2010 Audi A3 Fuel system Problems

DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR COMMUTE, WHILE TRAVELING AT 60MPH ON EAST BOUND HIGHWAY 70 (AT THE 70/270 INTERCHANGE) IN ST. LOUIS, MO THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE CAR 4 LANES TO THE FAR RIGHT SHOULDER AND TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE CAR WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. AS THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 3 DEGREES (-9 WITH WINDCHILL) I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED A TOWING SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI SHOP, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP) HAD FAILED AND WILL REQUIRE ITS REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE FUEL SYSTEM ($6,000-$8,000 REPAIR ESTIMATE). *TR

NHTSA ID

10671226

Incident

Jan 8, 2015

Mileage

91,450 mi

WHILE DEPARTING A PARKING LOT ONTO A PRIMARY ROAD, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING; THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LOSING POWER. I RETURNED TO PARKING AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653233

Incident

Oct 24, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL8 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLOW PLUG SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V490000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 09V377000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ID

10617638

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

Mileage

101,000 mi

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. SECOND TIME WAS IN MAY 2014 AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. BOTH TIMES THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AUDI REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM FROM THE INJECTORS TO THE FUEL TANK. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW OTHER AUDI OWNERS AT THE DEALER WHO HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIESEL FUEL PUMP FAILURES ON TDI CARS AND SUVS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614953

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

5,000 mi

ON MY WAY TO WORK MY CAR STALLED /LOST POWER ,GLOW PLUG LIGHT WENT ON THEN I COULDN'T RESTART MY CAR. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR TO MY DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED ME THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER ALOT OF PARTS AND REPLACE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL PUMP, HPFP, FUEL LINE INJECTORS AND SEALS AND THEY HAVE TO CLEAN THE TANK! I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND ONLY ME WAS USING THAT CAR. I HAVE NEVER USED ANYTHING BUT HIGH QUALITY DIESEL FUEL FROM SHELL GAS STATION LOCATED ON DEMPSTER STREET IN SKOKIE,IL. I BUY ULSD ONCE A MONTH AND HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS FROM THIS YEAR ( AND IF NECESSARY FROM DAY ONE FROM MY BANK CREDIT CARD HISTORY) BECAUSE OF THIS I AM 100% SURE THAT ANY CLAIM THAT I USED WRONG FUEL IS WITHOUT BASE. IF THE ULTRALOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL RECOMMENDED BY CAR MANUFACTURERS DOESN'T MUCH SPECIFICATION THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE PUTTING DIESEL CAR ON THE MARKET.I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT ALL MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR WAS DONE ON TIME AT AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS.I CHANGE OIL EVERY 4K MILES INSTEAD 10K AS MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDING MY AUDIS' WARRANTY EXPIRES NEXT MONTH AND I HOPE THAT AUDI WILL EXTENDED MY WARRANTY FOR ANOTHER 4 YEARS/50K MILES!!! IF NOT I HAVE TO GET RID OF MY CAR THAT I WAS PLANNING TO KEEP FOR LONG TIME. BAD HPFP CRAFTSMANSHIP AND DESIGN SHOULD BE CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF AUDI/VW WANTS TO SELL DIESEL CARS IN US! *TR

NHTSA ID

10608307

Incident

Jul 2, 2014

Mileage

19,500 mi

2010 TDI AUDI A3. UPON ACCELERATION THE CAR HESITATED AND THE ENGINE STARTED JERKING. THE "GLOW PLUG" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING THEN THE CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER AND CAME TO A STOP. COULD NOT RESTART. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHICH TOLD ME THAT I HAD PUT BAD DIESEL IN IT AND IT CAUSED METAL PARTICLES TO CIRCULATE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM DOING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. EVERYTHING THAT THE DIESEL HAD TOUCHED WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I TOLD DEALERSHIP THAT I ONLY USE DIESEL FROM THERE LIST OF "GOOD" DIESEL STATIONS. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $7,345 TO FIX. IF THEY PUT THE SAME PARTS BACK IN IT TO REPAIR IT, WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN???? I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED BY THE BOOK - THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584339

Incident

Apr 18, 2014

Mileage

78,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWEDTO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP SUFFERED AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 04/29/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AUDI PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/03/14

NHTSA ID

10573440

Incident

Mar 17, 2014

Mileage

83,000 mi

CHECK VEHICLE (COIL) LIGHT FLASHED. VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON CALIFORNIA HWY 1. WAS ABLE TO COAST VEHICLE TO SAFE PLACE. DEALER DIAGNOSED FAILED DIESEL FUEL PUMP, SAID PUMP WAS DISINTEGRATED. SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED THAT ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD BE REPLACED BY AUDI. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567992

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

CAR STARTED BUT MADE HORRIBLE RATTLING SOUND THEN DIED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. CAR LEFT ME STRANDED OVER 60 MILES FROM HOME ON A SUNDAY NIGHT ON THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WITH A YOUNG CHILD. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN. DUE TO THE LATE HOUR AND HOLIDAY, NO WAY TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME, SO I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE COME AND GET US. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND BASICALLY EXPLODED SENDING METAL FIBERS INTO ENGINE AND OTHER SYSTEMS. GIVEN ESTIMATE OF $7,500.00 TO FIX THE CAR. SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED AT 100,000 MILES, AND MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 4,600 MILES. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, THAT IF THE FUEL PUMP GOES BAD IN A DIESEL ENGINE THAT IT WILL DO SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514315

Incident

May 26, 2013

Mileage

104,600 mi

WAS DRIVING ALONG AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN GLOW BULB INDICATOR CAME ON IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER TO ACCELERATOR. WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER ABOUT 4 MILES AND CAR THEN EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND WAS ROLLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE AT AUDI DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM LOCAL DEALERSHIP DESCRIBED THE CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO METAL FILINGS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSED EITHER BY FUEL PUMP FAILURE, OR BAD BATCH OF DIESEL FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512294

Incident

May 10, 2013

Mileage

57,000 mi

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A TDI VERSION OF THE AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, THE CAR STOPPED DEAD AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ON INSPECTION BY AN AUDI DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE PUMP FAILURE CAUSED METAL PARTICLES FROM THE PUMP ITSELF TO CIRCULATE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM DOING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM AND POWER TRAIN. AS OF THIS DATE, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS WITH NO ESTIMATED DATE OF COMPLETION. WE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR CATASTROPHIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITH OUR AUDI Q7 TDI IN JUNE OF 2012 WHICH REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM AND OTHER PARTS (SEE ODI # 10480946). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE REASON FOR THE DELAY IN REPAIRING THE A3 RELATES TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF CARS WITH SIMILAR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES WHICH HAS CAUSED A SCARCITY OF PARTS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO TDI VEHICLES FROM BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI. I AM NO ENGINEER, BUT WIDESPREAD FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES SEEM POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS. THIS PROBLEM DESERVES AN INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10480997

Incident

Oct 3, 2012

Mileage

38,753 mi

I OWN A 2010 AUDI A3 TDI. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, BEGAN FEELING HESITATION/JERKING IN THE ENGINE, THEN THE "GLOW PLUG" LIGHT CAME ON JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ULTIMATELY THE CAR STALLED WITHIN 30 SECONDS FOLLOWING INITIAL HESITATION IN A MOVING LANE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO COAST UP INTO A PARKING LOT TO SAFETY AND HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. IT WAS IN FOR REPAIR FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK. METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL FILTER INITIALLY THEN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE FUEL TANK WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. SERVICEMEN FIRST SUSPECTED I HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUT UNLEADED IN IT WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE THOUGH I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO WERE ACCUSED OF THE SAME AND FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER AND ONLY GO TO HIGHEST QUALITY STATIONS WITH LABELS OF "ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL". IF IT DOESN'T STATE THAT THEN I HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE. EVERYTHING FUEL-RELATED WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRMEN WERE UNABLE TO TELL ME HOW THE METAL SHAVINGS CAME ABOUT THOUGH THEY WERE INSISTENT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS SINCE THEY DID REPORT, AFTER I QUESTIONED THEM, THAT THE EXACT SAME PARTS REPLACED THE OLD ONES. I AM A HIGH MILEAGE DRIVER WHICH IS WHY I PURCHASED A DIESEL ENGINE. MY WARRANTY WILL SOON EXPIRE. WHEN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURS AGAIN, IF I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE, I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET OVER $8000 WHICH WAS THE ESTIMATE ON PAPER FROM THE DEALER. I HOPE AUDI FURTHER INVESTIGATES THE PROBLEM VERY SOON AND ISSUES A RECALL SO I CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND! *TR *KB

NHTSA ID

10446661

Incident

Jan 6, 2012

Mileage

39,100 mi

IN 30-35 MPH TRAFFIC, GLOW-PLUG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE MANUAL, AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND WAS GIVEN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, I NOTICED NOT ONLY THE FLASHING GLOW-PLUG LIGHT, BUT THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, WHICH HAD COME ON AS WELL. ALSO, WHEN I PULLED OUT, POWER SEEMED LIMITED AND ACCELERATION DIFFICULT. NOW ON A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD TO STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE IT TOWED IN. SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, AND UNABLE TO FIND A GOOD PLACE TO STOP, I DROVE HOME. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AND AUDI SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WAS NOT LOOKED AT FOR 24 HOURS (TDI-TRAINED MECHANICS IN A MEETING OR SOME SUCH), BUT ON THURSDAY I GOT A REPORT. THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, SENDING METAL DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED, INCLUDING THE FUEL TANK. THE FIRST-SUSPECTED CAUSE -CONTAMINATED FUEL- HAD BEEN RULED OUT. I WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS A 1-IN-100,000 FLUKE, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN OVER 100 COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA AS OF EARLY 2011, PROMPTING AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ID

10433092

Incident

Oct 25, 2011

Mileage

22,000 mi

2010 AUDI A3 TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 10,000 MI. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418288

Incident

Jul 29, 2011

Mileage

10,334 mi

OUR 2010 AUDI A3 TDI DEISEL LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER PULLING OVER, WE WERE UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED DUE TO "CONTAMINATED FUEL". WE HAD PUT BRAND NAME DIESEL INTO THE TANK ON EVERY REFILL AND HAVE THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. *TT

NHTSA ID

10417207

Incident

Jul 25, 2011

Mileage

50,611 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON TO A FREE WAY ON RAMP AT ABOUT 25-30MPH, THE ENGINE INDICATOR COME ON AND STARTED TO FLASH, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE CAR STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC. I DID MY BEST TO STEER THE CAR INTO A SAFE AREA WITH NO POWER STEERING BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TRIED CRANKING THE ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN, WITH FAST MOVING VEHICLES PASSING BY AT HIGH SPEED, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I DID NOT GET REAR ENDED OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOWED THE CAR TO AUDI OF LOS ANGELES BUT IT WAS ALREADY CLOSED. THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE DIESEL FILTER POD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PUMP MIGHT GAVE OUT, THEY HAVE TO SEND FUEL SAMPLES TO GET IT ANALYZE. THIS CAR IS ONLY A YEAR OLD, HOW CAN THE PUMP,FAIL ALREADY? *TR

NHTSA ID

10408862

Incident

Jun 23, 2011

Mileage

28,040 mi

DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET AT ~35MPH, CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, LOSS POWER, THEN STALLED. UNABLE TO RESTART ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10393533

Incident

Mar 26, 2011

Mileage

13,500 mi

DRIVING HOME AFTER DARK ON A LOCAL BOULEVARD AT ABOUT 45 MPH IN OUR AUDI A3 TDI. VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP "EXPLODED" AND QUIT WORKING. THIS FAILURE CIRCULATED METAL PARTICLES THROUGH THE VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY ARE STILL REVIEWING WITH THE AUDI, BUT DEALER SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ANOTHER TDI NOT LONG AGO AND AUDI HAD THEM REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE INJECTORS. VEHICLE IS STALL AT DEALER WAITING ON PARTS. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC I DON'T BELIEVE I COULD HAVE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND WOULD HAVE BEEN STALLED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10380120

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

19,000 mi

2010 AUDI A-3 TDI (DIESEL) STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. WILL NOT START. TOWED TO STEVENS CREEK AUDI, CA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371068

Incident

Dec 14, 2010

Mileage

15,000 mi