Total Complaints
66 filings
AUDI A3 · model year
66 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009AUDIA3 carries 66 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 A3 is air bags with 22 filings, followed by power train (13) and service brakes (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2009 A3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
66 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 22 |
| POWER TRAIN | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 8 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure m
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Elec
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the traction control and ABS control module warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Mileage: 67,000
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the traction control and ABS control module warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V913000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Mileage: 67,000
vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated Unable to control or stop Crashed into bush 2014 AUDI checked said no issuue Vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags Audi checked Said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a full stop at a light Anothet auto in front Audi suddenly switched gear and started to accelerate Would not stop Crashed into car in front Gear stayed frrozen in neutral for a few mimutes.
vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated Unable to control or stop Crashed into bush 2014 AUDI checked said no issuue Vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags Audi checked Said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a full stop at a light Anothet auto in front Audi suddenly switched gear and started to accelerate Would not stop Crashed into car in front Gear stayed frrozen in neutral for a few mimutes.
vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated Unable to control or stop Crashed into bush 2014 AUDI checked said no issuue Vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags Audi checked Said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a full stop at a light Anothet auto in front Audi suddenly switched gear and started to accelerate Would not stop Crashed into car in front Gear stayed frrozen in neutral for a few mimutes.
I had purchased the car back in August 17th 2021 my power steering my brakes my airbag light and the fuel system fuel leak started happening all at once water was draining out of the middle of the engine . It overheating the engine speed ball down and I automatically I instantly pulled over and turned it off and towed it home 2 days after I bought it. these are also recalls my Audi 2009-a3 2.0 tfsi s tronic has been sitting in my friends driveway for 7 months now because I cannot take the car anywhere I cannot move the car anywhere I cannot start the car and I don't know what else to do so I do need your help I should be eligible it says my VIN number matches the eligible subject vehicle my VIN number is in your system but my car is not showing up it shows up but it's not showing up as a recall or included in the class action settlement if you have any questions please call me [XXX] at [XXX] if you have any input thank you. I do love my Audi I love it very much the day I got to drive i
I had purchased the car back in August 17th 2021 my power steering my brakes my airbag light and the fuel system fuel leak started happening all at once water was draining out of the middle of the engine . It overheating the engine speed ball down and I automatically I instantly pulled over and turned it off and towed it home 2 days after I bought it. these are also recalls my Audi 2009-a3 2.0 tfsi s tronic has been sitting in my friends driveway for 7 months now because I cannot take the car anywhere I cannot move the car anywhere I cannot start the car and I don't know what else to do so I do need your help I should be eligible it says my VIN number matches the eligible subject vehicle my VIN number is in your system but my car is not showing up it shows up but it's not showing up as a recall or included in the class action settlement if you have any questions please call me [XXX] at [XXX] if you have any input thank you. I do love my Audi I love it very much the day I got to drive i
I had purchased the car back in August 17th 2021 my power steering my brakes my airbag light and the fuel system fuel leak started happening all at once water was draining out of the middle of the engine . It overheating the engine speed ball down and I automatically I instantly pulled over and turned it off and towed it home 2 days after I bought it. these are also recalls my Audi 2009-a3 2.0 tfsi s tronic has been sitting in my friends driveway for 7 months now because I cannot take the car anywhere I cannot move the car anywhere I cannot start the car and I don't know what else to do so I do need your help I should be eligible it says my VIN number matches the eligible subject vehicle my VIN number is in your system but my car is not showing up it shows up but it's not showing up as a recall or included in the class action settlement if you have any questions please call me [XXX] at [XXX] if you have any input thank you. I do love my Audi I love it very much the day I got to drive i
DSG transmission will abruptly shift down to first gear and would not respond in any other gear. The shift indicator in the dashboard will light up and blink and the check engine light will come on. There are no warnings before this happens and it will happen at random times. It has happen in separate occasions while traveling at different speeds. When this happens while traveling it creates a dramatic reduction on vehicle speed almost causing the vehicle traveling behind me to rear end me. Once stopped the car will only engage when put on D and will stay at a low gear causing the RPMs to red line even at low speeds making it unsafe to drive due to only being able to reach 5 to 10 MPH. A scan was performed and codes P1814 Press. Ctrl. Valve 1 Open circuit/short implausible signal, and, P1835 Press. Ctrl. Valve 5 Short circuit to B+. This fault is random and there is no warning or indication of when it may happen making the vehicle unsafe at any speed.
DSG transmission will abruptly shift down to first gear and would not respond in any other gear. The shift indicator in the dashboard will light up and blink and the check engine light will come on. There are no warnings before this happens and it will happen at random times. It has happen in separate occasions while traveling at different speeds. When this happens while traveling it creates a dramatic reduction on vehicle speed almost causing the vehicle traveling behind me to rear end me. Once stopped the car will only engage when put on D and will stay at a low gear causing the RPMs to red line even at low speeds making it unsafe to drive due to only being able to reach 5 to 10 MPH. A scan was performed and codes P1814 Press. Ctrl. Valve 1 Open circuit/short implausible signal, and, P1835 Press. Ctrl. Valve 5 Short circuit to B+. This fault is random and there is no warning or indication of when it may happen making the vehicle unsafe at any speed.
THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DSG MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED BY THE CONNECTOR SUPPLIER DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR WIRES, A TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO FALSELY DETECT A HIGH GEARBOX OIL TEMPERATURE, CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO OPEN AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO PERCEIVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE SELECTOR LEVER POSITION INDICATOR WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL FLASH. IN ADDITION, THE DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BE ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER TO APPLY THE BRAKES. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PURCHASED CAR IN 2010 WITH AROUND 10,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE OVER ABOUT 40MPH. SOMETIMES AFTER SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AUDI DEALERSHIP CAR PURCHASED FROM FOR REPAIR AND INITIALLY REPORTED AS SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPAIRED. COUPLE WEEKS AFTER REPAIR CAR WOULD HAVE SAME PROBLEM, SO TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN REPAIRED SENSOR(S). WITHIN ABOUT THE FIRST YEAR AFTER PURCHASING, ISSUE HAPPENED MULTIPLE (+/-5) TIMES AFTER DEALERSHIP 'REPAIRED' WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM AT THE PARTICULAR TIME. AFTER ABOUT 5/6 TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING DEALERSHIP TOOK A MORE IN DEPTH ATTEMPT AT FIGURING OUT WHAT PROBLEM REALLY WAS, TELLING ME THEY WERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH AUDI & THEIR MECHANICS TO FIND AND FIX THE ACTUAL DEFECT. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR AROUND 3 MONTHS FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH THEY DETERMI
Mileage: 10,000
PURCHASED CAR IN 2010 WITH AROUND 10,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE OVER ABOUT 40MPH. SOMETIMES AFTER SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AUDI DEALERSHIP CAR PURCHASED FROM FOR REPAIR AND INITIALLY REPORTED AS SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPAIRED. COUPLE WEEKS AFTER REPAIR CAR WOULD HAVE SAME PROBLEM, SO TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN REPAIRED SENSOR(S). WITHIN ABOUT THE FIRST YEAR AFTER PURCHASING, ISSUE HAPPENED MULTIPLE (+/-5) TIMES AFTER DEALERSHIP 'REPAIRED' WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM AT THE PARTICULAR TIME. AFTER ABOUT 5/6 TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING DEALERSHIP TOOK A MORE IN DEPTH ATTEMPT AT FIGURING OUT WHAT PROBLEM REALLY WAS, TELLING ME THEY WERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH AUDI & THEIR MECHANICS TO FIND AND FIX THE ACTUAL DEFECT. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR AROUND 3 MONTHS FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH THEY DETERMI
Mileage: 10,000
PURCHASED CAR IN 2010 WITH AROUND 10,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE OVER ABOUT 40MPH. SOMETIMES AFTER SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AUDI DEALERSHIP CAR PURCHASED FROM FOR REPAIR AND INITIALLY REPORTED AS SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPAIRED. COUPLE WEEKS AFTER REPAIR CAR WOULD HAVE SAME PROBLEM, SO TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN REPAIRED SENSOR(S). WITHIN ABOUT THE FIRST YEAR AFTER PURCHASING, ISSUE HAPPENED MULTIPLE (+/-5) TIMES AFTER DEALERSHIP 'REPAIRED' WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM AT THE PARTICULAR TIME. AFTER ABOUT 5/6 TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING DEALERSHIP TOOK A MORE IN DEPTH ATTEMPT AT FIGURING OUT WHAT PROBLEM REALLY WAS, TELLING ME THEY WERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH AUDI & THEIR MECHANICS TO FIND AND FIX THE ACTUAL DEFECT. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR AROUND 3 MONTHS FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH THEY DETERMI
Mileage: 10,000
DRIVING 30 MINUTES INTO THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE DECIDED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN "D" DRIVE AND IN MOTION. THE "PRNDS" STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASH, WHILE NOT LETTING ME ACCELERATE GOING 65MPH. I HAD TO QUICKLY SLOWDOWN, AND PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE GONE INTO "LIMP MODE". AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT BACK ON, IT DROVE JUST FINE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE MORE 2 DAYS AGO. SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, HOWEVER DEALER CANT DETERMINE THE FAULT WITHOUT A CODE. SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW.
Mileage: 100,120
AUDI / VW HAD A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THIS CARS TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. MINE BROKE AT 95000 MILES. SO I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER AUDI OWNERS THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS COSTING ME OVER 1000$. AND SHOULD OF BEEN A FULL RECALL, NOT THIS OTHER BS. IT IS LEAVING US HIGH AND DRY. I HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANKS
Mileage: 95,000
TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGINE RPMS JUMP TO REDLINE WHILE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL, THEN GOES BACK INTO GEAR. HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION ALSO KICKS DOWN TO LOWEST GEAR WHEN COMING AT STOP, JERKING THE CAR WHILE BRAKING.
Mileage: 61,200
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. BELL AUDI (782 US-1, EDISON, NJ 08817, (732) 388-2800) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL); ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED; HOWEVER, A SYSTEM ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Mileage: 109,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. BELL AUDI (782 US-1, EDISON, NJ 08817, (732) 388-2800) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL); ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED; HOWEVER, A SYSTEM ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Mileage: 109,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE TO DRIVE. BELL AUDI (782 US-1, EDISON, NJ 08817, (732) 388-2800) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL); ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED; HOWEVER, A SYSTEM ISSUE OCCURRED WITH THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Mileage: 109,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.