The Lemon Index

All cars · Audi A3 · 2015

2015 Audi A3. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index82100 = average car
Complaints47NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold58,234U.S. model year
Per 100K sold81complaints
Year rank#2 of 3#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 3

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
1.8L 4-cyl turboAuto (AM-S6)FWD23 / 33 / 27Premium$2,850
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (AM-S6)AWD24 / 33 / 27Premium$2,850
2.0L 4-cyl turbo dieselAuto (AM-S6)FWD31 / 41 / 35Diesel$2,700

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 22,000 and 67,800 miles. Median 45,000, from 119 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Airbags52,00037,500–83,00049
Electrical47,10037,000–61,50016
Fuel or ev drive system52,10035,600–66,0009
Engine44,30029,000–52,80014
Seat belts45,00028,000–65,00011

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Airbags17%
Fuel or ev drive system17%
Engine15%
Lights11%
Transmission & drivetrain9%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
23320102

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 7

  • 24V110000 Feb 2024 Fuel System, Gasoline

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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 previ

  • 21V198000 Mar 2021 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification / Front Passenger

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 19V474000 Jun 2019 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.

    Risk. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.

  • 17V280000 Apr 2017 Equipment / Other / Labels

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Audi A3 1.8T FWD S tronic and 2.0T Quattro S tronic vehicles. The safety certification label has an incorrect vehicle production date. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

    Risk. In the event of a vehicle safety recall, an incorrect production date may prevent owners from determining if the recall affects them, increasing their risk of injury or a crash.

    Remedy. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install an overlay label containing the correct vehicle production date, free of charge. The recall June 23, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51F5.

  • 16V647000 Sep 2016 Fuel System, Gasoline

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.

    Risk. As fuel accumulates in the EVAP system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298, Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 20Y6 and 20Y5. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 24V-110.

  • 15V824000 Dec 2015 Seats

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, LLC (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet vehicles manufactured June 5, 2014, to April 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driver or front passenger seat whose cover may be incorrectly stitched, preventing the side air bag from properly deploying in the event of a crash.

    Risk. Improper side air bag deployment may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's and/or front passenger's seatback cover, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on February 4, 2016. The recall began on February 29, 2016 . Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74C9.

  • 15V229000 Apr 2015 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Golf, and GTI manufactured on February 17, 2014, to May 22, 2014, and Audi A3 manufactured on February 16, 2013, to April 23, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.

    Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle will not start, or if the engine is running, it will stop and the vehicle will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any affected fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi at 1-800-253-2834.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedFuel leak due to suction jet pump failure within fuel tank (remedy effectiveness of recall 16v647)20232024

Manufacturer communications 1141

Audi filed 1141 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • On Audi A3 vehicles manufactured within a specific period the turbocharger may fail causing…
  • This bulletin contains instructions for using the UV additive to find engine oil leaks
  • This condition may be caused when the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are depressed…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Audi A3 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Audi A3 C FWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Audi A3 C AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Audi A3 4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2015824758,234Airbags
2016542231,538Fuel or ev drive system
2017832323,610Engine

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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