VehicleVerdict

2010 Audi A3 fuel system problems

The 2010 Audi A3 has 20 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 33% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

20

Fuel System complaints

33%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

A3 fuel system complaints by model year20 complaints2004: 1 complaints2006: 10 complaints2007: 1 complaints2008: 1 complaints2010: 20 complaints2011: 10 complaints2012: 4 complaints2013: 4 complaints2015: 18 complaints2016: 20 complaints2017: 15 complaints2018: 5 complaints2019: 4 complaints
A3 fuel system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

11V490000Fuel SystemOctober 3, 2011 · 168,275 units

Defect

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence

DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy

VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

09V377000Fuel SystemSeptember 30, 2009 · 10,200 units

Defect

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

Consequence

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUDI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-253-2834.

What owners report

OUR 2010 AUDI A3 TDI DEISEL LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AFTER PULLING OVER, WE WERE UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED DUE TO "CONTAMINATED FUEL". WE HAD PUT BRAND NAME DIESEL INTO THE TANK…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · July 25, 2011

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2010 Audi A3 have?

NHTSA has 20 complaints about the 2010 Audi A3 fuel system — 33% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2010 Audi A3 fuel system?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the fuel system: 09V377000, 11V490000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.