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What 176 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Audi A3

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (176)Crash / fire / injury (1)Airbags (83)Fuel system (33)Electrical system (25)Engine (17)Seat belts (12)Seats (10)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Lights (6)Body & structure (5)Steering (4)

4 of 176 complaints match · Steering · clear filters

Oct 17, 2022Steering

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while reversing out his driveway, the steering wheel firm and hard to turn. The contact noticed that an unknown warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there was a message stating “Do not Drive”. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact was also informed that the steering wheel assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 11489559

Sep 30, 2022SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine

Consumer bought this car at 30,040 miles. The car currently sits with 89,000 miles. I have had 18 recommended service visits totaling $19,240 and then on July 15, 2022 with no pre indicators or warnings the engine dies after a 95k full multipoint inspection that consumer had 3 weeks prior. The car has an impeccable Maintenace record. I did everything the dealer told me; and I still almost died on the 101 fwy going 70 mph on a conference call; the flashers didnt even work; the car dead and came to a hard halt and trucks were screeching around me with smoke coming from their tires because of the extreme hard stop and slamming on breaks, i was screaming for my life praying no one would slam into me. Metro who roams the fwy saved my life; without him i would be dead because of AUDI's HORRIBLY MANUFATCTURED VEHICLE. It seems as though the dealer purposefully sabotages my car as a woman; i have no alternative but to fix it and now they want $27,000 MORE for a new engine AND starter. so, in total; to drive 57,000 miles I've paid $37,000 cash for the car (I own the title)/ plus $19,240 in maintenance /repairs and now they want another 27,000 for the engine. i have no more money to give them. i recently returned my 3rd rental vehicle and i am out of funds on transportation. Ayudame ! How is this ethical? Song and Beverly consumer warranty act sect 1793.2.(d) & (g). California Health and Safety Codes 43204-43205.5. Audis Emission standards. California Code of regulations sect 3396.1-3399.6. Cal Code Regs. tit.16 / 3396.1. Thank you for reading this. ps. i have every receipt and document; so if you need anything further i am so organized it's ridiculous; please don't hesitate to ask.

NHTSA ODI 11487306

Aug 10, 2020SteeringSeat beltsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAT FEELS UNSTABLE WHEN I DRIVE OVER 70 MILES ON THE FREEWAY.. ALSO SEATBELTS LOCK ROOM HARD

NHTSA ODI 11344257

Jan 18, 2016SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW AUDI A3 2.0T 2015 JULY 2014. RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING TO A SLUSHY SNOW, THE SYSTEM CAME UP WITH MULTIPLE ERROR. ON 1/12/2016, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE SLUSHY SNOW AND 3 ISSUES CAME UP. STABILIZATION CONTROL, TPMS ERROR, AND ABS ERROR, THE STABILIZATION CONTROL IS THE MAIN ISSUE. I WAS SERVING LEFT AND RIGHT WITH LIGHT TAP ON THE GAS WITH THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE LOCAL ROAD AND NOT IN THE HIGH WAY WHEN ISSUES OCCURRED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SAME DAY, THE FOLLOWING DAY, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS "FIXED". I GOT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND TURNED ON THE CAR, ALL THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. ISSUE WAS DUE TO A "FUSE" SHORTING. NOW I'M WAITING FOR A "CLUTCH PUMP" ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY, EXPECTED 5-15 DAYS.

NHTSA ODI 10820852

Working with the data? Download all 176 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Audi A3 verdict →