10 complaints reported

2015 Audi A3 Engine

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

Reports
10
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the engine overheated. There was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming abnormal amounts of coolant without signs of a coolant leak. The contact stated that the engine seized. The coolant reservoir was inspected and there was no coolant in the reservoir. While attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact recently replaced the coolant pump, coolant control valve and the expansion tank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V619000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN, nor the model were included. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2025
May 2022

Coolant leak from faulty water pump. This is a known issue from numerous models of Audis and has been the subject of recalls and extended warranty campaigns - but not on this particular model. I was forced to pay for the replacement of this known faulty part out of pocket.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Feb 2022

The turbo went out prematurely

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2022
Feb 2020

AFTER RECENT CAR INSPECTION DUE TO RECALL FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION I WAS INFORMED THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55 000 MILES ON IT. OTHER AUDI MODELS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR AUDI A3 2015. AS A MANUFACTURER AUDI MUST TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY PARTS AND IT SHOULD REPLACE THEM ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020
Feb 2020

THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURS ON NEARLY ALL MQB CHASSIS VW/AUDI'S WITH THE EA888 GEN 3 2.0 TFSI ENGINE. IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020
Jun 2018

LOST COMPRESSION AT ONLY 43,670 MILES TO FOURTH CYLINDER. ENGINE WAS REBUILT BY AUDI DEALER. FOUND PIECES OF OIL CONTROL RING FROM A PISTON IN OIL PAN, AIR LEAKING THROUGH INTAKE, SEATING SURFACE FOR INTAKE VALVE NUMBER 2 ON CYLINDER 4 WAS BURNT AND UNABLE TO SEAT PROPERLY DUE TO SPRING ON THAT VALVE BEING WEAKER THAN OTHERS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2018
Dec 2017

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. ENGINE CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. ABSOLUTELY NO POWER OR ENGINE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. VEHICLE WENT FROM 65 TO 0 MPH IN SECONDS. NO STEERING CONTROL AS WELL!! COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HEAD OF SERVICE AT AUDI DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME & AUDI IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SAID DO NOT TAKE CAR BACK...THEY'RE PLAYING "RUSSIAN ROULETTE" WITH YOUR LIFE AND WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED.....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF *CN

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

2015 AUDI A3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE SAT IN AN OPEN AIR SITE WITHOUT A HOOD OR WINDOWS, EXPOSED TO THE WINTER ELEMENTS. 13 DAYS LATER IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE TO BE DUE TO RODENT NESTING ACTIVITY. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2017
Nov 2014

MY VEHICLE SUFFERED LOSS OF POWER AND AS A RESULT TOO MUCH OF HESITATION , IT BEHAVED AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STOP ON HIGHWAY.IT IS A NEW CAR AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE BAD GAS , CHANGED GAS STATION MADE SURE GAS IS NOT AN ISSUE AND HESITATION/LOSS OF POWER CONTINUES. I WAS ABOUT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE BUT DEALER CALLED ME SAYING MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER HAS BEEN LISTED FOR AN IMP UPDATE IN ORDER TO PREVENT FAILURE OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS AND PEOPLE IN GERMANY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GET THIS FIXED ASAP I.E ; 18 SEPT 2015 . I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT ON 24 SEPT 2015 IT IS NOT JUST UPDATE BUT THE ENTIRE TURBO IS REPLACED , MONTH LATER CAR IS HAVING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS ,NO POWER/HESITATION , INTERMITTENTLY STUTTERING OR MISFIRING. AUDI MECHANICS KEPT CAR FOR A DAY (13 NOV 2014)AND REPLIED THEY COULDN'T FIND THE ISSUE AND RETURNED THE CAR BACK TO ME . I ASSURED THEM THE VEHICLE HAD PREMIUM GAS ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF THE STATUS. *TR

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

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2.0 AUDI A3 FROM THE DEALER THIS MAY. I GOT A LOW OIL WARNING WITH ONLY 2700 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THE OIL IS DARK AND DIRTY COMPARE TO THE LONER CAR I GOT. IT HAS BEEN THREE TIMES I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE DEALER, BUT THEY NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FIRST TIME, THEY TOPED UP THE OIL. AFTER TWO WEEKS, THE OIL WAS LOW AGAIN, SO I BROUGHT IT BACK. THIS TIME, THEY CHANGED A NEW OIL TANK CAP FOR ME, BUT TWO WEEKS LATER, THE OIL WAS LOW. I DROVE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE, THIS TIME ACTUALLY THE AUDI COMPANY TOLD ME THAT IS BECAUSE MY CAR IS STILL IN BREAK-IN PERIOD AND JUST TOPPED UP THE OIL AGAIN. BUT AS AN ENGINEER, I KNOW IT CANNOT BE 2 QT PER 1000 MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Audi A3 has 10 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.