2010 AUDI A3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

60

Owner Complaints

3 Crashes

5

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

56

Service Bulletins

2

Investigations

Overview of the 2010 AUDI A3

The 2010 AUDI A3 has received a total of 60 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL. 56 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (13 complaints), Fuel System Diesel (13 complaints), and Power Train (10 complaints).

Recalls for the 2010 AUDI A3

NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2010 AUDI A3, potentially affecting up to 509,024 vehicles.

Recall 18V082000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 162,782 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 16V079000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

| 151,767 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 11V490000 — FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

| 168,275 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 09V377000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

| 10,200 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 09V333000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

| 16,000 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: THE ABRUPT SHIFT TO NEUTRAL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: 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.

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Owner Complaints for the 2010 AUDI A3

60 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2010 AUDI A3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11509065 | TIRES | | N/A miles
225/45zr1794w purchased at discount tire. TPMS system failed after tire installation. I told the technician and he reset the system. Five miles later TPMS indicator came on. Malfunction TPMS. I monitor the tire pressure periodically and the tires seemed fine. While driving on Florida 528 to the airport i heard a rumbling and pulled over immediately. The tire sidewall was cut almost all the way around the tire. I assume from low pressure or tire malfunction. The tire is only a few months old. I am going to visit discount tire today and see what they say/do. I commute 150 miles a day at highway speeds. Fortunately I was able to pull over and not damage my rim. I removed the tire and put the spare on. I was flying to Columbia south America and nearly missed my flight. I have not found any reason the tire lost air pressure. Because this tire was nearly new it should have held air. Had discount tire fully corrected the TPMS system i may have been able to save the tire and not experienced the horrid experience of changing the tire on the highway 70 mph speed limit however the actual speeds are from 80mph up. Fortunately i work for the Orlando international Airport and had a colleague park my car to avoid missing the flight. Had four road hugger ties on my Audi now 3 and a spare. I'm not sure what the outcome will be but a brand new tire should not have deflated an had discount tire performed as professional technicians i most likely would not be contacting your organization. Thank your [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
#11372399 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | | 100,000 miles
THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING. ALL POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL, POWER BRAKES, ENGINE...EVERYTHING. HAS SHUT OFF DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING 70MPH
#11307861 | POWER TRAIN | | N/A miles
THIS 2010 AUDI A3 TDI EQUIPPED WITH AN S TRONIC DIRECT-SHIFT GEARBOX WILL RANDOMLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR LIMP MODE AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROCEED WITH NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION AFTER THIS OCCURS WITHOUT FIRST PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE INDICATIVE OF A KNOWN DEFECT FOR THIS MODELS POWER TRAIN AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS TESTIMONIES ON THE WEB FROM AUDI AND VW OWNERS WHOSE 2009/2010 VEHICLES ARE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS, YET WHO ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE AUDI RECALL #'S 37E3/S7 & 37E5/J7 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #09V333000) DO NOT APPLY TO THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO THEIR HAVING BEEN BUILT OUTSIDE THE BUILD DATE PARAMETERS OF THE RECALL. IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM AUDI AND VW OWNERS THAT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR HARNESSES WERE INSTALLED IN VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL PARAMETERS AND AUDI AND VW ARE NOT WILLING TO AUTHORIZE DEALERS TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE OF THESE VEHICLES WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I EVEN INQUIRED AS TO WHAT MY COST WOULD BE TO HAVE THIS UPDATED SOFTWARE INSTALLED (EVEN THOUGH IT IS PROVIDED FREE FOR AUDI AND VW VEHICLES WITHIN THE BUILD DATE PARAMETERS) BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPROGRAMMING DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE, THOUGH IT EXHIBITS EXACTLY THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL.
#11256473 | SERVICE BRAKES | | 80,000 miles
RELATED TO RECALL 45F5 ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS A FAILED ABS CONTROL MODULE THAT DEACTIVATES ABS BRAKING SYSTEMS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND HEADLIGHT RANGE CONTROL. THIS SPECIFIC VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AFFECTED RANGE PER THE RECALL STATED ABOVE ALTHOUGH IT DEMONSTRATES THE SAME KNOWN SAFETY ISSUES.
#11142215 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 81,000 miles
I HAVE AN AUDI A3 MANUFACTURED IN 2009 PRESENTING SEVERE ISSUES WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. AUDI HAS A RECALL FOR SEVERAL AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED THE SAME YEAR, RECALL NUMBER 16V913000. AUDI OF AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED HOWEVER DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE SPECIFIED VIN RANGE. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS PRESENTING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THOSE ON THE RECALL AUDI IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY UNNERVING AS THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. FORTUNATELY THE CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP ON TIME AVOIDING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ASIDE FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING LOSES POSITION AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. FURTHERMORE THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED, THIS IS VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO WHY THERE WILL BE A NEW PART NUMBER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL IF ALLEGEDLY THERE'S NO PROBLEMS WITH MINE...?

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Safety Rating for the 2010 AUDI A3

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2010 AUDI A3 in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2010 AUDI A3

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 56 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2010 AUDI A3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

A0024842073507_1 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This bulletin provides instructions on evaluating TDI vehicles for repurchase prior to repairs.

A232357204075211 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

This bulletin provides instructions for when the MIL is on, and the vehicle either runs roughly or does not start in the presence of one or more of the following DTCs: P008700, P008800, P019100

DC_TDI_repairs — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Dealer Communication: IMPORTANT: Evaluate TDI Vehicles for Repurchase Prior to Repairs

Dealer 26N1 — EQUIPMENT

Due to a parts catalog error, an incorrect emissions related component may have been installed on some vehicles during a past service repair visit. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the component as a proactive measure to ensure continued emissions compliance.

AWA171020190918 — EQUIPMENT

This bulletin explains the extended emissions warranty limited warranty extension for Model Year 2010 - 2013 2.0L TDI vehicles. Revised September 18, 2019 to include information about vehicles with a totaled status, and revised "Loaner Vehicle Applicability" statement.

A0019222047812_6 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

This informational bulletin contains instructions for setting up and using the SD Creator program. 2010-2021 A3, 2015-2021 A3 Cabrio, 2010-2016 A3 Sportback, 2010-2021 A4, 2010-2021 A4 allroad, 2010-2012 A4 Avant, 2010-2021 A5 Cabrio, 2010-2021 A5 Coupe, 2018-2021 A5 Sportback, 2010-2021 A6, 2010-2021 A7, 2010-2021 A8, 2010-2019 e-tron, 2019-2021 e-tron quattro,...

A011853 2050258_ — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulleitn contains repair instructions for when DTC is logged in the ECM and the MIL is on for TDI vehicles.

Campaign Parts B — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Takata Parts request update.

23U7 rev 0912201 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

2.0L TDI Engine (GEN 1) Emissions Modification ? Customer Only (Retail Sold) USA ONLY - The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board have determined that Audi A3 vehicles equipped with a 2.0L 4-cylinder TDI engine do not comply with applicable emissions regulations. The emissions control systems on the...

23U7 rev 0912201 — EQUIPMENT

2.0L TDI Engine (GEN 1) Emissions Modification ? Customer Only (Retail Sold) USA ONLY - The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board have determined that Audi A3 vehicles equipped with a 2.0L 4-cylinder TDI engine do not comply with applicable emissions regulations. The emissions control systems on the...

Showing 10 of 56 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2010 AUDI A3

NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 2010 AUDI A3.

Investigation PE10034 — FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL Closed

Opened:

High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (HPFP)

Investigation PE09035 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION Closed

Opened:

VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWER

Other Model Years of the AUDI A3

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Other AUDI Models

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