2003 Audi Tt 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 2003 Audi Tt, 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
- Electrical736.8%
- Powertrain (other)421.1%
- Engine421.1%
- Visibility15.3%
- Exterior lighting15.3%
- Fuel system15.3%
- Transmission15.3%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2003 AUDI TT QUATTRO HAS AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT, HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES REPLACING THE BULB AS WELL AS SWITCH. AFTER LOOKING AT NUMEROUS POSTS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A HUGE FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE. IN MY STATE YOU GET A TICKET FOR A SINGLE LIGHT OUT (NY) AND THIS HEADLIGHT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY EITHER WHEN AT 0MPH OR 60MPH. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN, ON TOP OF THE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPLACEMENT FOR THE DIGITAL CLUSTER, THERMOSTAT AND COOLING PUMP. THEN I REPLACED THE CLUSTER FOR THE FIRST TIME 9/2011. SAME DAY AFTER PUTTING IN THE NEW CLUSTER THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND REPLACED A FEW DAYS LATER. THE CLUSTER WAS REPLACED AGAIN WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND STAYED BELOW ZERO. ON THAT SAME DAY I PICK UP THE CAR AND DROVE LESS THAN A MILE AND THE DIGITAL CLUSTER FADED OUT TO A BLANK SCREEN. I TURN AROUND AND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS INFORM THAT THEY WILL ORDER ANOTHER CLUSTER AND CALL ME FOR THE INSTALL WHICH WAS DONE A FEW DAYS LATER. NOW THE DIGITAL CLUSTER IS NOT MAKING ANY WARNING SOUNDS. WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTON MANUALLY TO SEE, IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS IT SHOWED A SERVICE VISIT WAS COMING UP AND THE SYMBOL TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND WATER PUMP. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THIS WAS NORMAL TO SEE WHICH CONTRADICTS THE CAR MANUAL AND ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER IN A DIFFERENT STATE WHOM REPLACE THE COOLING PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORM THEM THAT THE CLUSTER WAS NOT ALARMING FOR ANY SERVICES COMING DUE OR PROBLEMS AND THE CAR NOW HAS A SLIGHT JERK FORWARD WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES. THERE REPORT STATED DIFFERENTLY LIKE THE CAR RAN ROUGH, THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND THE CAR SAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THERE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CLUSTER WAS FINE. WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE CAR WAS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE NO ALARM EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND ITS WAS NOT THAT BAD BUT AFTER I GOT HOME AND VIEWED THE PAPERWORK IT SHOWED EVERY COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLE INSPECTION REPORT NEEDED FURTHER ATTENTION. I PHONED THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE TECHNICIAN MAY HAVE MADE A MISTAKE. *JB
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
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN CAR IS WARM AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IS WARM/HOT.
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPLACEMENT FOR THE DIGITAL CLUSTER, THERMOSTAT AND COOLING PUMP. THEN I REPLACED THE CLUSTER FOR THE FIRST TIME 9/2011. SAME DAY AFTER PUTTING IN THE NEW CLUSTER THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND REPLACED A FEW DAYS LATER. THE CLUSTER WAS REPLACED AGAIN WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND STAYED BELOW ZERO. ON THAT SAME DAY I PICK UP THE CAR AND DROVE LESS THAN A MILE AND THE DIGITAL CLUSTER FADED OUT TO A BLANK SCREEN. I TURN AROUND AND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS INFORM THAT THEY WILL ORDER ANOTHER CLUSTER AND CALL ME FOR THE INSTALL WHICH WAS DONE A FEW DAYS LATER. NOW THE DIGITAL CLUSTER IS NOT MAKING ANY WARNING SOUNDS. WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTON MANUALLY TO SEE, IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS IT SHOWED A SERVICE VISIT WAS COMING UP AND THE SYMBOL TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AND WATER PUMP. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THIS WAS NORMAL TO SEE WHICH CONTRADICTS THE CAR MANUAL AND ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER IN A DIFFERENT STATE WHOM REPLACE THE COOLING PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORM THEM THAT THE CLUSTER WAS NOT ALARMING FOR ANY SERVICES COMING DUE OR PROBLEMS AND THE CAR NOW HAS A SLIGHT JERK FORWARD WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES. THERE REPORT STATED DIFFERENTLY LIKE THE CAR RAN ROUGH, THE PANEL LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AND THE CAR SAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THERE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CLUSTER WAS FINE. WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE CAR WAS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE NO ALARM EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND ITS WAS NOT THAT BAD BUT AFTER I GOT HOME AND VIEWED THE PAPERWORK IT SHOWED EVERY COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLE INSPECTION REPORT NEEDED FURTHER ATTENTION. I PHONED THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE TECHNICIAN MAY HAVE MADE A MISTAKE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 AUDI TT. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND TIMING BELT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL GAUGE AND OTHER COMPONENTS WERE NOT ACCURATE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR AUDI'S AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY AUDI. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT GIVEN A RATIONAL REASON FOR THE DENIAL. HOWEVER, AUDI STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DENIED THE REQUEST. *JB
ENGINE FAILED. THREW A ROD CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. *JB
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
MY 2003 AUDI TT QUATTRO HAS AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT, HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES REPLACING THE BULB AS WELL AS SWITCH. AFTER LOOKING AT NUMEROUS POSTS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A HUGE FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE. IN MY STATE YOU GET A TICKET FOR A SINGLE LIGHT OUT (NY) AND THIS HEADLIGHT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY EITHER WHEN AT 0MPH OR 60MPH. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN, ON TOP OF THE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
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
MY 2003 AUDI TT QUATTRO HAS AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT, HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES REPLACING THE BULB AS WELL AS SWITCH. AFTER LOOKING AT NUMEROUS POSTS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A HUGE FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE. IN MY STATE YOU GET A TICKET FOR A SINGLE LIGHT OUT (NY) AND THIS HEADLIGHT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY EITHER WHEN AT 0MPH OR 60MPH. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN, ON TOP OF THE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
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
THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL IS FAILING CURRENTLY IT DOES NOT REGISTER THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC CAUSING A DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE IN THE VEHICLES INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $900 FOR THE PART, PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THE ITEM ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS ALSO STORED IN A HEATED GARAGE IN THE WINTER SO, ELEMENTS SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR IN THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI TT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25-35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO THEN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,902. UPDATED 1/21/11 *CN UPDATED 04/18/11
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 .