This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
During the morning rush hour commute, while traveling at 60mph on East bound highway 70 (at the 70/270 interchange) in St. Louis, mo the glow plug light started flashing and all engine power was lost. I was lucky to have been able to safely maneuver the car 4 lanes to the far right shoulder and turn on the hazard lights. Any attempt to restart the car was not successful. As the outside temperature was 3 degrees (-9 with windchill) I immediately contacted a towing service. The vehicle was towed to an independent VW/Audi shop, where they informed me that the hpfp (high pressure fuel pump) had failed and will require its replacement as well as the rest of the fuel system ($6,000-$8,000 repair estimate).
High pressure fuel pump failure. Sitting at a traffic light. Second time was in May 2014 at about 40,000 miles. Both times the car stalled without warning. Audi replaced the entire fuel system from the injectors to the fuel tank. I have spoken to a few other Audi owners at the dealer who have had multiple diesel fuel pump failures on tdi cars and SUVS.
2010 tdi Audi A3. Upon acceleration the car hesitated and the engine started jerking. The "glow plug" light started blinking then the car started loosing power and came to a stop. Could not restart. Had the car towed to mechanic who told me to have it towed to dealership that it was a manufacturer problem. Had it towed to dealership which told me that I had put bad diesel in it and it caused metal particles to circulate in the fuel system doing catastrophic damage. Everything that the diesel had touched would have to be replaced. I told dealership that I only use diesel from there list of "good" diesel stations. They want to charge me $7,345 to fix. If they put the same parts back in it to repair it, what if it happens again"??" I have had this car serviced by the book - this should not have happened. There should be a recall on this. This needs investigating.
Check vehicle (coil) light flashed. Vehicle lost power and stalled while driving on California hwy 1. was able to coast vehicle to safe place. Dealer diagnosed failed diesel fuel pump, said pump was disintegrated. Service advisor advised that entire fuel system would be replaced by Audi.
Car started but made horrible rattling sound then died and would not start again. Car left me stranded over 60 miles from home on a Sunday night on the memorial day weekend with a young child. The car had to be towed to dealership in austin. Due to the late hour and holiday, no way to rent a car to get home, so I had to have someone come and get us. I was told by the dealership the fuel pump went out and basically exploded sending metal fibers into engine and other systems. Given estimate of $7,500 to fix the car. Service department acknowledged that this has happened before but refused to pay for the repair since my extended warranty ended at 100,000 miles, and my car was out of warranty by 4,600 miles. It is a design flaw, that if the fuel pump goes bad in a diesel engine that it will do so much damage to the engine.
- Jonestown, TX, USA
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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 system doing catastrophic damage to the fuel system and power train. As of this date, the car has been in the shop for repair longer than two weeks with no estimated date of completion. We experienced a similar catastrophic fuel pump failure with our Audi Q7 tdi in June of 2012 which required a new engine, fuel system and other parts (see ODI # 10480946). According to the dealer, the reason for the delay in repairing the A3 relates to the large number of cars with similar fuel system failures which has caused a scarcity of parts. We have been told by the dealer that this same problem is happening to tdi vehicles from both Volkswagen and Audi. I am no engineer, but widespread fuel system failures seem potentially dangerous to drivers and their passengers. This problem deserves an investigation.
I own a 2010 Audi A3 tdi. I was driving on a city street in normal traffic, began feeling hesitation/jerking in the engine, then the "glow plug" light came on just before the engine stopped running. Ultimately the car stalled within 30 seconds following initial hesitation in a moving lane of traffic. I was barely able to get the car to coast up into a parking lot to safety and had to be towed into the dealer. It was in for repair for approximately one week. Metal shavings were found in the fuel filter initially then throughout the entire fuel system, including the fuel tank which also had to be replaced. Servicemen first suspected I had accidentally put unleaded in it which was absolutely not the case though I have heard from other owners who were accused of the same and forced to pay out of pocket for repair. I am the only driver and only go to highest quality stations with labels of "ultra-low sulfur diesel". if it doesn't state that then I have gone elsewhere. Everything fuel-related was replaced under warranty. Repairmen were unable to tell me how the metal shavings came about though they were insistent it wouldn't happen again. I have serious doubts since they did report, after I questioned them, that the exact same parts replaced the old ones. I am a high mileage driver which is why I purchased a diesel engine. My warranty will soon expire. When the same issue occurs again, if I still own the vehicle, I guess I will have to come out of pocket over $8000 which was the estimate on paper from the dealer. I hope Audi further investigates the problem very soon and issues a recall so I can have peace of mind!
Our 2010 Audi A3 tdi deisel lost power while traveling at 65 mph on an interstate highway. After pulling over, we were unable to restart the car. The car was towed to an Audi dealer who informed us that the fuel pump had failed due to "contaminated fuel". we had put brand name diesel into the tank on every refill and have the receipts to prove it.
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 of times but it would not restart. This is a very dangerous situation to be in, with fast moving vehicles passing by at high speed, I was lucky enough that I did not get rear ended or cause an accident. Towed the car to Audi of los angeles but it was already closed. They looked at it the next morning and found metal shavings in the diesel filter pod. They told me that the pump might gave out, they have to send fuel samples to get it analyze. This car is only a year old, how can the pump, fail already?
Driving home after dark on a local boulevard at about 45 mph in our Audi A3 tdi. Vehicle suddenly lost all engine power. Engine shut down completely. Was able to coast to side of road. Vehicle would not restart. Vehicle was towed to dealer. Dealer determined that the high pressure fuel pump "exploded" and quit working. This failure circulated metal particles through the vehicle fuel system. They are still reviewing with the Audi, but dealer said that this happened to another tdi not long ago and Audi had them replace the entire fuel system from the fuel tank to the injectors. Vehicle is stall at dealer waiting on parts. If this had happened on the highway in traffic I don't believe I could have coasted to the shoulder and would have been stalled in traffic.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Saint Charles, MO, USA