ME OVER 1000$. AND SHOULD OF BEEN A FULL RECALL, NOT THIS OTHER BS. IT IS LEAVING US HIGH AND DRY. I HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANKS
NHTSA complaint 11245552TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGINE RPMS JUMP TO REDLINE WHILE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL, THEN GOES BACK INTO GEAR. HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION ALSO KICKS DOWN TO LOWEST GEAR WHEN COMING AT STOP, JERKING THE CAR WHILE BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint 11244641TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. BELL AUDI (782 US-1, EDISON, NJ 08817, (732) 388-2800) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL); ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED; HOWEVER, A SYSTEM ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 11204416ABS BRAKING SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE DID NOT FIX BRAKES. RECALL SHOWS IF BRAKE MODULE IS BAD IT WOULD REPLACE. HOWEVER, THEY ONLY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND CLAIMED THE MODULE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I DO NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL.
NHTSA complaint 11203091I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING NOTICES OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL REGULARLY FOR ALMOST A YEAR. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I ASKED TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. HAVING NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALER (BUT STILL RECEIVING NOTICES, THE LATEST ONE TODAY), I PLACED AN ORDER FOR THE PARTS IN MID-NOVEMBER 2018. STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint 11165283SAME ISSUE AS THE VW TIGUAN. FUSE F16 IN THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE BAY. VW ISSUED A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint 11142459TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (GURLEY LEEP MOTORWERKS, 4004 GRAPE RD, MISHAWAKA, IN 46545, (574) 254-7130) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND TO CALL BACK AT A LATER DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint 11141864TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AUDI GREENWICH AT (203) 930-7176 (LOCATED AT 181 WEST PUTNAM AVE, GREENWICH, CT 06830) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint 11140033WHILE IN DRIVE AND STARTING TO ACCELERATE IN A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK IN A GEAR WHILE MAKING A TURN. PRDNS LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND SUDDENLY WHEN IN TO NEUTRAL. IT HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES NOW WHERE I GO FROM PARKING TO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE. ALL PRDNS START FLASHING AND CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY GEAR.
NHTSA complaint 11091266TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED DUE TO BLACK ICE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. AUDI FAIRFIELD (435 COMMERCE DR, FAIRFIELD, CT) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTACT IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERIM REPAIR FOR THE TAKATA RECALL FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MILD BRUISING FROM CONTACTING THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. *TT NEITHER AUDI OR TAKATA ACKNOWLEDGES THE AIRBAG RECALL FIX AS BEING INADEQUATE. *TT
NHTSA complaint 11080419TAKATA RECALL WE WERE NOTIFIED BY MAIL OF THE TAKATA RECALL FOR OUR AUDI MODEL. WE HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH AUDI OAKLAND DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE RECALL. ON OUR WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING. WE GET THE CAR TOWED OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP, TO OUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT AS WELL AS HOPING TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE CAR. THEY ALLEGEDLY CLAIM THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER PERFORMED AN OBD ON THE CAR. WITH THAT, THEY REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS WHAT OUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WAS FOR TO BEGIN WITH.
NHTSA complaint 11065501ACCORDING TO THE PUBLICATION I FOUND HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2016/RCLRPT-16V913-3524.PDF MY CAR VIN IS LISTED AS PART OF A RECALL FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT 18 MONTHS AGO WHERE THIS EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS CUT OFF AND SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. I HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. BOTH MY ABS AND ESC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I DID NOT THINK ABOUT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE RECALL. NOW AUDI HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION HOW THIS WAS DETERMINED. AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN I NEED TO KNOW WHY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint 11010070TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ABS AND ESC INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint 10985106Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.