5.3

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,624 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Audi A3 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2017 Audi A3 Owner Comments

problem #7

Jan 172022

A3 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on highway 59 my vehicle began to jerk. I tried to accelerate and the vehicle would ramp but not move fast. My check engine light came on as well as the error code -€œtransmission malfunction you continue to drive until engine is off.-€ After getting out of Houston, Texas rush hour traffic, I had my vehicle towed to a mechanic. The mechanic ran several tests and checked the engine. Upon diagnosing the vehicle, the scan tools gave a myriad of fault code relating to electrical valve faults. All of which clear when driving the vehicle again. The mechanic informed me the transmission was not the issue but the mechatronic system had failed due to a faulty part. The mechanic said the issue could be repaired but would likely occur again as Audi as a history of faulty mechatronic systems. The mechanic called an Audi dealership who stated Audi-€™s mechatronic control unite has not yet resolved the root cause failure at factory level, meaning all replacements and repair kit components still have the underlying defects that will cause malfunction, usually outside the short one-year manufacturer warranty. I believe Audi manufacturer knows their cars still have a defective part hence why an extended warranty on the mechatronic system is offered. Also, Audi vehicles made in 2016 were recalled due to a defective mechatronic system. My vehicle was made in early 2017. I called the Audi dealership to make them aware of the safety and they ignored me, and tried to sell me another vehicle. This is my second safety issue with Audi vehicles, the first being an expulsion safety issue. There is no way I am purchasing another Audi.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #6

May 182022

A3

  • miles
Passenger air bag light intermittently comes on after starts. Car has been showing exact symptoms from the PODS recall since I bought it in May, and I-€™ve tried to have this fixed by 3 separate Audi dealerships, and none of them have been able to fix it. At this point, this recall has now been active for over a year and a half, and I think it is absolutely ridiculous to have a non-functioning passenger seat in a -€œpractical-€ hatchback. Thus, at this point, I would like to escalate this further and potentially fight for a buyback, as this is a recall that both devalues the car AND puts my passenger (and potentially myself, as this one fault has most likely disabled the entire SRS; granted I don-€™t want to find out for myself) at risk. The -€œno-passenger-€ fix would have worked for 30-ish days while Audi worked for a fix, but 1.5 years is ABSOLUTELY UNREASONABLE and totally ridiculous for a $50,000+-MSRP luxury vehicle from the Volkswagen Audi Group.

- Vernon Hills, IL, USA

problem #5

May 282021

A3

  • miles
Tied to recall 69BY Dealership continues to say parts are not available.

- Weston, FL, USA

problem #4

Jan 252021

A3

  • 25,668 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle was affected previously and confirmed fixed by Audi under recall 69Z4 for the occupant sensor. The airbag, seatbelt, Audi presense error light will illuminate at times regardless of whether an occupant is sitting in the passenger seat going on and off sporadically while driving or stationary. The vehicle is eligible to be fixed under warranty, however it appears their original fix under the recall was not adequate in resolving the occupant airbag sensor light and poses a safety hazard to passengers if the airbag were to turn off while an accident occurred. After a recent diagnostic the codes that appeared are similar to what would occur prior to Audi's "fix" to the recall.

- Juneau, AK, USA

problem #3

Jul 312020

A3

  • 50,000 miles
Regardless of front seat passenger presence: 'passenger airbag off', 'seatbelt off', and 'pre sense off' warning messages illuminate at car start, restart, drive, park, restart, repeat. Unable to clear warnings. Also appears in vehicle dash warning system. Started noticing intermittently after airbag recall addressed, not sure if exact date. Now, the malfunction is constant.

- Wendell, NC, USA

problem #2

Aug 012020

A3

  • 45,000 miles
Passenger air bag off light will illuminate while passenger is seated. Numerous error codes will flash on dash. Car on highway, in motion.after a few minutes, light will turn off and error codes disappear.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #1

Apr 262017

A3

  • 2,700 miles
I purchased this vehicle for my 18 year old daughter as a parent you want to have you child as safe as possible.the vehicle is anything but safe. As a matter of fact it's an accident waiting to happen. Or worst a fatality.the vehicle while driving just turns off. It wasn't even a month into owning the brand new vehicle that issues started to arise. While reversing out of a parking spot, the vehicle stopped without any warning.about 4 weeks later, while entering the expressway, once again the vehicle without warning completely turn off. By a miracle of god my daughter did not get into an accident. A very dangerous situation as many other vehicles are driving at high speeds. On 3/31/17 the vehicle was take to the collection, where they could not tell me exactly what the problem was since they themselves had no clue. But they did tell me that there was definitely a problem since when they connected the vehicle to the computer it gave sporadic error codes. I was told that Audi corporate office was contacted and they advised the collection to inspect the fuel system and hose, electrical wiring, and vehicle program all of which I was told was done. On 4/27/17 another incident occurred. While at a traffic light, making a left hand turn, the vehicle stopped. The vehicle behind my daughter was also turning right behind her and almost rear ended her since even the brake lights were not working T. in the middle of the traffic intersection, the vehicle was not responding to the shifting of gears or to the accelerator. At this point that vehicle was not responding at all leaving my daughter stranded in the middle of oncoming cars and agitated drivers around her. The collection had the vehicle towed back to their shop where it has been ever since. No one, not even Audi's corporate head engineer has been able to figure out what is wrong with the vehicle.

- Miami, FL, USA

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