2015 Audi A3

Subject: Complaint regarding refusal to perform recall repairs outside the U.S. – VIN [XXX] Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am the owner of an Audi A3, model year 2015, VIN [XXX] . According to the NHTSA database, my vehicle is subject to two open recall campaigns: – 69BY / 21V198 – Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) – 20YF / 24V110 – EVAP Suction Pump I currently reside in Ukraine, where the vehicle has been legally imported and registered. Despite the recalls being active and safety-related, the official Audi importer and dealers in Ukraine have refused to perform the repairs free of charge. They argue that these recalls apply only to the U.S. market and therefore decline service, which contradicts the global principle of mandatory recall repairs. This situation puts me and other drivers at risk, as the unresolved recall issues directly affect vehicle safety. I kindly ask NHTSA to review this case and provide guidance on ensuring that recall obligations are respected internationally, or to instruct Audi AG / Audi of America to facilitate the execution of these recalls regardless of the vehicle’s current market. Attached, please find copies of my correspondence with Audi dealers in Ukraine and Audi of America. Thank you for your assistance. Best regards, [XXX] Ukraine Phone: [XXX] Email: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2015 Audi A3 1.8T is experiencing the exact same failure symptoms and operational hazards as those described in Audi’s own Warranty Extension U49, which covers certain 2017 and 2018 Audi A3 and A3 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI models. According to Audi’s bulletin, vehicles with faulty mechatronic units are eligible for replacement under an extended warranty due to safety concerns — sudden loss of drive, vehicle being stuck in neutral, and PRNDS flashing while in traffic. My vehicle is now exhibiting these identical symptoms: (1) Sudden disengagement of all gears while driving when it tries to go to fourth gear. At this point, there is a (2) flashing PRNDS indicator and “Reverse Gear Not Available” message. (3) Loss of ability to accelerate in moving traffic, requiring emergency maneuvers, and halting traffic. (4) Temporary restoration of function after shutting off and restarting the engine, only for the problem to happen again. (5) Check Engine Light. This is a serious safety hazard that puts both the driver and other road users at risk. The only reason my vehicle is excluded from the coverage appears to be its model year (2015), despite the fact that the mechatronic unit and failure mode are identical to the covered 2017–2018 vehicles. I believe Audi overlooked this issue in other year models and, as such, I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate why Audi is limiting this safety-related repair to only certain VIN ranges and model years, when vehicles just a couple of years older are exhibiting the exact same dangerous defect. A sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds is a serious risk that warrants broader manufacturer accountability. The company should fix this issue as soon as possible.

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the engine overheated. There was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming abnormal amounts of coolant without signs of a coolant leak. The contact stated that the engine seized. The coolant reservoir was inspected and there was no coolant in the reservoir. While attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact recently replaced the coolant pump, coolant control valve and the expansion tank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V619000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN, nor the model were included. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

The plastic roof trim panel on my 2015 Audi A3 is peeling and deteriorating significantly. This is not painted metal—it’s a separate, non-paintable plastic component that runs along the sunroof and roofline. The surface began flaking and lifting over time, and multiple independent body shops confirmed the panel is failing structurally and cannot be refinished—it must be replaced. While this may appear cosmetic, it’s not. The panel helps protect the roof seam and substructure. Its failure opens the door to water intrusion, corrosion, and potential roof integrity compromise—a serious safety concern, particularly in the event of a rollover or high-impact collision. Other owners of vehicles built on the same MQB/8V platform—including the VW Golf and SEAT Leon (not sold in the U.S., but structurally similar)—have reported identical issues, often followed by cracking or detachment of the panel. Despite multiple attempts to resolve this, Audi of America has been largely uncooperative. Their warranty process requires a diagnosis from a dealership, but most Audi dealers do not perform bodywork and refer customers to third-party shops—whose assessments Audi then refuses to accept. I’ve been left in a loop with no meaningful support, despite the issue being widespread and well-documented. I believe this is a design or materials defect that should be reviewed before it leads to broader safety or structural failures. See the below URL's for similar issues. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Excuse the shortened URL's, I need to meet your character count. I also cannot seem to upload images (despite being under the file size). I can email them later. I do find it interesting how all the affected cars seem to be blue (or at least darker in color). Perhaps excess heat is causing the issue? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

For recall 21V198-69BY, I took my car to Audi of Birmingham on recall. They provided me a service form to show the repair had been made, but my passenger side air bag off light is still on because they didn't make the repair. It wasn't brought to my attention until I took my car for another repair job and the didn't make that repair, either.

Since 2021-2022 I have had several issues with my reservoir tank. This tank holds my coolant and has leaked continuously. They had a settlement for this problem but omitted the a3. I paid Audi dealership $ 1,600.00 to fix the problem a few years ago and have been having the same problem ever since. A few months after I paid for this problem Audi had a settlement for the reservoir tank and I was denied reimbursement because I owned a a3 and a3’s were not included in the settlement but a3 ‘s still had the reservoir problem as well. I contacted Audi USA on several occasions and still have been disregarded but Audi USA wants you to pay for the diagnostic first at the dealership just for them to even look at the immediate problem. I just contacted Audi USA again 1/29/25 because now I have to put my car in the shop again to get it fixed but the coolant constantly leaks and Audi service shop wants me to pay for it and I feel that I should not have to pay for (their )problem again and the same problem over and over. At this point the coolant is pouring out like water and I must get my car to the shop immediately because the engine light comes on stating no coolant running hot and this is how the Audi cars catch on fire.Please investigate this !!!! I refuse to give Audi any more of my money when they should be held responsible. I can’t find my receipt of date and amount paid but I can get this info from the dealership. I’m tired of going in a circle with this same car issue. I want my car fix and my settlement reimbursement.

Shortly after starting the car, and while exiting a parking lot, the car stalled and lost engine power. I was able to start the car back up for long enough to be able to pull back into the parking lot however after the car got parked the engine refused to start and stay running for the next hour. After a check using OBD11, the codes were showing the cause of the original problem was low fuel pressure which ended up causing misfires. The only way I was able to get the car running and staying running was by purging the system repeatedly by turning on the ignition without starting the car. This has all happened once before while I was driving at relatively low speeds (around 25 MPH) in a town, and I had to go through the same process. No warning lights show for the first multiple attempts at starting the car until it consistently fails to start. No inspections have taken place.

Dear NHTSA, I am filing a complaint about the handling of a recall repair on my 2015 Audi A3 (VIN: [XXX] ) for the suction jet pump. The service experience has been frustrating and raises concerns about the repair’s quality. 1.First Visit - Inadequate Information: During my first visit to the service center, over an hour away, I was turned away because my fuel level was too high. I was never informed that my gas tank needed to be below a certain level for the repair, resulting in wasted time and travel. 2.Second Visit - Check Engine Light Still On: On my second visit, the suction jet pump was supposedly repaired, but my check engine light remained on. I had informed the service advisor that the light was related to an EVAP system malfunction, which I was told could be caused by a faulty suction jet pump. After speaking with multiple mechanics, I learned that a malfunctioning suction jet pump could cause fuel to enter the EVAP system, damaging parts like the purge valve or charcoal canister. 3.Unreasonable Charges: The service advisor insisted that the remaining EVAP issues were unrelated to the recall and wanted to charge $220 for another diagnostic and repairs, without even inspecting the car after the recall service. This seems unfair, as there’s no way to confirm without a proper check. 4.Missing Seat Belt Buckle: After the recall service, I discovered that the rear driver’s side seat belt buckle was missing. This is a major safety concern and needs to be addressed. I request NHTSA’s help in investigating the repair quality and ensuring these issues are resolved fairly. Thank you for your attention. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, all the fuel was not entering the fuel tank, with some fuel dripping out onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel system, Gasoline) was completed. The contact was informed that the recall repair did not fix the vehicle. The failure reoccurred. The contact was informed that the filter canister or the fuel tank might need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,500.