2006 AUDI A3 Complaints

CENTER SEATBELT LOCKS IN THE FULLY RETRACTED POSITION EVERY TIME THE REAR SEAT IS LOWERED AND REQUIRES TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPAIRED. *TR

I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI A3'S OPEN SKY (SUNROOF) SUN SHADE LATCHING MECHANISM. THE SUNSHADE HAS A PLASTIC CLIP ASSEMBLY WHICH ALLOWS THE SHADE TO COVER THE SUNROOF AREA. THIS DESIGN IS WEAK AND PRONE TO BREAK. THIS HAS BEEN NOTED BY NUMEROUS OTHER A3 OWNERS. IN APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS, WE BROKEN THE CLIPS 3 TIMES AND THIS IS WITH VERY INFREQUENT USAGE AND EXTREME CARE. AUDI SERVICE STAFF OPENLY ADMIT THIS IS AN ISSUE, HOWEVER AUDI ONLY SELLS THE ENTIRE SUNSHADE ASSEMBLY AS A FIX - NOT JUST THE CLIP. THIS IS A $200+ PART, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I BELIEVE AUDI SHOULD REDESIGN/RECALL THIS ASSEMBLY OR AT LEAST OFFER A STANDALONE LOCKING REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

DROVE OVER A RAISED MANHOLE COVER. (1.5-2 INCHES ABOVE GROUND) BOTTOM OF CAR HITS COVER & DEPLOYS AIRBAGS. WAS GOING LESS THAN 15 MPH. IMPACT WAS SO MINOR THAT NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY FRIEND'S FACES TOUCHED EITHER AIRBAG. CAR WAS NOT STOPPED BY MANHOLE COVER. WE ROLLED ANOTHER 50 FEET BEFORE I STOPPED THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE. AIRBAG SENSOR MISREAD SITUATION WHICH PUT US AND OTHERS IN DANGER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHADE COVERING THE SUNROOF FAILED IN HER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNCTION ALONG WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. MOREOVER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALSO HAD TO BE RE-WIRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EACH TIME A FAILURE OCCURRED AND THEY WERE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. MOST RECENTLY, THE BATTERY FAILED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY $257 FOR THE REPAIR. IN JULY OF 2007, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER MANY TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED HER FOR THE BATTERY REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,837 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.

WHEN WEATHER HEAT CONDITIONS ARE ABOVE 90F THE CAR'S FUEL PUMP WILL SPORADICALLY GLITCH/SHUT -OFF AND PREVENT FUEL TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE FOR COMBUSTION. THIS MAKES THE CAR STALL MOMENTARILY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A START POINT AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY VERIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACE WITH A SUPERCEEDING PUMP. AUDI SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE 2006-2008 A3, AND A4 VEHICLES. MY CAR HAS 66,000 MILES AND HAS GONE PAST THE WARRANTY LIMITS FOR A NO-CHARGE REPLACEMENT. THIS FAULT CONDITION IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR DRIVERS. *TR

ENGINE COOLANT LINE FLANGE FAILURE. CAUSES ENGINE COOLANT TO DRAIN FROM VEHICLE .THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THE 2.0 ENGINES. PART UNAVAILABLE IN THE US (ON BACK ORDER). THE CAR WAS PARKED, LUCKILY. COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR EXPENSE IF ON THE HIGHWAY. DRAINED WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS WHILE PARKED. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE, WHY ISN'T AUDI REPLACING THIS WITH A METAL FLANGE INSTEAD OF A PLASTIC ONE? *NM

1) NO PROBLEM LEADING UP TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. 3 MONTHS AND 7100 MILES. 2) TRANSMISSION FAILED MID-COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK...CAR STILL IN SHOP, WILL TAKE AT LEASE A FEW WEEKS TO FIX DUE TO LACK OF PARTS 3) NOTHING DONE...PARTS ARE ON ORDER. *JB