RoadVitals

2009 Audi A3 Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
13
Latest Sep 6, 2022
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.
28%
of 47 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.
2
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

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Audi A3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 powertrain

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

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 6, 2022
Crash reported

vehicle 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 ID
11482996
Incident
Sep 3, 2022
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 13, 2022

I 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 ID
11456529
Incident
Aug 19, 2021
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 23, 2021

DSG 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 ID
11437903
Incident
Oct 22, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 26, 2021

THE 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 ID
11389974
Incident
Sep 1, 2020
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 23, 2020

PURCHASED 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 ID
11322035
Incident
Jan 8, 2012
Mileage
10,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 20, 2020

DRIVING 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 ID
11300553
Incident
Jan 18, 2020
Mileage
100,120 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 17, 2019

TRANSMISSION 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 ID
11244641
Incident
Aug 16, 2019
Mileage
61,200 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2018

WHILE 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 ID
11091266
Incident
Feb 10, 2018
Mileage
85,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 26, 2016

WHEN IN LOW GEARS, EVERY ACTION (DECELERATION AND ACCELERATION) ARE EXTREMELY "JERKY". WHEN COMING TO A STOP AUDIBLE "CLUNK"S CAN BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FULLY STOP THE CAR JERKS FORWARD INTO FIRST GEAR. THE REVERSE AND DRIVE GEARS ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES PARTIALLY ENGAGE, OR DO NOT FULLY ENGAGE AT ALL. ON HILLS, THE TRANSMISSION HAS THESE ISSUES AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
10919152
Incident
Oct 26, 2016
Mileage
139,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 7, 2014
Crash reported

DRIVING INTO A SMALL LOT TO PARK. FOOT ON BRAKE AND MOVING AT AT LOW SPEED CAME TO STOP AND AUTO SUDDENLY STARTED TO SPEED AND SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. AUTO JUMPED A SMALL CURB AND WENT INTO SOME BUSHES. IN PAST WHEN DRIVING AUTO SHIFTED TO SPORT GEAR WITHOUT WARNING AND SLOWED DOWN. DEALER CHECKED AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM SIMILAR RECALL WITH 2009 A3 BUT NOT MY VIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10619508
Incident
Jul 21, 2014
Mileage
41,800 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 11, 2014

CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, TRANSMISSION FROZE UP. ALL THE GEAR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING PRND. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. THEY STATED THAT THE MEGATRONIC TRANSMISSION MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART NEEDED TO COME FROM EUROPE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10579289
Incident
Apr 3, 2014
Mileage
61,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 26, 2013

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MECHATRONIC CONTROLLER HAS GONE BAD. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DSG WILL NOT ENGAGE TO GO INTO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. WHEN PLACED IN PARK, IF AUTO IS ON AN INCLINE OF ANY SORT, THE VEHICLE WILL AND HAS ROLLED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 10 INCHES. THE CONCERN IS THAT IF THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE ON COMMAND, THE OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AN ONCOMING MASS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10553855
Incident
Nov 25, 2013
Mileage
64,670 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE FAILURE FELT AS IF THE BRAKES HAD ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT THE VEHICLE RAN WOULD DRIVE ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10519534
Incident
Jun 11, 2013
Mileage
75,000 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .