9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,200
Average Mileage:
38,000 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
2015 Audi A3 engine problems

engine problem

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2015 Audi A3 Owner Comments

problem #6

Mar 212024

A3 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,103 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2015 Audi A3 started burning oil at about 65,000miles. Turns out its a piston problem which Audi has known about forever and will not address for customers unless we pay for it, at $6000. Additionally I’ve read this is the worst year for A3 with multiple issues and lawsuits.

No sooner addressed the oil issue with a temporary fix than the transmission went! Will file another complaint for that .. . . .another $5000.

Audi should be responsible for their inferior product.

- carol1195, Philadelphia, US

problem #5

Feb 282023

A3 1.8L Tfsi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,749 miles

Audi A3 1.8 TFSI 2015

Bought this car February 1st 2023 from Audi Thornhill Toronto, ON, it had nearly 138000km. Also bought an extended warranty. Month later or +1000km I had an "Check Engine oil level" light on. I came to the dealership, they topped up the oil and said me to come back if it happens again. April 24 2023 I had the check light on again. Came to the dealership again, they said they couldn't find the problem and topped up the oil one more time, said to come back if it happens again. Next time, June 10 2023 oil level was low again, came to the another dealership, Audi Downtown. They charged me for diagnostics despite I have an extended warranty. Also couldn't find the problem and said they can change the oil for 400 CAD, and then, if the problem occurs again(4th time!!!), they will try to fix it.

So, you have to buy a car, you have to buy an extended warranty and still have to pay for diagnostics and all this stuff, because official Audi dealership sells broken cars.

- George N., Toroto, ON, Canada

problem #4

Jul 012020

A3

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Took 2015 Audi A3 in immediately after engine light came on into Audi dealer for repair and learned that the camshaft bearings had failed due to lack of oil pressure. The vehicle has had perfect recall and maintenance records and never once did a low oil or low oil pressure light come on. In fact, the car had no visible or audible issues and drove completely normally. Even the dealer service department cannot explain how this could have happened.

Their only recommendation was total engine replacement. This is on a motor with just over 60k miles and at a cost of $7800.

Given the situation including being not too far out of warranty we went to Audi Care for assistance. After literally months of delays and deliberation they responded with no assistance will be provided, not one penny. But we can go ahead and send them all the maintenance records for them to deliberate on for a few more wasted months.

My advice is to not make the same mistake as me and try this brand. I recommend to everyone I speak with to avoid Audi vehicles entirely. Search the web and see for yourself there are so many complaints about them. There are really great competitor auto manufacturers out there (e.g. Lexus, Acura) with high quality that stand behind their products. Really no good reason to buy an Audi in my opinion, their reputation of a premium brand and manufacturer is completely undeserved in 2020.

- J X., Dunstable, MA, US

problem #3

Nov 272015

A3 Premium 2.0t

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Leased the car in June, 2015, by the end of November I had to top off twice because the oil light came on. By that time I had approximately 4500 miles. I called Audi customer care to lodge a complaint and I was told its normal. Oil consumption is not normal in a brand new car. I have leased other German cars before, MB C-Class,and BMW 328 and I never had to top off between oil changes.

- Andrei P., Whitestone, NY, US

problem #2

Oct 302014

A3 Premium Plus 2.0T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 850 miles

Car uses a LOT of oil, don't know why, seems to always be running hot.

- Dave I., Canton, MI, US

problem #1

Aug 082014

A3 Premium 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,670 miles

click to see larger images

excessive oil consumption

I bought a brand new 2.0 Audi A3 from the dealer this May.

The sales department did a good job, and Bill, who sold us the car is a very nice guy. But the car itself is definitely a bad car! I got a low oil warning with only 2700 miles on the car, and the oil is dark and dirty compared 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 topped 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.

Update from Nov 2, 2014: Last time, the dealer told me that everything is fine on my car and just topped off the oil. After 3 weeks, I checked the oil level with the dipstick, the car has already used 1/3 of the oil. I drove the car back to the dealer again (it has already been 4 times!). They told me that the low oil light was not on, the car is fine. Besides, they never done the oil consumption test on my car. I called Audi Company this time and told them what happened on my car, the agent said there is no dipstick on 2015 A3, so it is impossible for me to check the oil level by myself! Anyone can see it if you just Google 2015 A3 online! Who can help me? I just want to return this car and get my money back!

Update from Nov 2, 2014: The other thing I noticed that Audi updated 2015 A3 recently including automatic air-condition system, and some other things, but the price is the same as I bought my car 6 months ago. Updating the car for the same model year after 3 to 4 months of the first release is not normal. And the Audi Company refuse to do anything to make it up on my car.

- xan2xan2, Chicago, IL, US

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