2015 Audi A3 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

My 2015 Audi A3 1.8T is experiencing the exact same failure symptoms and operational hazards as those described in Audi’s own Warranty Extension U49, which covers certain 2017 and 2018 Audi A3 and A3 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI models. According to Audi’s bulletin, vehicles with faulty mechatronic units are eligible for replacement under an extended warranty due to safety concerns — sudden loss of drive, vehicle being stuck in neutral, and PRNDS flashing while in traffic. My vehicle is now exhibiting these identical symptoms: (1) Sudden disengagement of all gears while driving when it tries to go to fourth gear. At this point, there is a (2) flashing PRNDS indicator and “Reverse Gear Not Available” message. (3) Loss of ability to accelerate in moving traffic, requiring emergency maneuvers, and halting traffic. (4) Temporary restoration of function after shutting off and restarting the engine, only for the problem to happen again. (5) Check Engine Light. This is a serious safety hazard that puts both the driver and other road users at risk. The only reason my vehicle is excluded from the coverage appears to be its model year (2015), despite the fact that the mechatronic unit and failure mode are identical to the covered 2017–2018 vehicles. I believe Audi overlooked this issue in other year models and, as such, I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate why Audi is limiting this safety-related repair to only certain VIN ranges and model years, when vehicles just a couple of years older are exhibiting the exact same dangerous defect. A sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds is a serious risk that warrants broader manufacturer accountability. The company should fix this issue as soon as possible.

Blown turbo with propeller broken off lodged into the pre-catalytic converter, which caused damage to the catalytic converter/exhaust requiring a new turbo and a complete new catalytic converter and exhaust system. They also found major oil leaking from the upper timing cover gaskets, which I later found documented on the accounting service record as not repaired at that time few months from my purchase. These known engine damages were a major contributor to the engine failures that I’m faced with today. Oil starvation from known oil leaks, damaged gaskets, and failing parts caused oil starvation of the turbo, constant overheating with coolant and oil problems since purchasing the car and which ultimately froze the turbo and snapped the propeller. I’m still struggling without an operating vehicle for over a year, and trying to afford these expensive repairs, which should’ve been covered under the 15 year PZEV warranty and/or recalls of these known parts failures. It was at the dealership in plenty of time for the SMOG certification, which was the sole reason for the appointment and it being at AudiSD, which they refused to do. These are extremely expensive repairs, these are known issues with several class action lawsuits and recalls behind them, yet they simply refuse to take ownership, deny any support, and making excuses for their lack of responsibility. I asked several times for them to do the right thing, take the car back and refund my money or give me an equivalent car to what I was promised when I purchased it, they refused and no management has been involved. I deserve to be compensated for my time over the last several years dealing with these repeated issues, compensation for all the parts I have been forced to buy, refunded the amounts I’ve paid for technicians to truly diagnose the problem and for the repairs I’ve yet to be able to afford, as well as the towing and other charges I have incurred as a result of purchasing this vehicle from AudiSD

The engine low oil light keeps coming on, the oil has been changed already, I’ve had the car for more than 7 months I haven’t even driven it over 5000 miles yet. Audi needs to fix this. The power train is also the same, some days it works okay and some days it doesn’t. The cars struggles sometimes to even reach speeds up to 50 mph.I’ve taken this vehicle to the Audi dealship as well as to a foreign certified mechanic shop. They can’t figure out the problem. The engine light should not be coming on randomly when I have fully serviced the vehicle. Audi please fix these problems.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION CAR HAS 2,300 MILES LEFT TO THE 10K OIL SERVICE CHECK CHANGE AND SHOWING LOW OIL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AUDI IS TRYING TO SAY TO JUST TOP OFF THE OIL, YET EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO NEED ENGINE REPLACEMENT EARLIER THAN IT SHOULD AT ABOUT 70-80-100K MILES AT BEST. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS AND A CLASS ACTION THAT INVOLVED THIS ISSUE BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO MORE THAN CHANGE OIL AND CHECK FOR LEAKS WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS AND I AM UNDER A CERTIFIED WARRANTY UNTIL OCTOBER 2019

WATER PUMP / THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILURE CAUSING COOLAT TO LEAK. ALL OF MY COOLANT WAS DRAINED BEFORE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON.

TRANMISSION ISSUES. 51,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR. DRIVING NORMALLY ONE MINUTE AND IT DOWN SHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY TO 2ND GEAR. WAS DRIVING NORMAL ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AND WAS CRUISING UNTIL IT SUDDENLY STARTED DOWNSHIFTING AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON. ALL SERVICES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED PER AUDI.

FROM DAY 1 OF OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, THERE IS AN OCCASIONAL DELAY FROM RELEASING THE BRAKES UNTIL THE CAR MOVES FORWARD WHEN IN GEAR ON A FLAT ROAD, UP TO 2 SECONDS. ON HILLY ROADS, THE CAR WILL ROLL IN THE DIRECTION OF THE HILL UNTIL THE GEARS ACTUALLY ENGAGE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO MOVING TRAFFIC (E.G. GETTING INTO A FEEDER ROAD FROM A COMPLETE STOP) OR WHEN DRIVING IN CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO AUDI MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS CONCERN, HAVE DRIVEN LOANER A3 THAT DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY NEVER ADDRESSED THIS MAJOR ISSUE.

THE CAR HAS HIGH IDLE RPM (900+), AND THEREFORE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE AS SOON AS BRAKE IS RELEASED. THIS MAKES PARKING OR MOVING FORWARD A SMALL DISTANCE DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES CAUSES THE DRIVER TO JAM ON BRAKE WITH THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT. IF DRIVER IS NOT CONSTANTLY AWARE OF SUDDEN MOVEMENT CAR WILL HIT THINGS IN FRONT OF IT. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER AND AUDI USA THAT THIS CONDITION CANNOT BE CORRECTED. *TR