2015 AUDI S3 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I am reporting a Safety Remedy Denial by Audi of America (Case #[XXX]) regarding a failed suction jet pump and charcoal canister in my 2015 Audi S3. This failure resulted in a fuel leak and strong fuel odor near the exhaust, creating an immediate fire hazard. Although Audi issued a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty extension ([XXX]) for the 8V chassis A3 population, they are denying coverage for my S3 variant. This is in direct contradiction to Audi's own TSB 2068171/5, which explicitly states the A3 model group 'includes S and RS versions.' The dealership (Audi Rancho Mirage, RO# [XXX]) confirmed the failure of the suction jet pump (Version 1.0/1.1) but refused the safety repair at no cost because the 'U49 Warranty Key' was not in their digital system. This component is part of NHTSA Recall 24V-110 and Investigation RQ23007. Audi is failing to honor federal safety protections for the S3 variant of the 8V chassis. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Gas pump shuts off and stops pumping fuel into my car with a loud hissing noise before it shuts down the pump. I can not properly fill my vehicle with gas. This is not a single incident it is an ongoing problem.

Unable to refuel car. Gas pump keeps clicking off and fuel backs up spilling out of fuel port. Mechanic tested fuel system and reported fuel tank has faulty jet pump seal. Mechanic says a recall was effected for certain audi models with this issue due emissions dangers and fire risk.

Gear Shift Micro Switch This is a documented issue recalled for VW and Audi vehicles between 2015-2019. VW recalled all and still is fixing the issue in cars from those years, yet AUDI decided to just offer an extended warranty to those cars for that specific issue. Who is responsible VW or AUDI. If Audi is owned by VW and the issue is in both types of cars made by them, why aren't AUDI vehicles included to the recall and repair.

Tail lights stopped working, the wire harness in the vehicle is known to get sheared due to a pinch point at the trunk hinge, this pinch point over a period of time will result in damage to the wire harness that controls the rear taillights as well as the opening and closing functions of the trunk. This is a known issue, with a TSB having been release, replacement is only offered if the damage is noticed during warranty period. This damage is hidden behind the trunk lining and can go unseen until the damage is done.

When driving, without AND more importantly, WITH, a passenger in the front passenger seat, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) light goes on and indicates that the passenger air bag has been deactivated. I looked on line and saw that Audi has already recalled certain 2015-2019 Audi A3 Sedans but apparently my car is not part of the initial recall. I think the recall is BIGGER than Audi estimated and that my car should also be part of the recall. I plan to take to Audi to repair.

While pumping gas, a strong odor is always present. While pumping gas the pump will stop multiple times before being filled in it's entirety, I can't hold depress gas pump handle I have to slowly fill car with gas or risk spilling fuel.

The EVAP suction pump stopped working resulting in refueling issues. Fuel accumulates in the EVAP system and spills outside the vehicle

I have had a passenger airbag recall since 2021, and I have tried to schedule the maintenance for that recall several times, but each of the 5 times that I’ve tried, the Audi dealership (in Glenwood Springs, CO) says they don’t have the parts in stock. Each time that happens, I’m told I’ve been put on the list for the next parts shipment. I am so tired of waiting, while in the meantime, my passengers are considered unsafe in this vehicle. I need to have this repaired soon, please. Thank you.

I got into an accident and my air bags didn’t deploy

Crash 2 injured

Fuel tanks suction pump fails and will not allow you to fill the tank with gas. It will fill a vary small amount of gas then start draining it out onto the ground by the wheel well. If the exhaust is hot it could potentially catch fire

Defroster flap motor keeps going out with code. Been looking up ways to fix and seems like it is a problem a lot of owners have with the 8v vehicles. Cannot see at all through windshield even with max defrost on. Can feel no air through vents.

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

A recall for my car's PODS system has been in place since March of 2021 but Audi continues to inform me that the part is not available to fix the recall. It has been a year and a half since the recall and the passenger airbag in my car continues to turn on and off randomly. I feel that it's completely unacceptable to have to wait this long for a fix. I just spoke with my dealership today (Audi of Westwood, Massachusetts) and they again informed me that there are no parts available to complete the repair. I find this unacceptable and am filing this complaint.

I had scheduled with the dealership to have the PODS recall fix completed. While waiting for the scheduled date my vehicle began showing symptoms described in the recall and they were sporadic just as described in the recall and only lasted a few seconds. The dealer called and cancelled my appointment as there are no parts available and they do not know when the recall parts will become available again. Then in early August things got worse than described in the recall campaign. Now I get the same Audi pre sense error on the dash when starting the vehicle and the airbag is disabled. The front passenger airbag has been disabled since early August and is never enabled if there is a passenger or not. I called dealer and was still told that they do not know when parts will be available. Called Audi and was told the same information as in the recall to read the owner manual and avoid the front passenger seat. There is no way to use the front passenger seat safely as the airbags are disabled and no one can tell me when I may be able to get it fixed. For my family we need to use every seat in the car so there is no way to not have someone in the front passenger seat. I would like Audi to fix the issue or at the least give a date of when it would be able to fix the vehicle. I need Audi to respond so that I know if I need to make decision to sell the vehicle for my families safety.

Fault water pump/thermostat causing overheating and breakdowns. Known issue in other models with the same motor, yet no recall issued for the A3/S3 models with the 2.0 motor

Audi has had a safety recall on this vehicle since I purchased the car in June 2019. In 2019 and early 2020, there were no issues. About two years into owning the vehicle, I started experiencing faults, error codes, and safety lights on my dash due to issues with the passenger seat air bag. I brought the vehicle to Audi Burlington in MA and they said that the issues I was having was due to the recall but there was no fix. In January of 2022, I received a letter saying that there was fix for the recall. I called to schedule an appointment and they were booked 6 months out due to part availability. I made my appointment for June 6th, first available. A few weeks before my appointment, I received a letter saying Audi of America was stopping the fix due to part availability and not to bring my car in to my appointment. This recall is preventing me from passing state inspection and is a safety issue for any passengers in the car.

The contact's husband owns a 2015 Audi S3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal beeping sound would emit from the passenger’s side occupant detection system while the passenger’s side seat was vacant. The passenger’s side air bag warning light would remain illuminated at start-up. The contact stated that she would either buckle the seat belt or place a heavy object in the passenger’s seat to stop the beeping. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part was not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Tire size is 225/40R18XL Driving east on US Highway 64 from Washington, NC to Raleigh, NC the low pressure alarm for passenger rear tire went off. 15-20 minutes later the tire blew out. We stopped to change to our spare and found that the inner side wall was blown out. This is the second tire in two months to do this.

Audi issued a recall in March 2020. Seven months later, they still say that they have no solution. This is a major passenger safety issue and could result in serious injury or death. Seven months with no solution should not be accepted by NHTSA and we request that you take further enforcement action with Audi to achieve a fix quickly. They do not appear to feel pressure to act and issuing a recall without then rapidly achieving and implementing a fix makes a mockery of the NHTSA recall process.

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The component that malfunctioned was with the electrical system. It was the Shift Lever Microswitch. It is not available for inspection because the car has been repaired. 2. How was the safety or safety of others put at risk? There was a build-up of silicate on the Shift Lever Micro Switch contacts. This build up may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "P” Park position. My safety and the safety of any passengers was at risk because if the ignition key is removed without the shift lever being in "P" Park position, there is a risk that the vehicle may roll away, resulting in a crash that could injure people and damage property. I believe this may make the vehicle noncompliant with FMVSS 114; Theft protection and rollaway prevention. PLEASE NOTE VOLKWAGEN OF AMERICA RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 679,000 CARS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000, VOLKSWAGEN RECALL CODE 37M2.) 3 . Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The problem was confirmed and diagnosed by the dealer, Audi Buffalo. 4.Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance r representatives or others? The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than the dealer. The dealer notified the manufacturer, Audi of America. 5.Was there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptons of the problem prior to the failure and when did they first appear? Prior to the malfunction, a message was displaying in the instrument cluster that said “Vehicle Electrics Malfunction, Shift to P before leaving car, contact Service. This started to display in May, 2021. It did not display all the time, just occasionally.

The contact owns a 2015 Audi S3. The contact stated while his wife was driving 50 MPH, the airbag warning light and the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provide no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

Passenger side air bag light came on and off even with not passenger on the vehicle PODS

Passenger Air bag light that indicates it is OFF and pre sense safety system failure . This has been occurring for years on my 2015 A3 . How long does the manufacture have to repair said problem ?

Per dealer repair: GUEST STATES DISPLAY SHOWED ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION THEN SEAT BELT STATED STO SHOW ON DISPLAY, DISPLAY SHOWED PUT CAR IN PARK AFTER TURNED OFF CAR THEN RESTARTED ALL LIGHTS WENT AWAY. CHECK AND ADVISE Comments: fault is for a micro switch inside shift mechanism that is sporadically failing. the complete shift mechanism needs replacement. when micro switch completely fails the shifter may not come out of park. I was also informed verbally that the shifter may malfunction while operational and shift out of gear. Total cost of the repair was approx $2,500.00. The screen shot attached included other repairs

AUDI AS ISSUED TSB #2043968/1 FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN REAR TRUNK. THE WIRING HARNESS CAN BREAK WHEN TRUNK LID IS OPENED OR CLOSED, CAUSING IT TO PINCH AND SEVERE WIRES. CAUSING THE REAR LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION FLASHERS NOT WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING, REVERSE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. THIS TSB COVERS EVERY VIN FOR 2015-2016. THEY NOW WANT TO CHARGE $1,000 TO FIX A DEFECT THEY KNEW ABOUT, THIS SHOUL BE BE A RECALL.

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY. I SEE EVERYONE ELSE HAS THE SAME ISSUE BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN IT SAYS IT IS NOT RECALLED? THEY WANTED $1000 TO FIX IT BUT IT ISN'T MY FAULT AND I HOPE TO SEE THEM OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE AND FIX OUR AIRBAGS. ONLINE IT SAYS MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AND FIXED FOR FREE BUT WHEN I CHECKED THEIR SITE 2015 AUDI S3 ISN'T COVERED, HOWEVER, ON THIS SITE, IT WILL SAY IT IS BUT WHEN I TYPE IN VIN NOTHING.

I GOT A PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF PROBLEM ON THE SECOND YEAR, AND KEEP GOING BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE PROBLEM UNTIL I GOT A RECALL NOTICE. AFTER HAVING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR REPAIRED RECALL, THE CAR STILL COMES UP THE SAME PROBLEM PLUS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT OFF LIGHT UP. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP NOW TELL ME THAT THE PODS SENSOR IS FAULTY AND LET ME PAY FOR ITS SAFETY PROBLEMS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAVE IT DONE WITH MY CAR AFTER RECALL, AND I FEEL REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH AUDI RIGHT NOW.

REGARDING: NHTSA CAMPAIGN# 19V474000 RECALL# 69Z4 VEHICLE WAS TAKING INTO AUDI DEALERSHIP IN CUYAHOGA FALLS OH AND COMPLETED THE SAFETY RECALL FIX. 11 MONTHS LATER, THE PODS SYSTEM INDICATED ANOTHER CIRCUIT FAILURE. TAKE BACK INTO SAME DEALERSHIP AND CONFIRMED SAME SAFETY RECALL FAILURE. WOULD NOT HONOR THE 12MTH/12K WARRANTY AS I WAS ABOUT 5K MILES PAST. THEY WANT ABOUT $700 TO FIX. I AM DECIDING NOT TO HAVE THEM FIX IT. I HAVE HEARD THIS PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. SO RIGHT NOW I HAVE NO PASSENGER AIR BAGS AND LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BYPASS THE PODS CIRCUIT TO STAY ON ALWAYS I GUESS.

I HAD THE PODS RECALL 19V47400 DONE AND NOTICED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SAYING AUDI PRE SENSE SYSTEM FAULT, AND SAFETY SYSTEM: SYSTEM FAULT, WHERE THE PASSENGER SEAT WILL THINK SOMEONE IS IN IT AND THEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN IT, THE AIRBAG WILL STAY OFF AND OCCASIONALLY COME ON BUT TURN BACK OFF QUICKLY AFTER, ALL WHILE THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND ERRORS STAY ON THE DASH

AFTER HAVING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR REPAIRED PER RECALL CAMPAIGN 19V474000, I STARTED GETTING PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNINGS AGAIN. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP NOW SAYS THE PODS SENSOR IN THE SEAT ITSELF IS FAULTY, AND REQUIRES A >$1,700 REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS EXACTLY PROBLEM - HAVING THE PODS SENSOR FAIL AFTER HAVING THE RECALL ADDRESSED - HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA AND ON AUDI FORUMS, IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE LIKELY EITHER ASSOCIATED WITH OR TRIGGERED BY THE RECALL ITSELF. IT LOOKS LIKE AUDI IS TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH A "CHEAP" FIX VIA THE RECALL, WHEN THERE IS A BROADER MORE EXPENSIVE ISSUE GOING ON.

AUDI RECALL 69Z4 MESSED UP MY PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING SIGN. HAD NO ISSUE UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL, SO I CALLED AUDI IMMEDIATELY AFTER AND THEY CLAIMED I HAD TO REPLACE SOME SENSOR THAT HAD 'NOTHING' TO DO WITH THE SENSOR THEY 'FIXED' FROM THE RECALL. WHEN THE CAR STARTS THE PASSENGER SEATBELT WARNING SIGN KEEPS BLINKING WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER. WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER AND THE CAR STARTS THERE IS NO SEATBELT WARNING SIGN AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF. THESE ISSUES NEVER EXISTED UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL AND AUDI IS CHARGING $1200 TO REPLACE THE SENSOR THAT SHOULD NOT BE A WEAR-AND-TEAR PRODUCT.

THE PASSENGER BAG SAFETY LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS DONE FOR SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS SOMETIMES WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, BUT MOSTLY IT WILL OCCUR WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE YELLOW DASH LIGHT COMES ON NEAR THE PASSENGER AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATES. THE INFORMATION PANEL ON THE DASH WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY REPORT "SAFETY SYSTEM: SYSTEM FAULT! SEE OWNER'S MANUAL" AND "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" AND "AUDI PRE SENSE: SYSTEM FAULT!" THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WIRING . I WAS ONLY 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE AUDI DEALERSHIP WHEN IT STARTED. DEALER SAID IT WAS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL AND $980 TO FIX IT.

THE VEHICLE ENGINE LOST IGNITION POWER WHILE DRIVING, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. INVESTIGATION BY THE DEALER REVEALED THAT COOLANT ENTERED THE ENGINE HARNESS VIA ELECTRONIC COOLANT VALVES AND PROGRESSED TO THE GRAY T14 CONNECTOR. COOLANT WAS FOUND AT THE VALVE CONNECTOR SOURCE AND IN THE ENGINE HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE COOLANT CAUSED THE VALVE TERMINAL, AND THE NEIGHBORING TERMINAL WHICH PROVIDES POWER TO ALL COILS TO CORRODE AND BREAK. AUDI RELEASED A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE (2045122) BUT ONLY CONSIDERS THIS AS A INTERMITTENT START PROBLEM. THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE A8 MODELS PROMPTING RECALL NUMBER 16V619000. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO EARLY MODEL AUDI S3S AND MAYBE OTHERS.

THE PODS SENSOR IN THE ACTUAL PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY ON ALL AUDI A3/S3/RS3 MODELS AND WILL SHUT OFF THE AIRBAG WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THIS ISSUE IS NOT DUE TO THE CURRENT RECALL ON THE HARNESS BUT THE ACTUAL SEAT SENSOR. IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI S3. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER A FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAGS WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER AUDI OF HUNTINGTON LOCATED AT 363 E. JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE PODS (PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM) SYSTEM REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

THE CAR HAS ISSUES WITH PARK LOCK WILL NOT STAY LOCKED AND WILL ROLL WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING USED ALSO THE CAR HAS DSG EMERGENCY MODE COME ON WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS TRANSMISSION FAULT CODES CLUTCH 1 STAYING OPEN THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND HAS HAD MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAULT CODES THE FIRST CODE WAS UNEXPECTED / IMPLAUSIBLE MECHANICAL GEAR DISENGAGEMENT P2711 00 [200] - THE CAR WAS THEN WORKED ON AND WHAT WAS FOUND WAS BURNED CLUTCH DISKS THE CLUTCH PACK WAS THEN REPLACED BUT NOW A CODE OF CLUTCH 1 OPENS UNINTENTIONALLY P175D 00 [072] THE CAR ALSO WILL NOT STAY PARKED WHEN LEFT IN PARK IT WILL ROLL AND COULD POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE BECAUSE THE PARK LOCK IS NOT WORKING

MY VEHICLE HAD A PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL PERFORMED REGARDING A FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR THAT WOULD INADVERTENTLY DISABLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHILE THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE ISSUE HAS RETURNED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS STATED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THE ENTIRE PODS UNIT AND ONLY COVERS A PORTION OF IT, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT OF GEAR COMPLETELY LEAVING ME SOMETIMES STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MULTILANE HIGHWAY UNABLE TO EVEN MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFE AREA. SOMETIME WHEN I GO TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPOT THE REVERSE GEAR DOESN'T EVEN ENGAGE, LEAVING ME STUCK FOR MINUTES AT A TIME TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF UNTIL IT DECIDES TO GO INTO REVERSE. *TR

BACKGROUND: BOUGHT IT USED WITH 19,660 MILES. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE DATE. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ARISE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS: 1. COOLANT LEAK DUE TO FAILED WATER PUMP. (NOTE: REPLACED UNDER DEALER'S 4YEAR/ 50K MILES NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY). 2. MULTIPLE FAILED WHEEL BEARING (ONE FAILED AFTER THE OTHER). (NOTE: ONE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER ABOVE MENTIONED WARRANTY BUT OTHER WHEEL BEARING(S) FAILED AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.