There are 12 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2015 Audi A3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the engine overheated. There was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming abnormal amounts of coolant without signs of a coolant leak. The contact stated that the engine seized. The coolant reservoir was inspected and there was no coolant in the reservoir. While attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact recently replaced the coolant pump, coolant control valve and the expansion tank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V619000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN, nor the model were included. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
The turbo went out prematurely
Coolant leak from faulty water pump. This is a known issue from numerous models of Audis and has been the subject of recalls and extended warranty campaigns - but not on this particular model. I was forced to pay for the replacement of this known faulty part out of pocket.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OCTOBER 2020 CAR WAS SLOW TO TAKE OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND SEEMED TO TAKE TIME TO SHIFT GEARS. TOOK TO AUDI MECHANIC AND HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP -W/THERMOSTAT HOUSING & INTAKE MANIFOLD. NOW I'M APRIL 2021 CAR IS BACK IN SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO TURN CAR OFF AND THEN GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION CANNOT REVERSE AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC AGAIN. I'M TOLD IT NEEDS MECHATRONIC UNIT REPLACED, REPLACE TIMING COVER DUE TO OIL LEAK, EVAP LEAK AND WIPER FLUID IS LEAKING.
AFTER RECENT CAR INSPECTION DUE TO RECALL FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55 000 MILES ON IT. OTHER AUDI MODELS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR AUDI A3 2015. AS A MANUFACTURER AUDI MUST TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY PARTS AND IT SHOULD REPLACE THEM ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE.
THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURS ON NEARLY ALL MQB CHASSIS VW/AUDI'S WITH THE EA888 GEN 3 2.0 TFSI ENGINE. IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI NORTH PARK (210-960-6000, LOCATED AT 15670 I-35, SELMA, TX 78154) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
LOST COMPRESSION AT ONLY 43,670 MILES TO FOURTH CYLINDER. ENGINE WAS REBUILT BY AUDI DEALER. FOUND PIECES OF OIL CONTROL RING FROM A PISTON IN OIL PAN, AIR LEAKING THROUGH INTAKE, SEATING SURFACE FOR INTAKE VALVE NUMBER 2 ON CYLINDER 4 WAS BURNT AND UNABLE TO SEAT PROPERLY DUE TO SPRING ON THAT VALVE BEING WEAKER THAN OTHERS.
2015 AUDI A3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE SAT IN AN OPEN AIR SITE WITHOUT A HOOD OR WINDOWS, EXPOSED TO THE WINTER ELEMENTS. 13 DAYS LATER IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE TO BE DUE TO RODENT NESTING ACTIVITY. *JS
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. ENGINE CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. ABSOLUTELY NO POWER OR ENGINE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. VEHICLE WENT FROM 65 TO 0 MPH IN SECONDS. NO STEERING CONTROL AS WELL!! COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HEAD OF SERVICE AT AUDI DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME & AUDI IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SAID DO NOT TAKE CAR BACK...THEY'RE PLAYING "RUSSIAN ROULETTE" WITH YOUR LIFE AND WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED.....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF *CN
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 PROBLEM. FIRST TIME, THEY TOPED UP THE OIL. AFTER TWO WEEKS, THE OIL WAS LOW AGAIN, SO I BROUGHT IT BACK. THIS TIME, THEY CHANGED A NEW OIL TANK CAP FOR ME, BUT TWO WEEKS LATER, THE OIL WAS LOW. I DROVE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE, THIS TIME ACTUALLY THE AUDI COMPANY TOLD ME THAT IS BECAUSE MY CAR IS STILL IN BREAK-IN PERIOD AND JUST TOPPED UP THE OIL AGAIN. BUT AS AN ENGINEER, I KNOW IT CANNOT BE 2 QT PER 1000 MILES. *TR
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 APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE BUT DEALER CALLED ME SAYING MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER HAS BEEN LISTED FOR AN IMP UPDATE IN ORDER TO PREVENT FAILURE OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS AND PEOPLE IN GERMANY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GET THIS FIXED ASAP I.E ; 18 SEPT 2015 . I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT ON 24 SEPT 2015 IT IS NOT JUST UPDATE BUT THE ENTIRE TURBO IS REPLACED , MONTH LATER CAR IS HAVING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS ,NO POWER/HESITATION , INTERMITTENTLY STUTTERING OR MISFIRING. AUDI MECHANICS KEPT CAR FOR A DAY (13 NOV 2014)AND REPLIED THEY COULDN'T FIND THE ISSUE AND RETURNED THE CAR BACK TO ME . I ASSURED THEM THE VEHICLE HAD PREMIUM GAS ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF THE STATUS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026