2007 Audi A3 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Audi A3 most often describe waiting for Takata driver airbag inflator recall repairs because parts were not available, in some cases for more than a year. The other frequent theme is DSG automatic transmission behavior, such as jerky or clunking shifts, hesitation from a stop, and occasional loss of drive or stalling. Where mileage is given, the transmission reports range from 19,800 to 120,000 miles, so the problems are not limited to early ownership, and the complaint trend is falling.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Takata airbag recall repairs waiting on parts

   • 29 complaints (56%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 11.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2019

   Owners describe waiting for a Takata driver airbag inflator repair because dealers did not have parts or could not say when they would arrive, sometimes for more than a year. Several complaints say the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable repair time, and some owners in remote areas describe no nearby Audi dealer, a refused loaner or buyback, or a shipping charge for the repair. Some owners say they have not experienced a failure, while others say they do not feel safe driving the car and point to the recall notice describing an inflator that may rupture on deployment. According to complaints, dealers offered to call back or referred owners to the manufacturer, without a repair date. Mileage is stated in only a few of these complaints, from 33,000 to 140,000 miles, and several say no failure had occurred.

   Recall 18V082000Recall 16V0790001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether the driver airbag inflator recall repair is complete, and whether a parts date has been given in writing. Check the vehicle's recall status with the official recall lookup, and ask whether any Takata warranty extension applies to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I live in kauai, hi. There is no Audi dealer. They refuse to send someone over from oahu to fix the airbags. They want me to pay $500 for shipping and be without my car for 2 weeks, in addition there are now 2 airbag recalls one of which they have no fix for and its been 1 year. Meanwhile I am still driving the car and it is very dangerous. I have spent hours on the phone with them and they refuse to solve this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11130491, filed 2018-09, 36,000 miles

   “Takata recall - notice has been received of takata driver's airbag recall, but no parts available for recall. I cannot safely drive my car now if the airbag may explode and kill me! I have been driving a potential death trap and am very afraid.”

   NHTSA complaint #10863443, filed 2016-05, 78,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   DSG transmission jerks, clunks, and hesitation

   • 13 complaints (25%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2019

   Owners describe jerky or clunking shifts, hesitation when pulling away from a stop, and delayed or harsh engagement when shifting into drive or reverse. Some report the car jumping forward when the brake is released, slipping between gears, or failing to engage a gear. According to complaints, dealers or garages replaced transmission or clutch parts in some cases, and a dealer quoted a costly mechatronic replacement and would not take the car in trade. Where mileage is given, the reports range from 19,800 to 120,000 miles, and most fall between 30,000 and 105,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for hesitation from a stop, clunks or jerks when shifting, and whether the car jumps forward when the brake is released. Ask whether the mechatronic unit or clutch components have been inspected or replaced, and request the repair records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and the car wouldn't shift into 3rd gear so I was holding up traffic and struggled to get the car back home. I was told by dealer today I had two bad coils and the megatronic which controlled the transmission was going out. I heard 2006 models had a recall on the megatronic but not 2007. I cant believe I need to spend $2500 on anew megatronic for a car that has less than 70k miles and I spent 4290 today for diagnostic, plugs, and coils. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10543171, filed 2013-09, 65,000 miles

   “2007 Audi A3 dsg issues. My transmission has very hard shifting on occasion. This happens randomly. Also at times the transmission will get stuck in between shifts. When this happens it is like the car is in neutral. It has a loss of power for 10- 20 seconds. This issue is very concerning as there is no power at all. I am worried that at some point it may stay this way longer, disabling the car completely. I now also have an extremely loud rattle coming for the transmission area. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10392325, filed 2011-03, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Sudden loss of power, stalling, or no-start

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 83,500 mi at 7.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Owners describe the car losing drive or power while in motion, sometimes with flashing gear-position lights or the car shifting into neutral. Some describe a stall on a highway or in a parking lot, followed by a no-start condition that required towing. A complaint attributes a no-start to a broken cam chain, and a dealer reportedly diagnosed a failed mechatronic unit. Mileage is stated in most of these complaints, ranging from 55,799 to 180,000 miles, so these are not limited to early ownership.

   What to check: Ask whether stored fault codes for the loss-of-power events were checked, and whether the cam chain or mechatronic unit was inspected. On a test drive, check the car's response from a stop and under acceleration, and watch for any flashing gear-position lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11341408, filed 2020-07, 180,000 miles

   “On my way to work in my 2007 Audi A3-all of a sudden I lose power and my car stops accelerating and shifts into neutral. I see that the p d n s lights are flashing so I attempt to restart my car. It starts to go again and then sputters forward without me doing anything. Luckily I wasn't far from home and was able to restart my car again and get it home while the car revved like crazy going less than 20mph. After some research I have found that many Audi/vw's experience this in their vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10363918, filed 2010-11, 55,799 miles

Buying note. Before buying, confirm whether the Takata airbag recall repairs have been completed, since many complaints describe long waits for parts. On a test drive, pay attention to shift smoothness and any loss of power, because transmission complaints are common for this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.