2011 Audi A3 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 7%of 43 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 38,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Audi A3, 7% of the 43 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 38,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Purchased a new 2011 Audi A3 tdi last saturday. The following friday while pulling out into an intersection the dsg transmission briefly went into neutral and I saw the tachometer needle shoot up and heard the engine whine. I was in manual mode at the time. I down shifted and let off the gas and it re-engaged. The following day (today) the same thing happened again. This time I was also in manual mode and was again pulling out into traffic from an almost complete stop. …”
NHTSA complaint #10399438, filed 2011-05, 700 miles“Vehicle does not switch gears properly. Once drive gear is selected then the gear indicator flashes (ex. The d flashes or p flashes). Vehicle does not switch gears until 5500 RPM is reached. And vehicle does not engage r gear once car has been in drive. Have to turn vehicle off and back on to get to r. Vehicle is pretty much not drivable in current condition as it needs to be shut off and turned one multiple times just to park the car. Sometimes behaves normally for short bursts.”
NHTSA complaint #11046384, filed 2017-11, 81,000 miles“The car is jerking in between 1st and second gear. Seems the transmission cant decide to stay in 1st or second. Also- the car shifts down to 1st inappropriately quickly.”
NHTSA complaint #10557106, filed 2013-12, 38,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11007305Aug 8, 2024This bulletin offers information about the basic information needed for technical requests for gaerbox complaints.
- 11007224Aug 8, 2024This bulletin offers information about the basic information needed for technical requests for gaerbox complaints.
- 11005861Jul 31, 2024This bulletin provides information when there is a fault shown; Engine: start/stop system, and the start system is not working; mileage below 50 km/32 miles.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 14% |
| 2022 | 2 | 22% |
| 2020 | 2 | 13% |
| 2019 | 1 | 10% |
| 2018 | 4 | 12% |
| 2017 | 6 | 14% |
| 2016 | 6 | 7% |
| 2015 | 5 | 5% |
| 2013 | 2 | 10% |
| 2011 | 3 | 7% |
| 2010 | 11 | 22% |
| 2009 | 15 | 32% |
| 2008 | 13 | 30% |
| 2007 | 16 | 31% |
| 2006 | 37 | 30% |
| 2004 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2011 Audi A3
20 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Audi A3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology