RoadVitals

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 23, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 87 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsEngine
Filed Sep 23, 2019

CAR ENGINE STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN MOVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 10 MILES PER HOUR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING AS THE CAR STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS DISENGAGED AND INDICATED IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. SEVERE INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE CAR HAD BEEN REAR ENDED WHEN THE CAR STOPPED WORKING. CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT ALL PREDESIGNATED MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED MILEAGE POINTS WITHOUT INDICATION OF ANY ISSUES. *JS

NHTSA ID
11257580
Incident
Aug 30, 2019
Mileage
50,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 8, 2019

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION CAR HAS 2,300 MILES LEFT TO THE 10K OIL SERVICE CHECK CHANGE AND SHOWING LOW OIL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AUDI IS TRYING TO SAY TO JUST TOP OFF THE OIL, YET EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO NEED ENGINE REPLACEMENT EARLIER THAN IT SHOULD AT ABOUT 70-80-100K MILES AT BEST. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS AND A CLASS ACTION THAT INVOLVED THIS ISSUE BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO MORE THAN CHANGE OIL AND CHECK FOR LEAKS WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS AND I AM UNDER A CERTIFIED WARRANTY UNTIL OCTOBER 2019

NHTSA ID
11218667
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
32,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 14, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI NORTH PARK (210-960-6000, LOCATED AT 15670 I-35, SELMA, TX 78154) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA ID
11161367
Incident
Nov 21, 2018
Mileage
42,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 6, 2018

LOST COMPRESSION AT ONLY 43,670 MILES TO FOURTH CYLINDER. ENGINE WAS REBUILT BY AUDI DEALER. FOUND PIECES OF OIL CONTROL RING FROM A PISTON IN OIL PAN, AIR LEAKING THROUGH INTAKE, SEATING SURFACE FOR INTAKE VALVE NUMBER 2 ON CYLINDER 4 WAS BURNT AND UNABLE TO SEAT PROPERLY DUE TO SPRING ON THAT VALVE BEING WEAKER THAN OTHERS.

NHTSA ID
11083567
Incident
Mar 5, 2018
Mileage
43,670 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 7, 2017

CHECK ENGINE/ EPC- BOTH LIGHTS HAVE SIGNALED A DOZEN TIMES. THE FIRST FEW TIMES THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THEM "MISFIRES". EVENTUALLY THE CAR "SYMPTOMS" STARTED TO PROGRESS: WHEN CAR IS IDLING, CAR STARTS TO ACT LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO HARD/JERKY SHIFTS INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. NOW EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT STARTS ACTING UP- GIVING THE FEELING THAT THE CAR MAY STALL. THIS IS A DAILY ISSUE. TWICE NOW CAR HAS FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY. THE WORST SITUATION OCCURRED WHEN CAR WAS BUCKING AND REFUSING TO GO INTO 2ND GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER, ON THE ON-RAMP, TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART. DASH LIGHTS FADE LIGHT/DARK CONSTANTLY. ORIGINALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC FEATURE, GOING FROM DAY TO NIGHT TIME LIGHTS. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IT HAS INCREASED W/ FREQUENCY & CANNOT BE CONNECTED TO CHANGE DAY/NIGHT LIGHT SETTING CHANGE. KEY FOB DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY. I RESTARTED CAR USING EMERGENCY PROCEDURE (ALIGNING KEY FOB NEXT TO KEY SYMBOL ON DRIVE SHAFT)- THIS IS MEANT TO KEEP CAR RUNNING EVEN W/ DEAD KEY BATTERY. CAR SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK- WHO THEN LOADED MY CAR WHILE RUNNING BECAUSE IT STALLED ON HIM TOO. DID I MENTION THE 4 DAYS PRIOR MY CAR HAD BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP - SO EITHER WARNING SIGN DIDN'T CORRECTLY NOTIFY OR THEY JUST IGNORED IT. FIXED IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS CURRENT DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC: FAULT TO BAD INJECTOR SOMEHOW NONE OF THE RECALLS THAT APPLY TO 2015 A3S APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE DECRIPTIONS APPLY TO CAR ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
10993707
Incident
Jun 6, 2017
Mileage
45,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 1, 2017

2015 AUDI A3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE SAT IN AN OPEN AIR SITE WITHOUT A HOOD OR WINDOWS, EXPOSED TO THE WINTER ELEMENTS. 13 DAYS LATER IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE TO BE DUE TO RODENT NESTING ACTIVITY. *JS

NHTSA ID
10985349
Incident
Mar 2, 2017
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2017

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. ENGINE CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. ABSOLUTELY NO POWER OR ENGINE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. VEHICLE WENT FROM 65 TO 0 MPH IN SECONDS. NO STEERING CONTROL AS WELL!! COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HEAD OF SERVICE AT AUDI DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME & AUDI IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SAID DO NOT TAKE CAR BACK...THEY'RE PLAYING "RUSSIAN ROULETTE" WITH YOUR LIFE AND WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED.....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ID
10954092
Incident
Feb 9, 2017
Mileage
42,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Jan 7, 2016

AT 5 MONTHS - ENGINE ALMOST OVERHEATED. CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE FAN AND COMPUTER MODULE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 7 MONTHS (CURRENT ISSUE) - WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ADVISED THAT BRAKES FAILED. DEALER FOUND THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. INTERNAL CAMERA SHOWED SEALS FAILED AND WERE LEAKING. THIS CAR IS TOO NEW FOR SUCH A MAJOR PART TO FAIL THIS WAY.

NHTSA ID
10818824
Incident
Jan 2, 2016
Mileage
10,700 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 16, 2014

MY VEHICLE SUFFERED LOSS OF POWER AND AS A RESULT TOO MUCH OF HESITATION , IT BEHAVED AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STOP ON HIGHWAY.IT IS A NEW CAR AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE BAD GAS , CHANGED GAS STATION MADE SURE GAS IS NOT AN ISSUE AND HESITATION/LOSS OF POWER CONTINUES. I WAS ABOUT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE BUT DEALER CALLED ME SAYING MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER HAS BEEN LISTED FOR AN IMP UPDATE IN ORDER TO PREVENT FAILURE OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS AND PEOPLE IN GERMANY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GET THIS FIXED ASAP I.E ; 18 SEPT 2015 . I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT ON 24 SEPT 2015 IT IS NOT JUST UPDATE BUT THE ENTIRE TURBO IS REPLACED , MONTH LATER CAR IS HAVING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS ,NO POWER/HESITATION , INTERMITTENTLY STUTTERING OR MISFIRING. AUDI MECHANICS KEPT CAR FOR A DAY (13 NOV 2014)AND REPLIED THEY COULDN'T FIND THE ISSUE AND RETURNED THE CAR BACK TO ME . I ASSURED THEM THE VEHICLE HAD PREMIUM GAS ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF THE STATUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10655336
Incident
Aug 4, 2014
Mileage
1,700 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 2014

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2.0 AUDI A3 FROM THE DEALER THIS MAY. I GOT A LOW OIL WARNING WITH ONLY 2700 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THE OIL IS DARK AND DIRTY COMPARE TO THE LONER CAR I GOT. IT HAS BEEN THREE TIMES I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE DEALER, BUT THEY NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FIRST TIME, THEY TOPED UP THE OIL. AFTER TWO WEEKS, THE OIL WAS LOW AGAIN, SO I BROUGHT IT BACK. THIS TIME, THEY CHANGED A NEW OIL TANK CAP FOR ME, BUT TWO WEEKS LATER, THE OIL WAS LOW. I DROVE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE, THIS TIME ACTUALLY THE AUDI COMPANY TOLD ME THAT IS BECAUSE MY CAR IS STILL IN BREAK-IN PERIOD AND JUST TOPPED UP THE OIL AGAIN. BUT AS AN ENGINEER, I KNOW IT CANNOT BE 2 QT PER 1000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10644326
Incident
Aug 10, 2014
Mileage
2,689 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .