2011 Audi A3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Audi A3 has 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufactu. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

20 complaints

39%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTU
• TAKATA RECALL. A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN FEBRUARY 2016 FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS NOTIFIED BY AUDI OF THE RECALL IN APRIL. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEN AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. I CONTACTED AUDI WEST HOUSTON AGAIN ON JUNE 27, 2016 AND WAS TOLD THE ONLY REMEDY TO ME WAS A DISCOUNT ON A NE
• TAKATA AIRBAG I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY LETHAL ISSUE WITH MY CAR. THIS RECALL IS OPEN SINCE FEBRUARY 2016 AND YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY THIS. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE A POTENTIALLY LETHALLY HARMFUL VEHICLE OVER THE LACK OF ABILITY BY THE MANUFACTURER TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

10 complaints

20%

• 1) NORMAL DRIVING. 2) FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN TOTAL FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. 3) FUEL PUMP AND ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED. *TR
• I OWN AN AUDI A3 2011, TDI. I HAD TWO SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WITH THIS TDI. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN THE CARS JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 50,000 MILES. I DROVE THIS CAR IN CITY STREET AND THE ?GLOW-PLUG? INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE AUDI
• FUEL PUMP IMPLODED AND SENT SHRAPNEL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. EVERYTHING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“1) NORMAL DRIVING. 2) FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN TOTAL FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. 3) FUEL PUMP AND ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3 TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED W
• FUEL PUMP IMPLODED AND SENT SHRAPNEL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. EVERYTHING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
• I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE NY STATE THRUWAY IN ALBANY AT 65-70 MILES AN HOUR. I REALIZED I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND SAW THAT THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT, BUT AS I SLOWED, THE CAR STALLED AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3 TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

• SAME ISSUE AS CAMPAIGN 97Z9 ON THE VW TIGUAN WITH FUSE F16 ON THE FUSE PANEL IS MELTING. THE PART NUMBER IS THE SAME AS THE TIGUAN'S. 1K0937125D. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT A FUSE PANEL HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING POWERED OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“SAME ISSUE AS CAMPAIGN 97Z9 ON THE VW TIGUAN WITH FUSE F16 ON THE FUSE PANEL IS MELTING. THE PART NUMBER IS THE SAME AS THE TIGUAN'S. 1K0937125D. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

• PURCHASED A NEW 2011 AUDI A3 TDI LAST SATURDAY. THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY WHILE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION THE DSG TRANSMISSION BRIEFLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND I SAW THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE SHOOT UP AND HEARD THE ENGINE WHINE. I WAS IN MANUAL MODE AT THE TIME. I DOWN SHIFTED AND LET OFF THE GAS AND IT
• THE CAR IS JERKING IN BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND GEAR. SEEMS THE TRANSMISSION CANT DECIDE TO STAY IN 1ST OR SECOND. ALSO- THE CAR SHIFTS DOWN TO 1ST INAPPROPRIATELY QUICKLY. *TR
• VEHICLE DOES NOT SWITCH GEARS PROPERLY. ONCE DRIVE GEAR IS SELECTED THEN THE GEAR INDICATOR FLASHES (EX. THE D FLASHES OR P FLASHES). VEHICLE DOES NOT SWITCH GEARS UNTIL 5500 RPM IS REACHED. AND VEHICLE DOES NOT ENGAGE R GEAR ONCE CAR HAS BEEN IN DRIVE. HAVE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON TO GET

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“PURCHASED A NEW 2011 AUDI A3 TDI LAST SATURDAY. THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY WHILE PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION THE DSG TRANSMISSION BRIEFLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND I SAW THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE SHOOT UP AND HEARD THE ENGINE WHINE. I WAS IN MANUAL MODE AT THE TIME. I DOWN SHIFTED AND LET OFF THE GAS AND IT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 51 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: 1) NORMAL DRIVING. 2) FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN TOTAL FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. 3) FUEL PUMP AND ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A3 TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: SAME ISSUE AS CAMPAIGN 97Z9 ON THE VW TIGUAN WITH FUSE F16 ON THE FUSE PANEL IS MELTING. THE PART NUMBER IS THE SAME AS THE TIGUAN'S. 1K0937125D. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)