2006 AUDI A3 Power Train Problems

LOSS OF POWER AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER WHILE IN MOTION, ON A HIGHWAY, JUST DRIVING DOWN A STREET OR TURNING. ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES.

Mileage: 78,800

RANDOM LOSS OF POWER, THE TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY SLIP WHILE THE CAR IS IN REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION. IT WILL ALSO SLIP RANDOMLY WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION AND DURING TURNING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN BEING REAR ENDED. PLEASE HELP! LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 1/15/2017.

Mileage: 75,400

2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN JUST A FEW DAYS. I WANT TO START DOCUMENTING EVERY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WAS PULLING INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE STREET. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CAR HESITATED PUTTING ME INTO THE WAY OF ON COMING TRAFFIC AT 50 MPH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS ACCELERATING TRYING TO REACH 50 MPH COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED ONLY GOING ABOUT 10 MPH.

Mileage: 71,580

FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON A SIDE STREET IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE THEN IMMEDIATELY HAD A LOSS OF POWER IN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A MAJOR STREET. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD THEN HESITATED. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN SURPRISE PEOPLE AND CAUSE CARS TO CRASH INTO ME. IT HAS DONE THIS A FEW OTHER TIMES. I FEEL GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 71,502

WHEN DRIVING, PRNDS FLASHES AND CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE (LOSES POWER). MUST STOP CAR AND TURN OFF. AFTER TURNING ON AGAIN, WILL DRIVE AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

Mileage: 98,000

NO ACCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT IS ONE JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND AFTER A ROLL STOP. THE ACCELERATOR HAS TO BE COMPLETELY DEPRESS AND WAIT A FEW SECONDS IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING. IF I WOULD NEED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AFTER A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION THERE IS A GREAT RISK OF A CRASH SINCE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO EQUALIZE THE SPEED OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY, MANY OF THESE VEHICLES YEAR AND MODEL ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS FORUMS. OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND AUDI HAVE DISREGARDED THE COMPLAINTS. ACCORDING TO OWNER'S FORUMS THE MECHATRONIX UNIT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION IS AT FAULT, AND A SIMPLE SOFTWARE REFLASH FROM AUDI WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS QUITE SIMILAR TO THE IGNITION PROBLEM RECENTLY DISCOVERED IN GM VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE SELECTOR LEVER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE SIDE, THE ENGINE STALLED, AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V333000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Mileage: 48,000

TODAY MY AUDI A3 2.0T WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WE WERE MERGING FROM I-80 TO I-55. WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY INDICATOR LIGHTS WE LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE SHIFTER IN D-DRIVE BUT NO POWER WAS GOING TO THE WHEELS. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC ON THE RAMP BUT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL WITH THE CAR BEHIND US ALMOST HITTING US. THE CAR EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT A HALF HOUR BEFORE AT A GAS STOP BUT I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE DASH INDICATORS FLASHED DNRS WHEN WE TRIED TO MOVE AGAIN. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND IT SEEMS THE 2007-2009 A3 HAVE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AS DO OTHER AUDI MODELS WITH THE SAME DSG TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. WHY IS NOT THE 2006 RECALLED AS WELL? THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT PUT MY WIFE AND I IN HARMS WAY. EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

AN INTERRUPTION OF MOTIVE POWER . THE DASH GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (PRNDS) FLASHING. *TR

Mileage: 102,222

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09035, RECALL NUMBER: 09V333000 I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE OCCUR ON MY 2006 AUDI A3. THIS A3 HAS A 2.0T ENGINE AND 6 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION. TODAY WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN ON A VERY BUSY STREET, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING DOWNSHIFTED AND THEN ALL PRNDS LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH. I WAS STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND GOT INTO THE CENTER LANE WHERE I EVENTUALLY MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. IT APPEARED TO HAVE ONLY ONE FORWARD GEAR (1ST). I HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME 20 MILES AWAY WITH NO REVERSE AT 15 MPH AND 3500 RPM. I HAVE KEPT THE CAR WELL MAINTAINED AND IT WAS ONLY DEALER MAINTAINED UNTIL RECENTLY. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS RIDICULOUS. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE DOWNSHIFT WAS ABRUPT AND CAUSED A VIOLENT JERKING IN THE CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT DISPLAYED ANY EVIDENCE OF HARDER SHIFTING OVER TIME. THIS IS THE SAME GEARBOX SYSTEM AS IN THE RECALLED LATER MODEL YEARS. THE RECALL MUST BE ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT. I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE ACROSS NUMEROUS AUDI OWNER FORUM WEBSITES COVERING WIDER MODEL YEARS THAN LISTED ON THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY; TOO BAD. THE CLOSEST DEALER IS 150 MILES AWAY. I REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

2006 AUDI A3 2.0T WITH DSG. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING SOMETIMES ON ACCELERATION, SOMETIMES WITH STEADY DRIVING. STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR AT STOP LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGED FOR ABOUT 5 FEET, THEN CAR LURCHED TO A STOP, THEN TRANSMISSION CAUGHT AND IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AGAIN. ISSUE REPEATED TWO MORE TIMES WITHIN THE HOUR. TODAY I WAS CRUISING AT A STEADY 70 MPH, 6TH GEAR, ABOUT 2800 RPM, AND THE TRANSMISSION LET GO AND RPMS DROPPED TO ABOUT 2200 BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN AT 2800 RPM. HAPPENED ONCE PER MILE AFTER THAT, AND THEN TWICE AGAIN ON SURFACE STREETS IN 4TH GEAR. APPEARS TO MATCH EXACTLY THE SYMPTOMS OWNERS EXPERIENCE WITH RECALLED 2007-2010 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09035, RECALL NUMBER: 09V333000 I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE OCCUR ON MY 2006 AUDI A3. THIS A3 HAS A 2.0T ENGINE AND 6 SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION. TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING DOWNSHIFTED AND THEN ALL PRNDS LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. IT APPEARED TO HAVE ONLY ONE FORWARD GEAR (3RD). I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A PLACE FOR TOWING. EVEN REVERSE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS RECENTLY SERVICED. I HAVE KEPT THE CAR WELL MAINTAINED AND IT WAS ONLY DEALER MAINTAINED UNTIL RECENTLY. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS RIDICULOUS. HAD THE TRAFFIC NOT BEEN LIGHT, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE DOWNSHIFT WAS ABRUPT AND CAUSED A VIOLENT JERKING IN THE CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT DISPLAYED ANY EVIDENCE OF HARDER SHIFTING OVER TIME. THIS IS THE SAME GEARBOX SYSTEM AS IN THE RECALLED MODEL YEARS. THE RECALL MUST BE ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT. I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE ACROSS NUMEROUS AUDI OWNER FORUM WEBSITES COVERING WIDER MODEL YEARS THAN LISTED ON THIS RECALL. I REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATE. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

VEHICLE GOES OUT OF GEARS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 20MINS IN HOT WEATHER, THIS WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. THE "PRNDS" LIGHT FLASH FOR A QUICK SECOND AND BACK INTO GEAR AGAIN. I HAVE VARIOUS ISSUES WITH HARSH SHIFTS UP AND DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THE VEHICLE HAS A HOT TIME GOING IN TO SECOND GEAR AND SOMETIME FIRST. IT MAKES A VERY NOTICEABLE CLUNK SOUND WHEN IT DOES. FROM A STOP, GIVING JUST A BIT OF GAS AND THE CAR DON'T SEEM TO MOVE THEN IT WILL SURGE UNTIL THE SPEED COMES UP. WHILE GETTING UP TO SPEED IT WILL TRY TO GET INTO THE HIGHEST GEAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I WOULD BE IN 6TH GEAR WHILE ONLY GOING 35MPH. THERE ARE SOME SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED AND THAT IS WHY I'M TAKING THE TIME TO FILE. *TR

Mileage: 61,453

WHEN COMING SLOWLY TO A STOP THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. TRAVELING SLOWLY FORWARD OR REVERSE WILL ALSO CAUSE UNEXPECTED SURGES. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JUMP ABNORMALLY BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE MECHATRONIC UNIT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 91,000. UPDATED 10/22/13 *CN

Mileage: 91,000

I HAVE AN AUDI A3 2006. SEVERAL YEARS AGO (END OF 2009/BEGINNING OF 2010), I STARTED FEELING AND HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD LUNGE FORWARD A FEW INCHES WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGNS OR RED LIGHTS AND DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. THIS WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY AND HAS BEEN INCREASING IN STRENGTH. I WAS TOLD BY AUDI THAT IT WAS A DUE TO A FAULTY MECHATRONIC SYSTEM, WHICH IS LIKE THE BRAINS OF THE CAR. AUDI SERVICE QUOTED ME A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2500 TO REPLACE THE MECHATRONIC SYSTEM. I HAVE READ ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MANY AUDI A3 OWNERS AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF THE ISSUE, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI AND RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

MY VEHICLE FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS - FAILED TO MOVE ON A STOP SIGN - MOVED VERY WEAKLY WHEN TAKING A LEFT TURN WHILE IN THE CENTER TURN LANE. CARS WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND I BARELY MISSED HAVING AN ACCIDENT. - VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND COMPLETELY FAILED TO MOVE WHILE STILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN THIS HAPPENED "PRNDS" FLASHED ON THE DASH. - I HAVE THE VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND AUDI HAS RECALLED MANY CARS (2007 ONWARDS), BUT MY CAR WASN'T RECALLED. THE RECALL NOTICE FROM AUDI IS IN 2009 AND MY CAR WAS NOT IN IT. WHY IS THAT? HOW DOES AUDI DECIDE WHICH CARS TO INCLUDE IN THE RECALL? I THINK THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETELY FLAWED. I BELIEVE AUDI CUT CORNERS AND DID NOT RECALL ALL THE CARS THEY SHOULD HAVE. JUST ENOUGH TO CALM PEOPLE DOWN AS THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO SHOWN ON TV NEWS. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER BY CHANGING THE "MECHATRONICS UNIT" OF MY CAR. THIS FIX IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THEY DID FOR 2007 YEAR MODELS, SO WHY WAS 2006 NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OF AUG 2009. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY CARS ON THE STREET THAT STILL HAS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM, JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. NHTSA SHOULD USE ALL ITS POWER TO RESTART THIS INVESTIGATION AND MAKE AUDI WORK RESPONSIBLY TOWARDS FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

MY 2006 AUDI A3 WITH DSG TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES SLIPS WHEN HOT WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. ALSO SURGES IN FIRST GEAR OCCASIONALLY WHEN HOT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIRS AS THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE. THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON AUTO FORUMS. IM GOING TO TAKE IT IN THIS WEEK AND SEE WHAT THE CHARGE WOULD BE TO CHECK IT OUT. BUT IM SURE ITS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL THE OTHER AUDI AND VW CARS OUT THERE WITH THE DSG TRANNY.IM SCARED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND GET HIT. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

AUDI DSG TRANSMISSION SAFETY ISSUE - THE"PRNDS" ON MY DASH OFTEN STARTS FLASHING, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW IN A "LIMP" MODE. I THEN HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURN THE IGNITION OFF, START THE CAR, AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE MODE. I DO ALL OF THIS WHILE EITHER ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD OR THE ALTERNATIVE IS FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER. AUDI RECOGNIZES THIS AS A PROBLEM ON DSG EQUIPPED VEHICLES JUST A FEW MONTHS NEWER THAN MINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL NOT ADMIT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON CARS BUILT WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT JUST A LITTLE EARLIER. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH AUDI. THEY CLAIM IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST $4800 AND CAN ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OVER 1.5 YEARS AND HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST HALF YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

I NOTICE AFTER DRIVING MY 06 AUDI A3 FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND WITH THE ENGINE WARMED UP, THE CAR WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY EVERY TIME AFTER WARM UP, AND IT WOULD SOMETIMES STALL. MY CAR IS A AUTOMATIC WITH DSG. THE JERKING HAPPENS WHEN I APPLIED THE GAS AND IT WOULD HAPPEN IN ALL THE GEARS. THERE WOULD BE TIMES WHERE I'D BE MAKING A TURN TO CROSS ON COMING TRAFFIC, I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD JERK GIVING ME NO POWER AND STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC! GOOD THING THEY STOPPED FOR ME! BUT WHAT IF I'M NOT SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME AROUND? WHAT IF THEY DON'T STOP IN TIME? AND WHAT IF I HAVE MY LITTLE SISTER, NIECES AND NEPHEWS IN MY CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS? I TOOK IT TO THE AUDI DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE JERKING AND STALLING. TWICE! I FEEL LIKE AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WONT ADMIT TO IT AND DO NOTHING. SO MANY VW OR AUDI OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MONEY, IS ABOUT HUMAN LIVES WHICH SHOULD BE MORE VALUED THAN MONEY TO AUDI. *TR

AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, AND I TRIED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE AGAIN, ITS RESPONSE WAS VERY WEAK AS IF IT HAD LOST POWER. COUPLE OF TIMES EARLIER, THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ENGAGE INTO REVERSE GEAR, STRANDING ME IN A PARKING LOT FOR A WHILE. ON SHOWING THE DEALER, THE FAULT WAS IN THE MECHTRONICS UNIT OF THE DSG (DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX). AUDI HAS RECALLED CARS FROM YEAR 2007 ONWARDS FOR THIS ISSUE, CLAIMING THAT 2006 AND BEFORE ARE NOT AFFECTED. THIS IS NOT THE CASE AS IT HAS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR, WHICH IS A 2006. THE SYMPTOMS AND FAILED UNIT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME, WITH THE SAME RESOLUTION PROPOSED BY THE DEALER AS THEY WOULD FOR 2007 YEAR ONWARD MODELS. AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS COMPLAINT, AUDI HAS REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY AND ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I THINK THIS IS SERIOUS OVERSIGHT THAT AUDI IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY NHTSA'S HELP. THE EXACT SYMPTOMS ARE ALSO MENTIONED IN THIS NEWS ARTICLE HTTP://WWW.AUTOINSANE.COM/2009/08/28/NEWS/RECALLS-TSBS/VOLKSWAGEN-RECALLS-53300-NEW-VEHICLES-ANNOUNCES-SERVICE-PROGRAM-TO-ADDRESS-DSG-COMPLAINTS/

Mileage: 76,900

SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT MY 2006 AUDI A3 2.0T, I AM HAVING THIS ISSUE. WHEN I START MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP (SUCH AS ON A RED LIGHT), THE CAR JERKS BACK AND FORTH 1-2 TIMES ROUGHLY. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITHOUT FAIL. THE JERK IS SO POWERFUL THAT IT MAKES ALL PASSENGERS' BODIES SHIFT FORWARD WITH ITS MOMENTUM. IT FEELS AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE SUDDENLY. ALSO, AT TIMES, FROM A STOP WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS, THE CAR HESITATES BEFORE SLAMMING INTO GEAR AFTER 2-3 SECONDS OF NOT RESPONDING TO MY THROTTLE INPUT. THIS HAS SCARED HELL OUT OF ME AT COUPLE OF INSTANCES BECAUSE I ALMOST GOT INTO A READ REND COLLISION FROM SOMEONE BEHIND ME NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND ALMOST SLAMMING INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. LUCKILY, AS I KNOW MY CAR HAD THIS CHARACTERISTIC SO I REACT QUICKLY IN SUCH OCCASIONS. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AFTER READING PLENTY OF STUFF ONLINE, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SUCCESS FIXING THE PROBLEM BY GETTING A REPLACEMENT DSG/TRANSMISSION/MECHATRONICS UNIT INSTALLED. WHEN I VISIT AUDI DEALER, THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS FINE. I HAD BEEN TO AUDI DEALER FOR 3 TIMES. BUT, I'M SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DEFINITELY NOT FINE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AS EVERYONE I HAVE MET WITH THE SAME CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF ENDING INTO THE HOSPITAL BEDS FOR WHIPLASH FROM READ END COLLISION OR WORSE, THIS HAS TO FIXED IN ALL THE AUDI A3S. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATION. IT DANGEROUSLY LOST ALMOST ALL OF ITS POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE NEXT DAY IT FAILED TO START. THE PROBLEM IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT AUDI HAS PUBLISHED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN 15 07 02 FOR REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE CAMSHAFT AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOLLOWER. AUDI IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND WORKMANSHIP. FAILED COMPONENTS: 1) INTAKE CAMSHAFT 2) FOLLOWER AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP

Mileage: 70,755

AS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE AUDI A3 TRANSMISSION. THE TRANS STARTED TO LAG THRU THE GEARS ESPECIALLY AROUND 40MPH. ALSO IN REVERSE, YOU WOULD PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GO BACK AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT WOULDN'T MOVE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD LAUNCH BACKWARDS. VERY DANGEROUS. THE CAR WOULDN'T GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY SOMETIMES. *TR

Mileage: 63,400

THIS IS FOR A 2006 AUDI A3 2.0T WITH THE FSI ENGINE AND THE DSG TRANSMISSION. BOTH MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCE A FEW DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WE LOST THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE VIA THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR'S LCD GEAR SELECTOR DISPLAY THEN BEGAN TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY TO INDICATE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF SOME TYPE. WE DID REGAIN 1ST GEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS AS WELL BUT THIS PUT US AT DANGER AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR A FAMILY CAR WITH ONLY 42590 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM THEN RE-OCCURRED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ABOUT 3 MORE TIMES AND EVEN FAILED WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO CALL A COUPLE OF DEALERSHIPS TO GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER AS WELL ON WHETHER THIS WAS COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF RECALL WARRANTY AS WELL AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO TRY AND MAKE ME PAY FOR THIS UNTIL I ASKED. THE SERVICE FOR A FAILED DSG TRANSMISSION IS EXORBITANTLY PRICED AND ALSO UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 42590 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN AS A FAMILY CAR STRICTLY. NOT TO MENTION IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NOT DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OR ABUSE. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FAILED MECHATRONIC UNIT AND EVEN NOTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS WERE ALL AT THE PROPER LEVELS. THE OLD PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ME TO VIEW AND I DID NEGLECT TO ASK FOR IT AS THAT IS USUALLY MY PRACTICE WHEN GETTING PARTS REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 42,590

I HAVE A 06 AUDI A3 WITH ABOUT 57K MILEAS AND WHILE TRAVELING TO CALIFORNIA, ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY I FELT THE CAR HESITATE SEVERAL TIMES AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF ACCELERATION. MY ONLY ACTION WAS TO STOP PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AND DOWNSHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR. *TR

Mileage: 57,600

FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW, I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DOWN TO FIRST GEAR. IT OCCURS AFTER A SLOW COMMUTE OVER A PROLONGED HILL. ONCE I REACH THE TOP AND ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST, RESULTING IN EXTREME RPMS. I HAVE TO SHIFT THE CAR DONE TO LOW GEAR THEN BACK TO D(RIVE) TO RESET IT. THE ISSUE SOUNDS EXTREMELY SIMILAR TO ISSUES ENCOUNTERED WITH THE DGS SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE IS A 2006 AND THEREFORE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE 2007-2009 VW AND AUDI RECALL. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST I AM ABOUT TO INCUR TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

I GOT A 2006 A3 (AUTOMATIC) WITH 90K MILES ON IT. WE STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS 2 WEEKS AGO, BASICALLY WHILE DRIVING (AT ANY SPEED) TRANSMISSION WOULD SPORADICALLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL FOLLOWED BY A JOLTING/CLUNKING NOISE, AND THEN PRNDS LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF ONTHE DASHBOARD. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES WITHIN 1 WEEK. THE SCARY THING IS THAT DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, SUCH I-95, MY WIFE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A 18-WHEELER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TALKED TO AUDI NA COMPLAIN LINE, AND THEY MENTIONED THERE WASN'T ANYTHING REPORTED TO THEM, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM, AND NO WILLINGS TO HELP TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING PARTS. I DON'T SEE THIS ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE GAS PEDAL ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING. MANY COMPLAINS OR CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON AUDI/VW FORUMS.

Mileage: 97,000

MY AUDI A3 DYNAMIC SHIFT GEARBOX, HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES FROM ABOUT 30K MILES, WHICH IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE ESCALATED TO A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE GEARBOX. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE AUDI SERVICE AT 48000 MILES, ABOUT: JERKINESS WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR; LACK OF ADEQUATE ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP; CAR DIES WHEN STOPPING ON INTERSECTIONS WHILE DRIVING IN CITY CONDITIONS; SHIFTING TO INCORRECT (NEUTRAL) GEAR WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; AUDI DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS UNDER WARRANTY, AND IT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT HAS SHOWN NEGLIGENCE IN DIAGNOSTIC THE PROBLEM, PRIOR TO A COMPLETE MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IS SERVICE AWAITING A REPLACEMENT OF THE DSG (MECHATRONIC AND GEARBOX) WHICH ARE ESTIMATED TO COST AT ABOUT 7000 - 10000 DOLLARS. ACCORDING TO THE FACTS AND MY SERVICE RECORDS, IT IS MY BELIEVE THAT AUDI SHOULD BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 38,500

MY WIFE IS TRAVELING A LONG TRIP. SHE IS DRIVING A 2006 AUDI A3. SHE HAD BEEN HAVING WEIRD THINGS HAPPEN DURING HER TRIP. IT STARTED WHEN SHE MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN. SHE PUSHED THE GAS, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT WENT. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, ALL THE SAME SORT OF WAY. THEN AFTER A RIGHT-HAND CORNER TURN, THE CAR MADE THIS HUGE NOISE AND CLUNK UPON ACCELERATION. AGAIN, IT DROVE OK AFTER THAT. HOWEVER, THE BIG UNSAFE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED @ APX. 49,870 ON ODOMETER, IRONICALLY, JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS OUT. SHE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH & BACKED OFF OF THE GAS TO SLIDE IN BETWEEN TWO CARS & THEN PRESSED ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE TO THE SPEED OF THE MOVING TRAFFIC & SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SEEMED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL BUT BECAUSE THE GAS WAS INCREASING, THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING. SHE SEEMED TO COAST, NO INCREASE IN SPEED. THE CAR BEHIND HER SWERVED OVER IN TIME, BUT IT WAS TOO CLOSE! SHE BACKED OFF OF THE GAS OR BRAKED, SHE COULDN'T REMEMBER AND THE CAR CLUNKED INTO GEAR. WHEN SHE CALLED ME, THE CAR HAD 50,150 & SHE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS HAD JUST HAPPENED A 2ND TIME. IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY, WHEN SHE WAS ACCELERATING. I CALLED MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER & SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO AGREED TO PROVIDE A FREE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN EFFECT FOR THE 2007-2009 AUDI (INCLUDING A3) AS WELL AS FOR 2007-2009 VW'S WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. 2006'S NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL TOO. *TR

Mileage: 49,870

MY AUDI A3 WITH DSG HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SHIFTING PROBLEMS FROM 1-2 AND 2-3. ON THE 29TH, WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A LIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE SEEMED TO HAVE LOST POWER. WHEN I LOOKED INTO MY MIRROR, THE CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND ME DIDN'T EXPECT MY SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND CAME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING ME. THIS ROUGH SHIFTING IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT SOON. *TR

Mileage: 48,800

I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A3 3.2 QUATTRO WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM MY 45K MILE SERVICE(THE LAST ONE BEFORE IT GOES OUT OF WARRANTY). I WAS DOING ABOUT 45-50 MPH GOING THROUGH THE SUNPASS EXPRESS LANE. I LIFTED OFF OF THE THROTTLE FOR A SECOND AND THEN, WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE GAS, NO DRIVE, NO GEARS. THE RPMS SHOT UP TO AROUND 7500 RPM'S AND THE GEAR INDICATOR SCREEN LIGHTS (P,R,N,D,S) WERE FLASHING AND I HAD TO PULL OFF OF TO THE SHOULDER. AND TRYING TO PULL OVER WITH NO DRIVE ON THE PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY IN MIAMI ALMOST GOT ME INTO 2 DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS. I TRIED TO SELECT REVERSE THEN DRIVE AND SPORT MODE ON THE SHIFTER, NOTHING, SCREEN STILL FLASHING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I CALLED MY DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO CALL AUDI ROAD SERVICE AND HAVE IT FLAT BEDDED BACK TO THEM. ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER THE OCCURRENCE, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT NOW WAS ABLE TO SELECT A GEAR AND THE FLASHING STOPPED. I DROVE IT VERY DELICATELY BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THEY SAID THEY ARE REPLACING THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL/MECHATRONICS UNIT. THIS HAPPENED ON 7/24 AND I AM STILL WAITING ON THE NEW PART TO COME IN. I WANT TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE ON AN AUDI OR VOLKSWAGEN CAR USING THE DSG OR S-TRONIC GEARBOX.I WANT THIS TO BE DOCUMENTED IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS. I'M ALSO WORRIED THAT MY CAR IS JUST ABOUT TO COME OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND, IF I HAVE THIS FAILURE AGAIN, IT COULD COST ME THOUSANDS OF MY OWN DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 45,500

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DSG SHIFTING ISSUES. ON SLIGHT INCLINES SUCH AS DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES, WHEN IN REVERSE, I'LL ACCELERATE AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE. MANY TIMES, NEIGHBORS THINK I AM REVVING MY CAR. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM START OR A SLOW SPEED ON D OR S MODE, THE ENGINE WILL REV VERY HIGH CLOSE TO 4000-5000RPM. A DSG SERVICE HAD BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER A FEW YEARS AGO AND I HAD ANOTHER ONE DONE LAST MONTH SUSPECTING THAT IT COULD BE THE FLUID BUT TO NO AVAIL, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

2006 AUDI A3 3.2 QUATTRO DSG TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. TRANSMISSION ALSO UPSHIFTS AND DOWN SHIFTS ABRUPTLY DURING ROUTINE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 22,499

I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A3 3.2 W/ DSG. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL ONE DAY, COMPLETE DISASTER. WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS WHEN YOU START UP THE CAR, DRIVE ANY DISTANCE AND COME TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL GO NEUTRAL, THE PRNDS WILL START TO FLASH, AND COME TO A JOLTING STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT GOING AGAIN, IS TO POWER OFF THEN START UP AGAIN. THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CAR HAS GONE NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND I'LL HAVE TO COME TO A STOP. THIS OCCURS 99% OF THE TIME. BEING IN THE D.C. AREA, THERE'S LOTS OF TRAFFIC SO POWERING DOWN AND UP AGAIN AT EACH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ISN'T SAFE FOR ME AND OTHERS AROUND. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 5 WEEKS NOW B/C THE REPLACEMENT PART (TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT / MECHATRONIC UNIT / DSG) IS FROM GERMANY AND HAS TO BE "CODED TO YOUR VIN". IT ALSO HAS TO GO THROUGH US CUSTOMS BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE DEALER. BEING OUT OF WARRANTY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FAULT THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

WAS A NORMAL DAY OF DRIVING, CAR WAS WARMING UP. I LIVE IN FLORIDA SO IT WARMS UP PRETTY QUICKLY. I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO 4TH STREET WHEN I GAVE THE CAR A LOT OF GAS, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOTHING. IT JUST REVVED UP AND THEN AFTER ABOUT 1 OR 2 SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE. AFTER THIS 1-3 SECOND DELAY, THE CAR WAS DRIVING LIKE NORMAL. BUT THE INITIAL HESITATION ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED BECAUSE I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. MY DSG HAS NO FAULT CODES, YET IT HESITATES AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES SCARES ME. MY OTHER COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH IT HESITATING AND JERKING IN REVERSE. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BACK INTO STUFF. REVERSE IS VERY INCONSISTENT. MY FINAL COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. THE FUEL PUMP USES A CAM FOLLOWER. THESE CAM FOLLOWERS WEAR OUT, AND CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. MY FUEL PUMP FAILED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPLACED. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LATER I INSPECTED MY NEW PUMP AND FOLLOWER AND FOUND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FACE OF THE CAM FOLLOWER. THIS IS UNHEARD OF WITH A CAR LIKE THIS. WHEN THE CAM FOLLOWER FAILS, THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILS - HOW CAN VW/AUDI MANUFACTURE SOMETHING THIS UNRELIABLE. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

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

Mileage: 7,154