2015 Audi A3 CABRIOLET
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2015 Audi A3 CABRIOLET has 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: there is a white/chalk outline of the passenger airbag, my vehicle only has 500 miles on it, not sure if the there is a air bag or inflator issue or a material defect. dealership is saying this is normal. i have pictures http://i.imgur.com/sopagnm.jpg http://i.imgur.com/libxewo.jpg.
109
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
38 complaints- • THERE IS A WHITE/CHALK OUTLINE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 500 MILES ON IT, NOT SURE IF THE THERE IS A AIR BAG OR INFLATOR ISSUE OR A MATERIAL DEFECT. DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE PICTURES HTTP://I.IMGUR.COM/SOPAGNM.JPG HTTP://I.IMGUR.COM/LIBXEWO.JPG
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (NIELLO AUDI LOCATED AT 2350 AUBURN BLVD SACRAMENTO, CA 95821, (916) 480-2800) APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AGO, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS AND REPAIRS
- • EVERY TIME I APPLY THE BRAKE OR PUT THE CAR IN PARK, MY VEHICLE ROLLS BACK EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT REMAINS ON THE BREAK. CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS
“THERE IS A WHITE/CHALK OUTLINE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 500 MILES ON IT, NOT SURE IF THE THERE IS A AIR BAG OR INFLATOR ISSUE OR A MATERIAL DEFECT. DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE PICTURES HTTP://I.IMGUR.COM/SOPAGNM.JPG HTTP://I.IMGUR.COM/LIBXEWO.JPG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
16 complaints- • THE CAR LOST POWER WHILE MOVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. TOTALLY LOSS OF POWER. UNABLE TO RESTART. *TR
- • TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. UNABLE TO RESTART. *TR
- • MY AUDI CAR HASNT BEEN RUNNING WELL. I WENT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND NO SENSE OF URGENCY REGARDING THIS MATTER, WAS TOLD THEY WILL CALL ME WHEN THEY HAVE IT BUT "I SHOULD BE FINE". I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE 11.11.16 BUT DOESNT FIX THE RECALL "SAFTEY RECALL 20Y5 SUCTION PUMP" . TH
“THE CAR LOST POWER WHILE MOVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. TOTALLY LOSS OF POWER. UNABLE TO RESTART. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
10 complaints- • 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 PR
- • 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 APPOINT
- • 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 SEAL
“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 PR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
8 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HESITATE AND FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO TURNED ON INDEPENDE
- • 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 GE
- • WHILE THE RADIATOR WAS BEING REPLACED DUE TO CRACKS AND LEAKING AT 57,000 MILES, MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS MELTING. THE TOP OF THE ASSEMBLY WAS MELTING AWAY AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER (MISSION VIEJO AUDI) WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICL
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HESITATE AND FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO TURNED ON INDEPENDE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
LIGHTING
5 complaints- • I WAS BEHIND A NEWER AUDI SEDAN (POSSIBLE A3 2.0T) AT NIGHT, AND WAS BLINDED BY THE BRIGHTNESS FROM THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS WERE TOO BRIGHT FOR ME TO SAFELY KEEP MY EYES ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING A 2001 LEXUS LX470, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE HEIGHT OF MY VEHICLE MADE A DIFFERENCE ON THE ANGLE O
- • THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2015 AUDI A3 INADEQATELY LIGHTS THE ROAD AHEAD ESPECIALLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD TO THE POINT THAT IT HAS BECOME A SAFERY PROBLEM TO MYSELF AND ANYONE USING THIS VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND
- • THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO LOW. THERE IS A DROP-OFF SO THERE APPEARS A DARK AREA ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT AND TO THE LEFT OF THE DRIVER SIDE WHEN DRIVING. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE RIGHT BEAM IS CROSSING THE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH EUROPEAN CODE AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DON
“I WAS BEHIND A NEWER AUDI SEDAN (POSSIBLE A3 2.0T) AT NIGHT, AND WAS BLINDED BY THE BRIGHTNESS FROM THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS WERE TOO BRIGHT FOR ME TO SAFELY KEEP MY EYES ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING A 2001 LEXUS LX470, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE HEIGHT OF MY VEHICLE MADE A DIFFERENCE ON THE ANGLE O”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 109 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: THERE IS A WHITE/CHALK OUTLINE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 500 MILES ON IT, NOT SURE IF THE THERE IS A AIR BAG OR INFLATOR ISSUE OR A MATERIAL DEFECT. DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE PICTURES HTTP://I.IMGUR.COM/SOPAGNM.JPG HTTP://I.IMGUR.COM/LIBXEWO.JPG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: THE CAR LOST POWER WHILE MOVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. TOTALLY LOSS OF POWER. UNABLE TO RESTART. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 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 PR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE HESITATE AND FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO TURNED ON INDEPENDE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Audi A3 CABRIOLET — Year Comparison
How does 2015 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 109
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2015 Audi A3 CABRIOLET