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2015 Audi A3 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2015 Audi A3 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 180owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 18%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about Audi A3 year on file: 180 complaints, against an average of 33 for the other 10 model years.
Every Audi A3 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2015 Audi A3?
The components named most often in the 180 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2015 Audi A3 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 180 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is the airbag light on in my 2015 Audi A3?34 owners · 18.9% · Recall 21V198000
- Why does my 2015 Audi A3 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?12 owners · 6.7%
- Why does my 2015 Audi A3 smell of fuel or gas?10 owners · 5.6%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2015 Audi A3?8 owners · 4.4%
- Why does my 2015 Audi A3 idle rough, misfire or hesitate?8 owners · 4.4%
- Why does my 2015 Audi A3 overheat?7 owners · 3.9%
Has the 2015 Audi A3 been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Fuel System, Gasoline Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification: Front Passenger Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
Is the 2015 Audi A3 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAStop-drive TAKATA PSAN
Risk: Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Affected vehicles were originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Certain front airbags contain an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Fix: Affected airbags will be be replaced. You can contact Audi's dedicated Takata Stop Drive helpline at 0113 526 9646 (MONDAY to FRIDAY 9:00AM to 5:00PM.
UK DVSAThe camshaft adjuster belt pulley may break or the housing bolts may come loose
Risk: The belt pulley for the camshaft adjuster may break or the bolts for the camshaft adjuster housing may come loose
Fix: The camshaft adjuster must be replaced on the affected vehicles
UK DVSAPassenger airbag may not deploy as intended
Risk: There is a possibility of a faulty weld on the gas generator. If the airbag is deployed there is a risk that parts could be projected into the cabin with risk of injury to the occupants.
Fix: On affected vehicles replace the front passenger air bag module with a correctly manufactured version.
EU Safety GateThe camshaft drive belt may not be resistant enough.Consequently, it may break or lead to the camshaft-phaser screws to loosen up and the engine oil to leak onto the roadway, increasing the risk of accident to following traffic.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2015 Audi A3 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2015, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2015 Audi A3 owners report?
12 of the 180 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The Audi has problems filling fuel, it doesn't allow you to put any gallon of gasoline, the gasoline gun jumps, I don't know what's going on.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated that the dealer had previously repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the vehicle was not driven until a year later after the recall repair due to medical issues. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, fuel was backing up in the fuel filler neck. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and failed to exceed 30 MPH. There was a fuel odor coming from the vehicle, and the fuel and check engine warning lights were illuminated. A family friend…
My 2015 Audi A3 was subject to a fuel suction jet pump safety recall. Before the recall repair was available, the vehicle developed a fuel leak and fuel-spilling problem. Audi inspected the vehicle in XXX and documented that its Tech Line advised replacing the fuel tank and all attaching components, with a quoted cost of approximately $5,730. I was unable to afford this repair and questioned why the fuel tank needed replacement. Audi subsequently performed the suction jet pump recall repair in August 2024. However, the fuel problem did not resolve. After the recall repair, I was told the…
I have an appointment at Audi of Richmond on Wednesday 08/19/26 and was told to have the car there on Tuesday the day before the appointment to fix the recalls. I called Audi USA roadside assistance and also the actual dealership about a complimentary tow based of the fact the reason it stop driving was because of one of the recalls. They said they can’t cover it because they can’t confirm that was the cause that keeps it from driving which confuses me because a fuel pump recall should trigger a stop drive anyway because of fire hazard at the very least. I will upload pictures of the scanner…
The contact owns 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while parked and when attempting to input fuel into the vehicle the fuel hose sprayed fuel into the contact's clothing and shoes and began to leak under the vehicle near the rear tires. An independent mechanic was contacted. The contact mention the failure has occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure NHTSA Campaign Number:24V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however…
Blown turbo with propeller broken off lodged into the pre-catalytic converter, which caused damage to the catalytic converter/exhaust requiring a new turbo and a complete new catalytic converter and exhaust system. They also found major oil leaking from the upper timing cover gaskets, which I later found documented on the accounting service record as not repaired at that time few months from my purchase. These known engine damages were a major contributor to the engine failures that I’m faced with today. Oil starvation from known oil leaks, damaged gaskets, and failing parts caused oil…
Smelt like something was burning and the smell was coming out of vents. Looked online and found that people have been having issues with the auxiliary heater for the HVAC to help the car warm up faster. I check mine and found that the connector was staring to melt. Seems like it could be a potential fire hazard if not caught soon enough.
Airbag pressure sensing fault in passenger seat. Fix is $1,800
My 2015 Audi A3 1.8T is experiencing the exact same failure symptoms and operational hazards as those described in Audi’s own Warranty Extension U49, which covers certain 2017 and 2018 Audi A3 and A3 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI models. According to Audi’s bulletin, vehicles with faulty mechatronic units are eligible for replacement under an extended warranty due to safety concerns — sudden loss of drive, vehicle being stuck in neutral, and PRNDS flashing while in traffic. My vehicle is now exhibiting these identical symptoms: (1) Sudden disengagement of all gears while driving when it tries to go to…
For recall 21V198-69BY, I took my car to Audi of Birmingham on recall. They provided me a service form to show the repair had been made, but my passenger side air bag off light is still on because they didn't make the repair. It wasn't brought to my attention until I took my car for another repair job and the didn't make that repair, either.
Dear NHTSA, I am filing a complaint about the handling of a recall repair on my 2015 Audi A3 (VIN: [XXX] ) for the suction jet pump. The service experience has been frustrating and raises concerns about the repair’s quality. 1.First Visit - Inadequate Information: During my first visit to the service center, over an hour away, I was turned away because my fuel level was too high. I was never informed that my gas tank needed to be below a certain level for the repair, resulting in wasted time and travel. 2.Second Visit - Check Engine Light Still On: On my second visit, the suction jet pump was…
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…
2015 Audi A3: questions owners ask
Is the 2015 Audi A3 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Audi A3; the most common categories were air bags (83, 46.1%), electrical system (25, 13.9%), fuel/propulsion system (22, 12.2%). There are 2 safety recalls. 1 complaint mentions a crash.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Audi A3?
Across 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (46.1% of complaints), electrical system (13.9% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (12.2% of complaints), engine (10% of complaints), fuel system (8.9% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2015 Audi A3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Audi A3; the most recent (campaign 24V110000, 2024-02-14) concerns Fuel System, Gasoline. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2015 Audi A3?
34 of the 180 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2015 Audi A3 (18.9%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. A related recall exists: campaign 21V198000 (air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger). The fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. One owner wrote: "passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may detect a malfunction and switch off the passenger airbag even though the seat may be occupied. Cars battery has been replaced yet battery problems still occur." (NHTSA complaint 11524298, May 2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2015 Audi A3 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
12 of the 180 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2015 Audi A3 (6.7%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: ""under inflated left front tire" message came on. took it to audi service center in gainesville, fl. after checking the tires, the engine would not start. after several attempts it started but kept stalling." (NHTSA complaint 11132942, October 2018). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2015 Audi A3 smell of fuel or gas?
10 of the 180 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2015 Audi A3 (5.6%) describe a fuel or gasoline smell, or a fuel leak. One owner wrote: "Tl* the contact owns a 2015 audi a3. while driving various speeds, there was a strong fuel odor in the vehicle. the failure occurred without warning." (NHTSA complaint 11033197, October 2017). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2015 Audi A3?
8 of the 180 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2015 Audi A3 (4.4%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Check engine light came on in october 2020 car was slow to take off for several weeks and seemed to take time to shift gears. took to audi mechanic and had to replace water pump -w/thermostat housing & intake manifold." (NHTSA complaint 11407754, April 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2015 Audi A3 idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
8 of the 180 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2015 Audi A3 (4.4%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "Tl* the contact owns a 2015 audi a3. the contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle accelerated independently and became difficult to brake. on another occasion, the contact the vehicle hesitate and felt as if it would stall." (NHTSA complaint 10695495, March 2015). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2015 Audi A3 overheat?
7 of the 180 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2015 Audi A3 (3.9%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11464759, May 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own A3
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2015 only.