31 complaints reported

2006 Audi A3 Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
31
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2017

RANDOM LOSS OF POWER, THE TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY SLIP WHILE THE CAR IS IN REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION. IT WILL ALSO SLIP RANDOMLY WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION AND DURING TURNING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN BEING REAR ENDED. PLEASE HELP! LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 1/15/2017.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Dec 2015

WHEN DRIVING, PRNDS FLASHES AND CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE (LOSES POWER). MUST STOP CAR AND TURN OFF. AFTER TURNING ON AGAIN, WILL DRIVE AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2015
Sep 2015

NO ACCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT IS ONE JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND AFTER A ROLL STOP. THE ACCELERATOR HAS TO BE COMPLETELY DEPRESS AND WAIT A FEW SECONDS IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING. IF I WOULD NEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AFTER A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION THERE IS A GREAT RISK OF A CRASH SINCE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO EQUALIZE THE SPEED OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY, MANY OF THESE VEHICLES YEAR AND MODEL ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS FORUMS. OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND AUDI HAVE DISREGARDED THE COMPLAINTS. ACCORDING TO OWNER'S FORUMS THE MECHATRONIX UNIT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION IS AT FAULT, AND A SIMPLE SOFTWARE REFLASH FROM AUDI WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS QUITE SIMILAR TO THE IGNITION PROBLEM RECENTLY DISCOVERED IN GM VEHICLES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2015
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE SELECTOR LEVER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE SIDE, THE ENGINE STALLED, AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V333000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2015
Sep 2014

TODAY MY AUDI A3 2.0T WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WE WERE MERGING FROM I-80 TO I-55. WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY INDICATOR LIGHTS WE LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE SHIFTER IN D-DRIVE BUT NO POWER WAS GOING TO THE WHEELS. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC ON THE RAMP BUT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL WITH THE CAR BEHIND US ALMOST HITTING US. THE CAR EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT A HALF HOUR BEFORE AT A GAS STOP BUT I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE DASH INDICATORS FLASHED DNRS WHEN WE TRIED TO MOVE AGAIN. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND IT SEEMS THE 2007-2009 A3 HAVE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AS DO OTHER AUDI MODELS WITH THE SAME DSG TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. WHY IS NOT THE 2006 RECALLED AS WELL? THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT PUT MY WIFE AND I IN HARMS WAY. EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2014
Apr 2014

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09035, RECALL NUMBER: 09V333000 I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE OCCUR ON MY 2006 AUDI A3. THIS A3 HAS A 2.0T ENGINE AND 6 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION. TODAY WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN ON A VERY BUSY STREET, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING DOWNSHIFTED AND THEN ALL PRNDS LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH. I WAS STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND GOT INTO THE CENTER LANE WHERE I EVENTUALLY MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. IT APPEARED TO HAVE ONLY ONE FORWARD GEAR (1ST). I HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME 20 MILES AWAY WITH NO REVERSE AT 15 MPH AND 3500 RPM. I HAVE KEPT THE CAR WELL MAINTAINED AND IT WAS ONLY DEALER MAINTAINED UNTIL RECENTLY. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS RIDICULOUS. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE DOWNSHIFT WAS ABRUPT AND CAUSED A VIOLENT JERKING IN THE CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT DISPLAYED ANY EVIDENCE OF HARDER SHIFTING OVER TIME. THIS IS THE SAME GEARBOX SYSTEM AS IN THE RECALLED LATER MODEL YEARS. THE RECALL MUST BE ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT. I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE ACROSS NUMEROUS AUDI OWNER FORUM WEBSITES COVERING WIDER MODEL YEARS THAN LISTED ON THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY; TOO BAD. THE CLOSEST DEALER IS 150 MILES AWAY. I REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2014
Nov 2013

VEHICLE GOES OUT OF GEARS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 20MINS IN HOT WEATHER, THIS WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. THE "PRNDS" LIGHT FLASH FOR A QUICK SECOND AND BACK INTO GEAR AGAIN. I HAVE VARIOUS ISSUES WITH HARSH SHIFTS UP AND DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THE VEHICLE HAS A HOT TIME GOING IN TO SECOND GEAR AND SOMETIME FIRST. IT MAKES A VERY NOTICEABLE CLUNK SOUND WHEN IT DOES. FROM A STOP, GIVING JUST A BIT OF GAS AND THE CAR DON'T SEEM TO MOVE THEN IT WILL SURGE UNTIL THE SPEED COMES UP. WHILE GETTING UP TO SPEED IT WILL TRY TO GET INTO THE HIGHEST GEAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I WOULD BE IN 6TH GEAR WHILE ONLY GOING 35MPH. THERE ARE SOME SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED AND THAT IS WHY I'M TAKING THE TIME TO FILE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2013
Jul 2013

2006 AUDI A3 2.0T WITH DSG. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING SOMETIMES ON ACCELERATION, SOMETIMES WITH STEADY DRIVING. STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR AT STOP LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGED FOR ABOUT 5 FEET, THEN CAR LURCHED TO A STOP, THEN TRANSMISSION CAUGHT AND IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AGAIN. ISSUE REPEATED TWO MORE TIMES WITHIN THE HOUR. TODAY I WAS CRUISING AT A STEADY 70 MPH, 6TH GEAR, ABOUT 2800 RPM, AND THE TRANSMISSION LET GO AND RPMS DROPPED TO ABOUT 2200 BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN AT 2800 RPM. HAPPENED ONCE PER MILE AFTER THAT, AND THEN TWICE AGAIN ON SURFACE STREETS IN 4TH GEAR. APPEARS TO MATCH EXACTLY THE SYMPTOMS OWNERS EXPERIENCE WITH RECALLED 2007-2010 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2013
Jun 2013

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09035, RECALL NUMBER: 09V333000 I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE OCCUR ON MY 2006 AUDI A3. THIS A3 HAS A 2.0T ENGINE AND 6 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION. TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING DOWNSHIFTED AND THEN ALL PRNDS LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT APPEARED TO HAVE ONLY ONE FORWARD GEAR (3RD). I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A PLACE FOR TOWING. EVEN REVERSE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS RECENTLY SERVICED. I HAVE KEPT THE CAR WELL MAINTAINED AND IT WAS ONLY DEALER MAINTAINED UNTIL RECENTLY. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS RIDICULOUS. HAD THE TRAFFIC NOT BEEN LIGHT, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE DOWNSHIFT WAS ABRUPT AND CAUSED A VIOLENT JERKING IN THE CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT DISPLAYED ANY EVIDENCE OF HARDER SHIFTING OVER TIME. THIS IS THE SAME GEARBOX SYSTEM AS IN THE RECALLED MODEL YEARS. THE RECALL MUST BE ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT. I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE ACROSS NUMEROUS AUDI OWNER FORUM WEBSITES COVERING WIDER MODEL YEARS THAN LISTED ON THIS RECALL. I REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2013
Feb 2013

WHEN COMING SLOWLY TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. TRAVELING SLOWLY FORWARD OR REVERSE WILL ALSO CAUSE UNEXPECTED SURGES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
Oct 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JUMP ABNORMALLY BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE MECHATRONIC UNIT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 91,000. UPDATED 10/22/13 *CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2012
Feb 2012

I HAVE AN AUDI A3 2006. SEVERAL YEARS AGO (END OF 2009/BEGINNING OF 2010), I STARTED FEELING AND HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD LUNGE FORWARD A FEW INCHES WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS AND DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. THIS WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY AND HAS BEEN INCREASING IN STRENGTH. I WAS TOLD BY AUDI THAT IT WAS A DUE TO A FAULTY MECHATRONIC SYSTEM, WHICH IS LIKE THE BRAINS OF THE CAR. AUDI SERVICE QUOTED ME A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2500 TO REPLACE THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM. I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MANY AUDI A3 OWNERS AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF THE ISSUE, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI AND RECALLED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2010
Nov 2011

MY VEHICLE FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS - FAILED TO MOVE ON A STOP SIGN - MOVED VERY WEAKLY WHEN TAKING A LEFT TURN WHILE IN THE CENTER TURN LANE. CARS WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND I BARELY MISSED HAVING AN ACCIDENT. - VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND COMPLETELY FAILED TO MOVE WHILE STILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THIS HAPPENED "PRNDS" FLASHED ON THE DASH. - I HAVE THE VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND AUDI HAS RECALLED MANY CARS (2007 ONWARDS), BUT MY CAR WASN'T RECALLED. THE RECALL NOTICE FROM AUDI IS IN 2009 AND MY CAR WAS NOT IN IT. WHY IS THAT? HOW DOES AUDI DECIDE WHICH CARS TO INCLUDE IN THE RECALL? I THINK THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETELY FLAWED. I BELIEVE AUDI CUT CORNERS AND DID NOT RECALL ALL THE CARS THEY SHOULD HAVE. JUST ENOUGH TO CALM PEOPLE DOWN AS THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO SHOWN ON TV NEWS. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER BY CHANGING THE "MECHATRONICS UNIT" OF MY CAR. THIS FIX IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THEY DID FOR 2007 YEAR MODELS, SO WHY WAS 2006 NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OF AUG 2009. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY CARS ON THE STREET THAT STILL HAS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM, JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. NHTSA SHOULD USE ALL ITS POWER TO RESTART THIS INVESTIGATION AND MAKE AUDI WORK RESPONSIBLY TOWARDS FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
Jun 2011

I NOTICE AFTER DRIVING MY 06 AUDI A3 FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND WITH THE ENGINE WARMED UP, THE CAR WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY EVERY TIME AFTER WARM UP, AND IT WOULD SOMETIMES STALL. MY CAR IS A AUTOMATIC WITH DSG. THE JERKING HAPPENS WHEN I APPLIED THE GAS AND IT WOULD HAPPEN IN ALL THE GEARS. THERE WOULD BE TIMES WHERE I'D BE MAKING A TURN TO CROSS ON COMING TRAFFIC, I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD JERK GIVING ME NO POWER AND STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC! GOOD THING THEY STOPPED FOR ME! BUT WHAT IF I'M NOT SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME AROUND? WHAT IF THEY DON'T STOP IN TIME? AND WHAT IF I HAVE MY LITTLE SISTER, NIECES AND NEPHEWS IN MY CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS? I TOOK IT TO THE AUDI DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE JERKING AND STALLING. TWICE! I FEEL LIKE AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WONT ADMIT TO IT AND DO NOTHING. SO MANY VW OR AUDI OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MONEY, IS ABOUT HUMAN LIVES WHICH SHOULD BE MORE VALUED THAN MONEY TO AUDI. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2011
Apr 2011

SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT MY 2006 AUDI A3 2.0T, I AM HAVING THIS ISSUE. WHEN I START MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP (SUCH AS ON A RED LIGHT), THE CAR JERKS BACK AND FORTH 1-2 TIMES ROUGHLY. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITHOUT FAIL. THE JERK IS SO POWERFUL THAT IT MAKES ALL PASSENGERS' BODIES SHIFT FORWARD WITH ITS MOMENTUM. IT FEELS AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE SUDDENLY. ALSO, AT TIMES, FROM A STOP WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS, THE CAR HESITATES BEFORE SLAMMING INTO GEAR AFTER 2-3 SECONDS OF NOT RESPONDING TO MY THROTTLE INPUT. THIS HAS SCARED HELL OUT OF ME AT COUPLE OF INSTANCES BECAUSE I ALMOST GOT INTO A READ REND COLLISION FROM SOMEONE BEHIND ME NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND ALMOST SLAMMING INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. LUCKILY, AS I KNOW MY CAR HAD THIS CHARACTERISTIC SO I REACT QUICKLY IN SUCH OCCASIONS. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AFTER READING PLENTY OF STUFF ONLINE, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SUCCESS FIXING THE PROBLEM BY GETTING A REPLACEMENT DSG/TRANSMISSION/MECHATRONICS UNIT INSTALLED. WHEN I VISIT AUDI DEALER, THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS FINE. I HAD BEEN TO AUDI DEALER FOR 3 TIMES. BUT, I'M SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DEFINITELY NOT FINE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AS EVERYONE I HAVE MET WITH THE SAME CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF ENDING INTO THE HOSPITAL BEDS FOR WHIPLASH FROM READ END COLLISION OR WORSE, THIS HAS TO FIXED IN ALL THE AUDI A3S. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2010
Jan 2011

AUDI DSG TRANSMISSION SAFETY ISSUE - THE"PRNDS" ON MY DASH OFTEN STARTS FLASHING, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW IN A "LIMP" MODE. I THEN HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURN THE IGNITION OFF, START THE CAR, AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE MODE. I DO ALL OF THIS WHILE EITHER ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD OR THE ALTERNATIVE IS FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER. AUDI RECOGNIZES THIS AS A PROBLEM ON DSG EQUIPPED VEHICLES JUST A FEW MONTHS NEWER THAN MINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL NOT ADMIT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON CARS BUILT WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT JUST A LITTLE EARLIER. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH AUDI. THEY CLAIM IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST $4800 AND CAN ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OVER 1.5 YEARS AND HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST HALF YEAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2010
Jan 2011

MY 2006 AUDI A3 WITH DSG TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES SLIPS WHEN HOT WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. ALSO SURGES IN FIRST GEAR OCCASIONALLY WHEN HOT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIRS AS THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE. THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON AUTO FORUMS. IM GOING TO TAKE IT IN THIS WEEK AND SEE WHAT THE CHARGE WOULD BE TO CHECK IT OUT. BUT IM SURE ITS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER AUDI AND VW CARS OUT THERE WITH THE DSG TRANNY.IM SCARED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND GET HIT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2010
Dec 2010

AS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE AUDI A3 TRANSMISSION. THE TRANS STARTED TO LAG THRU THE GEARS ESPECIALLY AROUND 40MPH. ALSO IN REVERSE, YOU WOULD PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GO BACK AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT WOULDN'T MOVE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD LAUNCH BACKWARDS. VERY DANGEROUS. THE CAR WOULDN'T GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY SOMETIMES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2010
Oct 2010

THIS IS FOR A 2006 AUDI A3 2.0T WITH THE FSI ENGINE AND THE DSG TRANSMISSION. BOTH MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCE A FEW DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WE LOST THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE VIA THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR'S LCD GEAR SELECTOR DISPLAY THEN BEGAN TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY TO INDICATE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF SOME TYPE. WE DID REGAIN 1ST GEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS AS WELL BUT THIS PUT US AT DANGER AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A FAMILY CAR WITH ONLY 42590 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM THEN RE-OCCURRED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ABOUT 3 MORE TIMES AND EVEN FAILED WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO CALL A COUPLE OF DEALERSHIPS TO GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER AS WELL ON WHETHER THIS WAS COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF RECALL WARRANTY AS WELL AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO TRY AND MAKE ME PAY FOR THIS UNTIL I ASKED. THE SERVICE FOR A FAILED DSG TRANSMISSION IS EXORBITANTLY PRICED AND ALSO UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 42590 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN AS A FAMILY CAR STRICTLY. NOT TO MENTION IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NOT DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OR ABUSE. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FAILED MECHATRONIC UNIT AND EVEN NOTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS WERE ALL AT THE PROPER LEVELS. THE OLD PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ME TO VIEW AND I DID NEGLECT TO ASK FOR IT AS THAT IS USUALLY MY PRACTICE WHEN GETTING PARTS REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2010
Jul 2010

I HAVE A 06 AUDI A3 WITH ABOUT 57K MILEAS AND WHILE TRAVELING TO CALIFORNIA, ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY I FELT THE CAR HESITATE SEVERAL TIMES AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF ACCELERATION. MY ONLY ACTION WAS TO STOP PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND DOWNSHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2010
Jun 2010

FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW, I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DOWN TO FIRST GEAR. IT OCCURS AFTER A SLOW COMMUTE OVER A PROLONGED HILL. ONCE I REACH THE TOP AND ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST, RESULTING IN EXTREME RPMS. I HAVE TO SHIFT THE CAR DONE TO LOW GEAR THEN BACK TO D(RIVE) TO RESET IT. THE ISSUE SOUNDS EXTREMELY SIMILAR TO ISSUES ENCOUNTERED WITH THE DGS SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE IS A 2006 AND THEREFORE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE 2007-2009 VW AND AUDI RECALL. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST I AM ABOUT TO INCUR TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2010
Mar 2010

MY AUDI A3 DYNAMIC SHIFT GEARBOX, HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES FROM ABOUT 30K MILES, WHICH IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE ESCALATED TO A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE GEARBOX. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE AUDI SERVICE AT 48000 MILES, ABOUT: JERKINESS WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR; LACK OF ADEQUATE ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP; CAR DIES WHEN STOPPING ON INTERSECTIONS WHILE DRIVING IN CITY CONDITIONS; SHIFTING TO INCORRECT (NEUTRAL) GEAR WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; AUDI DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS UNDER WARRANTY, AND IT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT HAS SHOWN NEGLIGENCE IN DIAGNOSTIC THE PROBLEM, PRIOR TO A COMPLETE MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IS SERVICE AWAITING A REPLACEMENT OF THE DSG (MECHATRONIC AND GEARBOX) WHICH ARE ESTIMATED TO COST AT ABOUT 7000 - 10000 DOLLARS. ACCORDING TO THE FACTS AND MY SERVICE RECORDS, IT IS MY BELIEVE THAT AUDI SHOULD BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2010
Jan 2010

I GOT A 2006 A3 (AUTOMATIC) WITH 90K MILES ON IT. WE STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS 2 WEEKS AGO, BASICALLY WHILE DRIVING (AT ANY SPEED) TRANSMISSION WOULD SPORADICALLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL FOLLOWED BY A JOLTING/CLUNKING NOISE, AND THEN PRNDS LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF ONTHE DASHBOARD. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES WITHIN 1 WEEK. THE SCARY THING IS THAT DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, SUCH I-95, MY WIFE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A 18-WHEELER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TALKED TO AUDI NA COMPLAIN LINE, AND THEY MENTIONED THERE WASN'T ANYTHING REPORTED TO THEM, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM, AND NO WILLINGS TO HELP TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING PARTS. I DON'T SEE THIS ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE GAS PEDAL ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING. MANY COMPLAINS OR CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON AUDI/VW FORUMS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2010
Oct 2009

MY WIFE IS TRAVELING A LONG TRIP. SHE IS DRIVING A 2006 AUDI A3. SHE HAD BEEN HAVING WEIRD THINGS HAPPEN DURING HER TRIP. IT STARTED WHEN SHE MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN. SHE PUSHED THE GAS, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT WENT. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, ALL THE SAME SORT OF WAY. THEN AFTER A RIGHT-HAND CORNER TURN, THE CAR MADE THIS HUGE NOISE AND CLUNK UPON ACCELERATION. AGAIN, IT DROVE OK AFTER THAT. HOWEVER, THE BIG UNSAFE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED @ APX. 49,870 ON ODOMETER, IRONICALLY, JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS OUT. SHE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH & BACKED OFF OF THE GAS TO SLIDE IN BETWEEN TWO CARS & THEN PRESSED ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE TO THE SPEED OF THE MOVING TRAFFIC & SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SEEMED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL BUT BECAUSE THE GAS WAS INCREASING, THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING. SHE SEEMED TO COAST, NO INCREASE IN SPEED. THE CAR BEHIND HER SWERVED OVER IN TIME, BUT IT WAS TOO CLOSE! SHE BACKED OFF OF THE GAS OR BRAKED, SHE COULDN'T REMEMBER AND THE CAR CLUNKED INTO GEAR. WHEN SHE CALLED ME, THE CAR HAD 50,150 & SHE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS HAD JUST HAPPENED A 2ND TIME. IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY, WHEN SHE WAS ACCELERATING. I CALLED MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER & SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO AGREED TO PROVIDE A FREE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN EFFECT FOR THE 2007-2009 AUDI (INCLUDING A3) AS WELL AS FOR 2007-2009 VW'S WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. 2006'S NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL TOO. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2009
Sep 2009

MY AUDI A3 WITH DSG HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SHIFTING PROBLEMS FROM 1-2 AND 2-3. ON THE 29TH, WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A LIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE SEEMED TO HAVE LOST POWER. WHEN I LOOKED INTO MY MIRROR, THE CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND ME DIDN'T EXPECT MY SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND CAME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING ME. THIS ROUGH SHIFTING IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT SOON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2009

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Quick Summary

The 2006 Audi A3 has 31 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.