What's Wrong with the 2nd Generation (2003–2012) A3?

A3 owners have made 20 complaints about the 2003–2012 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 21st out of 39 Audi generations in overall reliability, with some engine and transmission concerns.

Compare With Other A3 Generations

Common 2003-2012 Audi A3 Problems

Some of the worst issues 2nd generation A3 owners have to deal with.

  1. Busted Timing Chains

    Audi's EA888 2.0-liter engine has a history of tensioner problems in its timing chain. The loose chain is to blame for multiple occurances of catastrophic engine failure. Audi was forced to offer settlement offers, including an extended war…

    Continue reading article "Busted Timing Chains" View of engine timing chain

  2. Takata Recalls

    A large number of Audi vehicles have been recalled because they contain dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata. The shrapnel-hurling inflators have been recalled in over 37 million vehicles (and counting).

    Continue reading article "Takata Recalls" Test dummy getting hit by Takata airbag

  3. Cheating Diesel Emissions

    Audi was caught cheating on its diesel emissions with defeat devices. Twice. It started with the widespread dieselgate story for 2.0L 4-cylinder engines and was followed with a lesser known cheat for vehicles with the ZF 8-speed transmiss…

    Continue reading article "Cheating Diesel Emissions" Cloud of emissions from a tail pipe

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

2nd Generation (2003–2012) A3 Key Numbers

  1. 10 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 20 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 21st in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 39 eligible generations.

Recent Lawsuits for 2nd Generation A3 Owners

  • Settlement

    Coffeng, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America,  Inc.

    3:17-cv-01825-JD

    1. Settlement

      A VW water pump class action settlement has been reached for these Volkswagen and Audi vehicles equipped with 2-liter EA888 TSI or TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder multi-valve engines with codes CCTA, CAEB, CAED and CBFA.

    2. Case Filed

      The VW water pump class action was filed over the primary engine water pump driven off one of the balance shafts, not the electric auxiliary water pump. According to the lawsuit, the pump consists of the thermoplastic water pump module that includes the water pump, thermostat and integrated sensors.

    Settlement
    Filing deadline is April 29, 2020.
    Class Vehicles
    • 2008-2013 Audi A3
    • 2009-2014 Audi A4
    • 2009-2014 Audi A5
    • 2011-2014 Audi Q5
    • 2012-2014 Audi A6
    • 2009-2014 Audi TT
    Location
    California

Recent 2nd Generation (2003–2012) A3 News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. There’s an important deadline coming up for Audi owners who previously paid for repairs to their timing chain system or damaged engine from a timing chain failure, and want the automaker to pick up the tab.

    A recently approved settlement benefits thousands of owners by providing them with an extended “new vehicle limited warranty” for any future repairs, plus conditional reimbursements for any previous repairs.…

    keep reading article "Upcoming Deadline for Timing Chain Reimbursements"

  2. When Volkswagen agreed to a multi-district settlement for selling polluting engines marketed as clean diesel,

    it did so knowing it’d have to pay billions of dollars to customers that owned or leased an affected vehicle when the news about the scandal broke.

    Some owners that had sold their affected vehicles before the news came out tried to file for compensation in court, but didn't get very far. That may be about to change due to an interesting court decision in California.…

    keep reading article "Judge's Decision May Open to the Door to New Diesel-Scandal Claims"