What 52 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Audi S3

AUDI AS ISSUED TSB #2043968/1 FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN REAR TRUNK. THE WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TRUNK LID IS OPENED OR CLOSED, CAUSING IT TO PINCH AND SEVERE WIRES. CAUSING THE REAR LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION FLASHERS NOT WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING, REVERSE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. THIS TSB COVERS EVERY VIN FOR 2015-2016. THEY NOW WANT TO CHARGE $1,000 TO FIX A DEFECT THEY KNEW ABOUT, THIS SHOUL BE BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11414483

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY. I SEE EVERYONE ELSE HAS THE SAME ISSUE BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN IT SAYS IT IS NOT RECALLED? THEY WANTED $1000 TO FIX IT BUT IT ISN'T MY FAULT AND I HOPE TO SEE THEM OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE AND FIX OUR AIRBAGS. ONLINE IT SAYS MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AND FIXED FOR FREE BUT WHEN I CHECKED THEIR SITE 2015 AUDI S3 ISN'T COVERED, HOWEVER, ON THIS SITE, IT WILL SAY IT IS BUT WHEN I TYPE IN VIN NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11389144

I GOT A PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF PROBLEM ON THE SECOND YEAR, AND KEEP GOING BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE PROBLEM UNTIL I GOT A RECALL NOTICE. AFTER HAVING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR REPAIRED RECALL, THE CAR STILL COMES UP THE SAME PROBLEM PLUS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT OFF LIGHT UP. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP NOW TELL ME THAT THE PODS SENSOR IS FAULTY AND LET ME PAY FOR ITS SAFETY PROBLEMS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAVE IT DONE WITH MY CAR AFTER RECALL, AND I FEEL REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH AUDI RIGHT NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11384201

REGARDING: NHTSA CAMPAIGN# 19V474000 RECALL# 69Z4 VEHICLE WAS TAKING INTO AUDI DEALERSHIP IN CUYAHOGA FALLS OH AND COMPLETED THE SAFETY RECALL FIX. 11 MONTHS LATER, THE PODS SYSTEM INDICATED ANOTHER CIRCUIT FAILURE. TAKE BACK INTO SAME DEALERSHIP AND CONFIRMED SAME SAFETY RECALL FAILURE. WOULD NOT HONOR THE 12MTH/12K WARRANTY AS I WAS ABOUT 5K MILES PAST. THEY WANT ABOUT $700 TO FIX. I AM DECIDING NOT TO HAVE THEM FIX IT. I HAVE HEARD THIS PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. SO RIGHT NOW I HAVE NO PASSENGER AIR BAGS AND LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BYPASS THE PODS CIRCUIT TO STAY ON ALWAYS I GUESS.

NHTSA ODI 11377277

I HAD THE PODS RECALL 19V47400 DONE AND NOTICED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SAYING AUDI PRE SENSE SYSTEM FAULT, AND SAFETY SYSTEM: SYSTEM FAULT, WHERE THE PASSENGER SEAT WILL THINK SOMEONE IS IN IT AND THEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN IT, THE AIRBAG WILL STAY OFF AND OCCASIONALLY COME ON BUT TURN BACK OFF QUICKLY AFTER, ALL WHILE THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND ERRORS STAY ON THE DASH

NHTSA ODI 11376283

AFTER HAVING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR REPAIRED PER RECALL CAMPAIGN 19V474000, I STARTED GETTING PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNINGS AGAIN. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP NOW SAYS THE PODS SENSOR IN THE SEAT ITSELF IS FAULTY, AND REQUIRES A >$1,700 REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS EXACTLY PROBLEM - HAVING THE PODS SENSOR FAIL AFTER HAVING THE RECALL ADDRESSED - HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA AND ON AUDI FORUMS, IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LIKELY EITHER ASSOCIATED WITH OR TRIGGERED BY THE RECALL ITSELF. IT LOOKS LIKE AUDI IS TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH A "CHEAP" FIX VIA THE RECALL, WHEN THERE IS A BROADER MORE EXPENSIVE ISSUE GOING ON.

NHTSA ODI 11372739

AUDI RECALL 69Z4 MESSED UP MY PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING SIGN. HAD NO ISSUE UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL, SO I CALLED AUDI IMMEDIATELY AFTER AND THEY CLAIMED I HAD TO REPLACE SOME SENSOR THAT HAD 'NOTHING' TO DO WITH THE SENSOR THEY 'FIXED' FROM THE RECALL. WHEN THE CAR STARTS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT WARNING SIGN KEEPS BLINKING WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER. WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER AND THE CAR STARTS THERE IS NO SEATBELT WARNING SIGN AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF. THESE ISSUES NEVER EXISTED UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL AND AUDI IS CHARGING $1200 TO REPLACE THE SENSOR THAT SHOULD NOT BE A WEAR-AND-TEAR PRODUCT.

NHTSA ODI 11366953

THE PASSENGER BAG SAFETY LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS DONE FOR SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS SOMETIMES WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, BUT MOSTLY IT WILL OCCUR WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE YELLOW DASH LIGHT COMES ON NEAR THE PASSENGER AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATES. THE INFORMATION PANEL ON THE DASH WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY REPORT "SAFETY SYSTEM: SYSTEM FAULT! SEE OWNER'S MANUAL" AND "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" AND "AUDI PRE SENSE: SYSTEM FAULT!" THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WIRING . I WAS ONLY 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE AUDI DEALERSHIP WHEN IT STARTED. DEALER SAID IT WAS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL AND $980 TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 11363660

THE VEHICLE ENGINE LOST IGNITION POWER WHILE DRIVING, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. INVESTIGATION BY THE DEALER REVEALED THAT COOLANT ENTERED THE ENGINE HARNESS VIA ELECTRONIC COOLANT VALVES AND PROGRESSED TO THE GRAY T14 CONNECTOR. COOLANT WAS FOUND AT THE VALVE CONNECTOR SOURCE AND IN THE ENGINE HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE COOLANT CAUSED THE VALVE TERMINAL, AND THE NEIGHBORING TERMINAL WHICH PROVIDES POWER TO ALL COILS TO CORRODE AND BREAK. AUDI RELEASED A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE (2045122) BUT ONLY CONSIDERS THIS AS A INTERMITTENT START PROBLEM. THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE A8 MODELS PROMPTING RECALL NUMBER 16V619000. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO EARLY MODEL AUDI S3S AND MAYBE OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI 11354468

THE PODS SENSOR IN THE ACTUAL PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY ON ALL AUDI A3/S3/RS3 MODELS AND WILL SHUT OFF THE AIRBAG WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS ISSUE IS NOT DUE TO THE CURRENT RECALL ON THE HARNESS BUT THE ACTUAL SEAT SENSOR. IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR.

NHTSA ODI 11352039

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI S3. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER A FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAGS WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER AUDI OF HUNTINGTON LOCATED AT 363 E. JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE PODS (PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM) SYSTEM REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11349009

THE CAR HAS ISSUES WITH PARK LOCK WILL NOT STAY LOCKED AND WILL ROLL WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING USED ALSO THE CAR HAS DSG EMERGENCY MODE COME ON WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS TRANSMISSION FAULT CODES CLUTCH 1 STAYING OPEN THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAULT CODES THE FIRST CODE WAS UNEXPECTED / IMPLAUSIBLE MECHANICAL GEAR DISENGAGEMENT P2711 00 [200] - THE CAR WAS THEN WORKED ON AND WHAT WAS FOUND WAS BURNED CLUTCH DISKS THE CLUTCH PACK WAS THEN REPLACED BUT NOW A CODE OF CLUTCH 1 OPENS UNINTENTIONALLY P175D 00 [072] THE CAR ALSO WILL NOT STAY PARKED WHEN LEFT IN PARK IT WILL ROLL AND COULD POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE BECAUSE THE PARK LOCK IS NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11338801

MY VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL PERFORMED REGARDING A FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR THAT WOULD INADVERTENTLY DISABLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHILE THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE ISSUE HAS RETURNED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS STATED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THE ENTIRE PODS UNIT AND ONLY COVERS A PORTION OF IT, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330184

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT OF GEAR COMPLETELY LEAVING ME SOMETIMES STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MULTILANE HIGHWAY UNABLE TO EVEN MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFE AREA. SOMETIME WHEN I GO TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPOT THE REVERSE GEAR DOESN'T EVEN ENGAGE, LEAVING ME STUCK FOR MINUTES AT A TIME TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF UNTIL IT DECIDES TO GO INTO REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328601

BACKGROUND: BOUGHT IT USED WITH 19,660 MILES. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE DATE. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ARISE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS: 1. COOLANT LEAK DUE TO FAILED WATER PUMP. (NOTE: REPLACED UNDER DEALER'S 4YEAR/ 50K MILES NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY). 2. MULTIPLE FAILED WHEEL BEARING (ONE FAILED AFTER THE OTHER). (NOTE: ONE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER ABOVE MENTIONED WARRANTY BUT OTHER WHEEL BEARING(S) FAILED AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11320903

THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY DETECTION SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS EVEN AFTER THE RECENT RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. AUDI STATES THAT THIS IS JUST WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR AND SAY IT WILL COST $1300 TO FIX. IN THE MEANTIME, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI 11309055

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELT SENSOR GOING OFF IF THERE WAS NO PASSENGER ON SEAT AND PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING OFF DESPITE A PASSENGER SITTING ON THE SEAT. (CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V474000) I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY WIRE/CONNECTOR AND EXCHANGED IT FOR A MORE STURDY CONNECTOR. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS AFTER TAKING IT IN AND THEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN RANDOMLY GOING TO WORK, AND SINCE THEN HAS NOT GONE AWAY! THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND THE SEATBELT ALARM GOES OFF EVEN IF THERE IS NO PASSENGER, IF THERE IS A PASSENGER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL OFF. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT'S NOT THE WIRE/CONNECTOR AND THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SENSOR SYSTEM ON THE SEAT WHICH THE WARRANTY IS NOT GOING TO COVER SINCE THEY DON'T COVER SAFETY THINGS WHICH NOW THEY WILL CHARGE AROUND 1000 DOLLARS. I WENT AHEAD WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THIS IS A LIABILITY ISSUE, AND I CANNOT HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SAYING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF EVEN IF A PERSON IS SITTING THERE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS THE FAULTY WIRE/CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SENSOR SYSTEM IN THE SEAT TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED! THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11302584

AUDI RELEASED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE AIRBAGS ON MY VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD THE SAFETY RECALL PERFORMED TWICE AND I AM STILL GETTING THE SAME AIRBAG ERRORS. AUDI HAS NOT ADMITTED THAT THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE AGAIN DESPITE REPLACING PARTS THAT WERE SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO FIX THE ISSUE. NOW I HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO AIRBAGS WHEN THE ERROR COMES ON, WHICH IS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11277533

HALDEX PUMP FAILURE, OCCURRED SLOWLY AND EXISTED FOR OVER A YEAR. I FINALLY SEARCHED FOR INFORMATION ON "FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SLIP AUDI S3" AND DISCOVERED THERE IS A WELL ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WITH HALDEX PUMPS THAT STOP WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11254764

I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY ISSUE I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF AFTER VISITING MY AUDI DEALERSHIP. WITH APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I NOTICED A BEEPING NOISE. I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED AND THERE WERE NO RESULTS AT THAT TIME. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE SOUND RETURNED. I WENT TO AUDI TYSONS CORNER AND MY SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THEY DISCOVERED A TROUBLE CODE, B116229-SELECT LEVER PARK POSITION LOCK SWITCH IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL INTERMITTENT. MR. MICHAUD ADVISED THAT I SHOULD CONTACT AUDI USA AS THE REPAIR, WHICH INVOLVES REPLACING THE SHIFTER MECHANISM, WOULD COST $2,300 AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF 60,000 ON MY VEHICLE. MR. MICHAUD STATED THAT THERE WAS A TSB, 2047609/1. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THIS WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE IT ADDRESSED PROMPTLY. I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU IN THE HOPE THAT I MIGHT RECEIVE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE ORIGINALLY OCCURRED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS WITHIN THE FACTORY WARRANTY PERIOD, HOWEVER, A CODE WAS NOT PRESENT AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11253777

PASSENGER AIR BAG IS CONSTANTLY TURNING ITSELF OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT, SOMETIMES IF NOTHING IS IN THE SEAT. I CAN EVEN HAVE IT TRIP IF I PLACE AN IPAD OR EVEN A TO-GO BACK OF FOOD. VERY ANNOYING. MENTIONED IT TWICE TO DEALERSHIPS, BUT WAS ALWAYS TOLD "IT MIGHT BE WET" OR "EVERYTHING FOUND IN ORDER" EVEN THOUGH MY VCDS IS LOGGING ALL OF THESE ERRORS. DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. IT WILL CYCLE BETWEEN THINKING SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT AND SOMEONE ISN'T. BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. NOT EXACTLY THRILLED ABOUT LETTING MY WIFE OR KID RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11229469

MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED COMING IN RANDOMLY. I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE SENSOR THAT SEES IF A SMALL CHILD IS IN THE SEAT, IN WHICH CASE IT TURNS OFF THE AIRBAG. BUT, WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT, I GET AN ALERT EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, AND IT BEEPS FOR MINUTES. PLUS, I THINK ITS TELLING ME THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF WRECKED! MY CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY (4.5 YEARS OLD, 39K MILES)

NHTSA ODI 11222241

2015 AUDI S3 WATER PUMP FAILED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 52K MILES REQUIRING $1500 IN REPAIRS. THE WATER PUMP HAD BEEN LEAKING THROUGH THE WEEP HOLE FOR SOME TIME. LEAK WAS DISCOVERED WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN GARAGE. I WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A QUALITY PERSPECTIVE FROM A LUXURY BRAND LIKE AUDI. THE MECHANIC THAT COMPLETED THE REPAIR SPECIALIZED IN AUDI AND VOLKSWAGENS AND TOLD ME HE REPLACES 2-3 WATER PUMPS A WEEK ON AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN CARS WITH THIS SAME ENGINE. LIKE I SAID, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED BETTER QUALITY THAN A PLASTIC WATER PUMP ON A CAR LIKE AUDI.

NHTSA ODI 11186594

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR SRS AIRBAG LIGHT WARNING COMES UP WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A SEATED PASSENGER. PASSENGER IS NOT BEING DETECTED AND AIRBAG STAYS OFF. HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. VEHICLE IS ALWAYS GIVING WARNING SOUNDS THAT SEAT BELT IS NOT FASTENED. ISSUE TESTED BY DEALER. SEEMS TO BE COMMON KNOWN ISSUE WITH RECENT AUDI'S. OTHERS TO HAVE REPORTED SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11176262

MY CAR'S PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT ABRUPTLY DEVELOPED A SENSOR FAILURE. THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT IS LIT, SIGNALING THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY DESPITE A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUED IN JUNE 2018 ON 140K AUDI CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM, MY MODEL HAS YET TO BE INCLUDED, AND THERE ARE LIKELY MORE CARS WITH SIMILAR MALFUNCTION.

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