2013 Audi A3 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Audi A3, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1045.5%
- Engine418.2%
- Fuel system313.6%
- Powertrain (other)29.1%
- Driver assistance14.5%
- Exterior lighting14.5%
- Visibility14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL - DEALER INFORMED ME THE RECALL PART HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE FOR 1 YEAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNAVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 2 - 6 MONTHS. NO RECALL MAINTENCE IS ABLE TO BE SCHEDULED. THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL IS DEATH TO THE DRIVER. UNACCEPTABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V084000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (AUDI MINNEAPOLIS, 9393 WYZATA BLVD, GOLDEN VALLEY, MN 55426) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the glow plugs failed to function and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to several dealers, where it was diagnosed with exhaust system failure. The contact was informed that the exhaust system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI TEMECULA (40955 TEMECULA CENTER DR, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 200-8100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DPS FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190810653. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,500.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED USED 2013 AUDI A3 TDI 3 MONTHS AGO. ONLY USE DIESEL FUEL. DRIVING ONTO I80 WEST WHEN I HEARD/FELT CAR HICCUP, LOST POWER. COASTED TO STOP SIGN, TRIED MULTIPLE TIME BUT WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD COME APART SPEWING METAL SHARDS INTO SYSTEM AND THAT ENTIRE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCH SHOWING DOCUMENTED FAILURES IN VW TDI (SAME ENGINE) HPFP IN 2010, 2011 AND 2012. IS SYSTEM SAFE? *TR
WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, I FELT WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS A "CLUNK" AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE CAR HAD STALLED, AND I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR ENTIRELY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ON MY WAY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Car stalled in fast moving traffic, and then lurched forward. In the stall the car behind me almost ran into me. In the lurch, I almost rear ended someone. Fortunate that both times there was no collision. Took the vehicle to Audi and the car has been diagnosed with failed mechatronic - a $4,000 repair. It was shared that this is a known issue with Audi for my model year (faulty mechatronic), and as such has been recalled in several countries, but not the US. I called Audi USA and was informed that yes it is a known issue and has been recalled in other countries, but that NHTSA has not required Audi USA to open a recall here, and so they can't help me. I'm asking for some assistance. Thank you very much
WHILE DRIVING IN SEATTLE'S NOTORIOUS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY A3 TDI, HAS STALLED. IT ACTS AS IF I HAVE "DROPPED" THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE BEING AN AUTOMATIC!!. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON TWO OCCASIONS. THERE IS LESS THAN 5K MILES ON MY NEW CAR. BOTH TIME IT HAS GONE IMMEDIATELY INTO UNIVERSITY AUDI. FIRST TIME, NO ANSWERS. STILL WAITING ON DIAGNOSTICS FROM TODAY'S EPISODES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
2013 AUDI A3 TDI., SERVICED FOR 65K MAINTENANCE 10/31/15. NEXT DAY , THE CAR BEGAN ABRUPTLY LOOSING FORWARD MOMENTUM UNDER ACCELERATION, AND DIED IN AN INTERSECTION. TOWED TO AUDI, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BAD DIESEL. THEY FLUSHED THE DIESEL AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. (KROGER DENIED MY BAD DIESEL CLAIM.) ON 11/2/15, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SAME ISSUES. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR AND REPLACED IT. ONE MONTH LATER, 11/6/15, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WITH THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT FLASHING. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID IT IS WAS THROTTLE SENSOR FAULT. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART, AND TOLD ME IT WAS 'SAFE TO DRIVE'. IN THE TIME BETWEEN, I WOULD REGULARLY EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM WHILE ACCELERATING UP HILLS. I HAD THE WORK DONE 1/7/16. 9 DAYS LATER AFTER THE THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACEMENT, SATURDAY, 1/16/16, WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR BEGAN UNEXPECTEDLY LOSING ACCELERATION IN AN EXTREME FASHION, AND STALLED OUT TWICE WITHIN A 15 MINUTE DRIVE. IT HAD BEEN SUDDENLY AND BRIEFLY LOSING ACCELERATION WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE GOING UPHILL FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT ALSO STALLED OUT WHILE ACCELERATING INTO AN INTERSECTION (EXTREMELY DANGEROUS) AND WHILE PARKING. I HAD AN ERROR # P2101, AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH WHILE GOING UPHILL UNTIL I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR. ON 1/18 (MONDAY) I TOOK MY CAR INTO AUDI SERVICE. THEY HAVE HAD IT UNTIL NOW, 2/9/16, AND HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER, AND IT HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION. THEY NOW SAY THAT THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THIS IS A CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE, GIVEN THE ABRUPT DROP IN ACCELERATION GOING UPHILL, THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THE MULTIPLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH EXTERIOR LIGHTING. I ALREADY REPLACED ONE OF THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS (NOT A BULB ISSUE) AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT ISSUES WHERE THE TAIL LIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL CEASE WORKING DURING THE DRIVING PROCESS AND THEN START WORKING AT RANDOM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SIMILAR ELECTRICAL ISSUE LIKE THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. THE TAIL LIGHT & DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FAILURE ARE DANGEROUS AS THE FAILURES OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,580.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .