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Audi A3 Steering problems by year

10 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Audi A3's steering. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.

Steering complaints by model year

YearSteering complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20251100
20241000
20161000
20154000
20111000
20071000
20061000

Latest A3 steering complaints

2025 Audi A3SteeringBrakesCrash

I was going from one section of the parking lot to another section. I was slowly making a right turn into that area as there were a lot of empty parking spaces. As I turned, suddenly I felt that I could not control the car. I tried to steer and tried to stop the car. I was alarmed, thinking why the car won't stop. Then my car slammed into a parked car, and spun it around. My car finally came to a complete stop. I don't know if the same problem has been reproduced. The vehicle is now at a collision repair shop. There was not warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakesNHTSA 11768375
2024 Audi A3SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

On [redacted] while driving my 2024 Audi A3 at highway speeds on a live freeway, the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic electrical system failure. The dashboard immediately displayed critical warning indicators, including "Electrical Malfunction" and "Battery Malfunction" and "Drive system Malfunction." Without further warning, the vehicle's engine completely stalled and shut down while moving in active traffic. Due to the total loss of electrical power, the vehicle immediately lost all power steering...

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assistance and power braking assistance, causing the steering wheel and brake pedal to severely stiffen and become nearly unresponsive. I was forced to navigate a rolling, unpowered vehicle across highway lanes without steering or braking assistance to reach safety, creating a severe and life-threatening hazard to myself, my [[redacted]] son that was in the vehicle and other motorists. The vehicle currently has approximately 60,000 miles. This sudden shutdown mirrors the well-documented Belt Starter Generator (BSG) and alternator manufacturing defects that Audi has previously acknowledged and recalled in other model lines, but which are clearly actively failing in 2024 model year vehicles as well. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Service brakesNHTSA 11766708
2016 Audi A3SteeringElectrical system

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds and making a U-turn, the "Steering Defect; Do Not Drive" message was displayed. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The steering wheel turned in the other direction when the vehicle struck the curb. While making a left turn, the steering wheel pulled hard to the right. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical systemNHTSA 11541630
2015 Audi A3Steering

The contact owns a 2015 Audi A3. The contact stated while reversing out his driveway, the steering wheel firm and hard to turn. The contact noticed that an unknown warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there was a message stating "Do not Drive". The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact was also informed that the steering wheel assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 33,000.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11489559
2015 Audi A3SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Consumer bought this car at 30,040 miles. The car currently sits with 89,000 miles. I have had 18 recommended service visits totaling $19,240 and then on July 15, 2022 with no pre indicators or warnings the engine dies after a 95k full multipoint inspection that consumer had 3 weeks prior. The car has an impeccable Maintenace record. I did everything the dealer told me; and I still almost died on the 101 fwy going 70 mph on a conference call; the flashers didnt even work; the car dead and came to a hard halt and...

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trucks were screeching around me with smoke coming from their tires because of the extreme hard stop and slamming on breaks, i was screaming for my life praying no one would slam into me. Metro who roams the fwy saved my life; without him i would be dead because of AUDI's HORRIBLY MANUFATCTURED VEHICLE. It seems as though the dealer purposefully sabotages my car as a woman; i have no alternative but to fix it and now they want $27,000 MORE for a new engine AND starter. so, in total; to drive 57,000 miles I've paid $37,000 cash for the car (I own the title)/ plus $19,240 in maintenance /repairs and now they want another 27,000 for the engine. i have no more money to give them. i recently returned my 3rd rental vehicle and i am out of funds on transportation. Ayudame ! How is this ethical? Song and Beverly consumer warranty act sect 1793.2.(d) & (g). California Health and Safety Codes 43204-43205.5. Audis Emission standards. California Code of regulations sect 3396.1-3399.6. Cal Code Regs. tit.16 / 3396.1. Thank you for reading this. ps. i have every receipt and document; so if you need anything further i am so organized it's ridiculous; please don't hesitate to ask.

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · EngineNHTSA 11487306
2011 Audi A3Steering

ESP malfunctioned while driving on highway: tires braked several times rapidly on one side without warning, making car difficult to control. Immediately took foot off gas and had to steer out of a small fishtail. At the time I was driving at normal speed, not cornering aggressively or anything, on a smooth dry road. In heavy traffic or on a wet road this could have resulted in a crash. On just a couple occasions shortly before this occurred, while going around corners at highway or near-highway speeds there was a...

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sensation that the steering direction suddenly "slipped" a notch, with a sort of thunk from the tires. At the time I attributed it to unseen road bumps, but after experiencing the more serious failure I realized it was the same asymmetrical braking just on a smaller scale. No warning lights gave any indicator of this dangerous sensor fault. During the most serious incident, the ESP light flickered briefly but that is the only time any lights appeared at all. I would expect this system to "fail safe" by deactivating, rather staying active and risking loss of control. Dealer garage said the problem "might" be the ESP sensor yaw rate sensor (G202) but can't guarantee that will fix it. I found several reports online of others experiencing loss of control due to Audi A3 ESP malfunction: 1) https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/esp-driving-me-nuts.225172/ 2) https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/yaw-sensor-g202-replacement-location.350445/ 3) http://www.vask.org.nz/index.php?topic=41577.0

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11425743
2007 Audi A3SteeringSuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

My car stald on me at a shopping center located on 32nd street north of mcdowell rd in phoenix,az. It anti locked on me and was not able to start vehicle. Due to this my car was towed from establishment to a tow garage and is still thier. Im unable to take it out due to I dont have the amount to pay it due to I am a single parent and I dont have a job at moment and I recieve unemployment and the car I still owe to car company called second chance auto sales located on 34thst and van buren in phoenix arizona and...

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from my undrrstanding this vehicle has 3 recall issues that I wasnt aware of. My vehicle started acting wierd prior to incident but no mechanic wanted to look at it and I requested help from the company own mechanic and he too never helped me out. I have all info and phone numbers where to reach company's regsrds to this situation.

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · Power trainNHTSA 11341408
2015 Audi A3SteeringDriver assistance

I bought a brand new audi a3 2.0T 2015 july 2014. Recently, while driving to a slushy snow, the system came up with multiple error. On 1/12/2016, I was driving through the slushy snow and 3 issues came up. Stabilization control, tpms error, and abs error, the stabilization control is the main issue. I was serving left and right with light tap on the gas with the car. Luckily, I was in the local road and not in the high way when issues occurred. I took it to the dealership same day, the following day, I was notified...

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that it was "fixed". I got into the dealership and turned on the car, all the lights came back on. Issue was due to a "fuse" shorting. Now I'm waiting for a "clutch pump" all the way from germany, expected 5-15 days.

Filed Incident Steering · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 10820852
2006 Audi A3SteeringElectrical systemVisibility & wipersAirbags

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;...

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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.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Visibility · Air bagsNHTSA 10245535

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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