5.5

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,273 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2017 Audi A3 Owner Comments

problem #11

Dec 052023

A3

  • miles

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

The vehicle cabin started to smell like gas and the car would not accept fuel into the tank. Took to Audi/VW independent repair shop where they indicated fuel jet pump in gas tank was not working properly and that it had flooded various components with fuel (charcoal cannister, etc.). Directed us not to drive as it was a fire danger and said that we should send to Audi to see if they would cover this under warranty as it was a major emissions and safety problem. Towed to Audi dealer in Dallas. Dallas Audi dealer indicated this sounded like exactly what had happened for a recall issued for 2016 A3s. I learned this was subject to a warranty extension. Am working with the dealer who is trying to determine if that applies. Regardless, this is my daughter's car and a fuel leak with fumes in the cabin is a danger that should be fixed by recall.

- Sierra Madre, CA, USA

problem #10

Oct 022023

A3

  • miles
The high voltage battery no longer charges to full. Only 7 out of 8 possible indicator bars are illuminated, the car now only shows 17-20 miles available. When I purchased the car 3 years ago, it showed 28-29 miles available. Car was at Audi dealership, got tested, Audi says it's within tolerance. I disagree, 30% to 40% of the capacity is lost so far. There are many more owners that are reporting the same issue on the Facebook Audi A3 group.

- Sunland, CA, USA

problem #9

Jun 012022

A3

  • miles
2017 Audi A3 Etron Sportsback- Engine light turned on at 50k, when scanned for errors no codes. Then around 55k miles started to stall when slowing down or at a full stop. The car must be turned off then immediately go into drive. Felt very dangerous when driving in high traffic areas and areas with many stop lights/signs. Car error say Transmission Malfunction first then says something about Limited Power. We had changed ATF and filter, still had issues. Then it started to not allow to go into reverse. Issues were intermittently happening then became more constant. Finally towed to Audi dealer they are not 100% but they say a new transmission is needed. After seeing complaints of similar situation I think this should be a recall on the transmission for these cars.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #8

Sep 082022

A3

  • miles

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

Was trying to fill up my car at the gas station. The car would not accept any fuel. Frustrated, I went to try another gas station. Same thing happened. Went home to check and see what the problem was and gas started spewing out of the gas tank from where you fill it up with gas. Car (to my knowledge) has never been overfilled, by me. This is apparently a problem with the 2017 VW golf's as well (which run on the same platform as my Audi A3). It is a problem that most people are saying could be the Charcoal canister prematurely dying, or a suction pump dying, which is supposed to last the lifetime of the vehicle.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #7

Jun 092022

A3

  • miles
On Tuesday, June 7, 2022 my vehicle began having a hard time accelerating, then my vehicle started leaking out gas from the back of the vehicle located in front of the rear passenger tire. I then took the vehicle to Audi West Houston to have a diagnosis. After a day and a half, Audi misdiagnosed my vehicle with ethanal composition too high and recommended that the gas tank be drain. I then took my car to an independent mechanic who replaced the fuel pump. On the way to the independent mechanic for a second opinion, the check engine light surface. I then stopped at the gas station to put gas in the vehicle, but the vehicle would not take fuel even though After the fuel pump repair, the car was still misfiring and gas was still leaking from the rear of the vehicle and gas fumes would be smelled from inside the car. The charcoal canister of the vehicle was changed with OEM parts. The vehicle's sending units were pulled and the fuel level was tested. The vehicle's Leak Defection Pump was then inspected for the fuel intrusion and were not obstructed. The vehicle again began leaking fuel. The purge and vent valves of the vehicle were working properly and the vent filter was wet with fuel. The fuel was being pushed into the charcoal canister from an internal valving issue inside the fuel tank. The independent mechanic then called an authorized Audi dealership who acknowledged similar problems in Audi vehicles. The authorized Audi dealership deemed the car unsafe to drive and suggested that the independent mechanic park the vehicle outside of the mechanic shop because a simply spark could cause the vehicle to easily caught on fire. Audi also acknowledged that there are no available parts for the car as all of them are on indefinitely on backorder. The car is not only an emission issue but also a safety issue with not feasible solution. Furthermore, I live in Texas during an unpredictable drought, even the weather could cause the vehicle to spontaneously combust in flames.

- Katy, TX, USA

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problem #6

Sep 302021

A3

  • miles
Vehicle tank was almost empty. Was unable to fill the tank because the gas station pump stopped constantly without being full. Took 15 minutes to fill the tank. Fuel came out of my tank and a very unpleasant fuel odor came into the car. When arrived home gasoline came out of the tank again, a significant amount of fuel came out. Fortunately the car didn't catch fire. Took it to a mechanic and the gasoline pump valve was replaced. This valve is under the rear seats. No recall available for my car for this issue. I was told that VW/AUDI knows well about this issue but they didn't include all VIN numbers on this recall. I ended paying $140 for this repair.

- Guaynabo, PR, USA

problem #5

Mar 102021

A3

  • 10,000 miles

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

Engine stalls while accelerating from a stop. This condition has been dangerous. Car has been to the Audi dealer 3 times to remedy the problem. That cannot diagnose the issue. It is going in for a 4th time April 12th 2021. This issue is extremely dangerous. The car will lose power and stall as you are pulling out into traffic. Happens daily.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #4

Jan 102021

A3

  • 47,000 miles
2017 Audi A3 sedan- with around 47,000 miles -stalled out in drive thru and at a red light intersection. Twice. Almost got in 2 accidents while driving once on the highway and once on a city road. Engine light on dash was blinking. Code reader initially was reading P0300, P0301 and P0302.. multiple cylinder misfires. Towed car to Audi, and they did complete maintenance service. Ran codes and now all of the sudden it need a new transmission and the code is P0172 bank 1 system too rich. I noticed there was a recall for the the engine control unit (ECU) software and which can affect air / fuel mixture which makes me think that this recall was probably the cause, because PO172 code can be due to the air/ fuel mixture getting too far from factory specs. My car has been at the dealership for 6 weeks, the transmission was finally replaced by Audi but they are still saying that I need a new fuel canister (there was a recall for this in 2016, and my car was manufactured in 2016 but is a 2017 model) ? I have seen several other 2017 Audi A3 sedan owner complaints having this issue with very similar problem on this website and other websites. I was under warranty until 1/25/2021, but I live 2 hours away and I was under quarantine so booked appointment locally (I think on 1/22/2021 with Volkswagen but scheduling was a week out and on appointment date their entire service department was out because of covid outbreak by that time it was too late even though I have a time and date stamped video of the car having issues.

- Lynn Haven, FL, USA

problem #3

May 282020

A3 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
I was refilling my fuel tank of my vehicle at gas station, but it kept clicking off with the back pressure as if the tank was full. I tried filling slowly to see if that would work, it did the same thing.. I left and on my way on the highway, a young man signaled me to pull over, I was hesitant, but did so. He showed me that fuel was draining from my car. Luckily, I did not have a fire as it was close to the muffler system. I got it to a nearby mechanic shop to see what was the problem it was not a burst hose nor a tank leak, however they first thought it was the siphon hose that was blocked, it was not. They traced the fuel leak to the evap system and found that the charcoal canister was filled with fuel. And the car still would not take any fuel because back pressure, kept forcing the fuel out. Upon seeing that they advised me to take the car to the Audi dealer in coral spring Florida. I did so and told them of the problem and asked if there was a recall on this problem. They said no. I pointed out to them that the 2016 Audi A3 has a recall that is exactly as what is happening to my car. Recall # 16V647000 this was issued between September and October of 2016. They said that they would diagnose my car for $390 I ok"D that. This is their diagnosis: 1 fuel tank = S2654.00 plus tax/ss I am not in agreement with that and called to Audi America and made my complaint, the young lady " morgan " took my complaint and made arrangements to call the dealership re their assessment and call me back. She called me with no real answers except to say that I have a right to a second opinion. I told her that I intended to do so and to make a complaint to your Agency, and the ftc as this is a serious issue. She said it was my right. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Parkland, FL, USA

problem #2

Feb 112019

A3

  • 72,000 miles
My car after starting (with engine either cool or warm) will stall at times when I'm going2-3 mph. I have stalled at intersections. I go to put my foot on the gas and the car will sputter and stall. It will then restart with a little difficulty though starts back up. There are no icons that illuminate on the dashboard with any problem. There are no check engine lights or battery lights that are going off.

- Hackettstown, NJ, USA

problem #1

Dec 192019

A3

  • miles
When driving off after starting the vehicle, the car starts jerking and 'knocking' and stalls/turns off. This happens almost everyday as I reverse out of my drive way and drive forward. Extremely unsafe! does not show check engine light or any other lights.

- Clark, NJ, USA

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