2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 5 A3 Cabriolet years
The 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet ranks worst of 5 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 87 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and Airbags as the top problem area at 44% of complaints. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other A3 Cabriolet years.
- Complaints
- 87
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 23.5 city / 33.5 hwy
Top 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags38 (44%)
- Fuel System15 (17%)
- Electrical System13 (15%)
- Engine12 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (6%)
- Brakes4 (5%)
- Other4 (5%)
- Structure & Body3 (3%)
- Seat Belts2 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle unexpectedly moved on its own while parking and became hard to brake, sometimes with the steering affected.
- Some drivers noted a low oil warning shortly after purchase, with oil appearing dark and dirty despite repeated dealer visits.
- Several complaints describe sudden loss of engine power and hesitation on the highway, including one report of the engine stalling and failing to restart.
- Owners describe high idle RPM causing the car to accelerate as soon as the brake was released, making parking difficult.
- Tire failures were reported at low speed after hitting potholes, with one owner citing four flat tires shortly after purchase.
- Drivers reported gear jumps and jolting during the first minutes of operation, plus noticeable shaking at highway speeds despite tire rotation and alignment.
2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V474000Jun 19, 2019Airbags138,896 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
- NHTSA 17V280000Apr 26, 2017Other2,091 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Audi A3 1.8T FWD S tronic and 2.0T Quattro S tronic vehicles. The safety certification label has an incorrect vehicle production date. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle safety recall, an incorrect production date may prevent owners from determining if the recall affects them, increasing their risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install an overlay label containing the correct vehicle production date, free of charge. The recall June 23, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51F5.
- NHTSA 16V647000Sep 7, 2016Fuel System110,042 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.
Risk: As fuel accumulates in the EVAP system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298, Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 20Y6 and 20Y5. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 24V-110.
2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23.5 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other A3 Cabriolet years
Frequently asked questions
- Should I avoid the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
- Relative to other A3 Cabriolet model years, the 2015 ranks worst with a complaint index of 100 and is rated Avoid. It has 87 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls, more than any other year in the 5-year dataset.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 44% of complaints (38 of 87), with a median mileage at failure of 52,500 miles.
- Does the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this year, covering airbags, fuel system, structure/body seatback covers, and a mislabeled safety certification date. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2015 A3 Cabriolet compare to newer years?
- The 2015 has a complaint index of 100, higher than 2016 (75), 2017 (50), and 2018 (25), making it the least favorable year in the 5-year dataset tracked.