KnownCarProblems2010 Audi A3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Audi A3, most often about the fuel system (38% of complaints, typically around 39,000 miles). It is 5th of 22 A3 model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2010 Audi A3 problems
Fuel system
19 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
This complaint relates to a tdi version of the Audi A3. While driving my kids to school, the car stopped dead and would not restart. On inspection by an Audi dealer it was determined that the high pressure fuel pump had failed. The pump failure caused metal particles from the pump itself to circulate in the fuel…
While driving on to a free way on ramp at about 25-30mph, the engine indicator come on and started to flash, almost immediately the car stall in the middle of moving traffic. I did my best to steer the car into a safe area with no power steering before it came to a complete stop. I tried cranking the engine a couple…
Air bags
13 complaints · 26%On june 8 2018 the car was in motion in the city of atlanta driving straight when another car turn improperly causing accident. This cause the car to get involved in a car accident front end. The driver chest hit the steering. Which from the that cause the impact of the air bag to improperly inflate but deflated cause…
Transmission
11 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Automobile was traveling on bqe in new york city at about 50 MPH when the automatic transmission shifted into neutral and refused to shift into gear. All forward power was lost. The driver rolled the car onto the right lane as there was not a shoulder. The driver stopped the car and turned it off. Then turned the car…
This complaint relates to a tdi version of the Audi A3. While driving my kids to school, the car stopped dead and would not restart. On inspection by an Audi dealer it was determined that the high pressure fuel pump had failed. The pump failure caused metal particles from the pump itself to circulate in the fuel…
Engine
6 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 34,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
While driving on local roads, engine lost power and stopped running suddenly. I was able to restart the car after a minute or so and continued my trip to work. Car is an automatic and the engine just quit like a manual left in gear at a stop sign...a shudder then nothing. Not sure if relevant, but I could only restart…
This complaint relates to a tdi version of the Audi A3. While driving my kids to school, the car stopped dead and would not restart. On inspection by an Audi dealer it was determined that the high pressure fuel pump had failed. The pump failure caused metal particles from the pump itself to circulate in the fuel…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Audi A3 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 23, 2018. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69r6. Note: this recall partially supersedes recall 16v-078.
Full defect summary
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 may cause the inflator to explode.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began march 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel system, diesel
Risk: Due to the resonance condition, injector line number 2 could develop small cracks which could lead to fuel leakage. Leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source, may lead to a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line for the number 2 cylinder on certain vehicles and will install vibration dampers on all of the injector lines. Volkswagen and audi will notify owners to have the vehicles repaired free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during november 2011. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling certain model 2009-2012 jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles, manufactured from may 2008 through september 2011, model year 2010-2012 volkswagen golf vehicles, manufactured from may 2009 through september 2011, and model year 2010-2012 audi a3 vehicles, manufactured from september 2009 through september 2011, that are equipped with a 2.0l tdi common rail diesel engine/clean diesel engine. The fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of the injector line #2, in specific load and RPM conditions. This resonance creates additional stress in the fuel line.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: In the presence of an ignition source, a vehicle fire could occur.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and audi dealers will replace the fuel tank ventilation valve with an improved valve free of charge. The safety recall began on november 16, 2009. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-253-2834.
Full defect summary
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 extreme driving conditions possibly allowing fuel to leak.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: The abrupt shift to neutral could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: Volkswagen will reprogram the transmission control module with updated software free of charge. The recall began on october 20, 2009. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
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 wires, a temperature sensor has the potential to falsely detect a high gearbox oil temperature, causing the transmission to abruptly shift to 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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Diesel fuel injector line leakage
Summary
By letter dated october 3, 2011, volkswagen group of america, inc. (vw) notified the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately 168,275 model year (my) 2009-2012 volkswagen jetta, jetta sportwagen, golf, and audi a3 vehicles equipped with the 2.0l tdi common rail clean diesel engine (NHTSA recall no. 11v-490).the recalled jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles were built from may 2008 through september 2011, the golf vehicles were built from may 2009 through september 2011, and the audi a3 vehicles were built from september 2009 through september 2011.according to volkswagen, in u.s. Applications of the above
High-pressure fuel pump failure
Summary
The office of defects investgation (odi) opened ea11-003 on february 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to odi and volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) failures in model year (my) 2009 through 2010 volkswagen jetta and golf and audi a3 tdi vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by volkswagen as part of its response to pe10-034.during ea11-003, odi analyzed design information, field experience and test data for my 2009 through 2012 volkswagen jetta, golf and touareg and audi a3 and q7 vehicles equipped with tdi engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject tdi clean diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pum
High pressure fuel pump failure (hpfp)
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) and volkswagen (vw) have received a total of 160 complaints and field reports alleging incidents of engine stall and/or loss of power that appear to be related to high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) failures in certain model year (my) 2009 through 2010 volkswagen jetta and my 2010 volkswagen golf and audi a3 vehicles equipped with tdi clean diesel engines.approximately half of the reports indicate that the failure resulted in an engine stall incident, with many of these alleging stall incidents at highway speeds in traffic with no restart.there has been one minor crash alleged to have resulted from hpfp failure in the subject vehicles.in response to odi's
Vehicle stall/loss motive power
Summary
The subject vehicles are equipped with direct shift gearbox (dsg) transmissions, which feature a 6-speed automatic gearbox with two wet running clutches (dual clutch) in which the clutch mechanism and gear changes are electrohydraulically operated by a mechatronic control unit.the dsg mechatronic controller includes extensive self diagnostic functions and strategies to ensure safe operation and prevent system/component damage in the event of component failures or harsh operating conditions.the basic hierarchy of fault modes includes some that only result in the storage of a diagnostic trouble code (dtc) and cause no loss of function, some that store a dtc and reduce vehicle operation to a li
Questions about the 2010 Audi A3
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Audi A3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (19 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles); air bags (13 complaints); transmission (11 complaints, typically around 36,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Audi A3 have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 30, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Audi A3?
- It is 5th of 22 A3 model years by number of complaints, with 50 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.