2003 Audi A3 Sport from UK and Ireland - Comments

Interesting comment about the grinding noises from the steering column on the A3 - got a brand new Mk5 Golf in October and this has exactly the same problem, suspect that it may be the same component failing. I have heard of a number of other Golfs built during the second part of 2005 that have this issue.

My wife's 2.0 tdi sport has the problem with steering noises she was told by the dealer that Audi knew of the problem, but don't know how to sort it yet. Also the car has been loosing coolant and has now been off the road for 3 weeks with the part not due in for another 2 weeks (some sort of valve) all this and the car was brand new at the end of November. So yes we can appreciate cars do go wrong, but waiting 5 weeks for a part really isn't good enough.

Just an update the above car is still off road and now the curtesy car has also broken down now onto an A4 heres hoping.

I bought a 2006 A3 in October of 2005. With only 600 miles on the odometer, I began to have problems starting the car. This usually occurred while running errands, i.e., driving to different destinations and then reentering the car to turn it on and continue. Took it in at 1,500 miles as the problem progressed. Audi kept it for 2 days and called me saying that they could not duplicate the problem, so come get it. Ironically, I drove home, grabbed some things and came back out to leave again... wouldn't start! Audi had me bring it back the next day. The service consultant had me try to start it in front of him to see if this problem revealed itself. Thank goodness it did because he expressed strong convictions before that it was my fault for not depressing the clutch to the floor when I turned the key. I showed him differently. He told me he thought it was the starter, but needed one of his mechanics to take it home for the night so he, too, could duplicate the problem. I was leary since I was told the mechanic resided in a town 45 miles away. The problem occurred for the mechanic, although it never registered on the diagnostic computer...so, he replaced the starter. Problem didn't go away. Now the service consultant is telling me to bring it in so they can reprogram the ECM because, according to an Audi bulletin, it's not responding when the engine reaches a certain temperature. I will be taking it in this week. I have my fingers crossed.

Hi, I have just purchased a new 1.6 Audi A3 (3 days ago) and have only done just over 200km (I live in Ireland). The car has the following faults already, and I am thinking of rejecting it. Does anyone have any advice?

1 Grinding noise when turning steering wheel to the left since collecting the car.

2 Loud rattling from under car when running at low revs or accelerating up to about 2.5 thousand revs.

3 Left indicator did not turn off automatically after going around corner on first day, seems to have rectified itself.

4 Heater vent mesh on dash is sticking up slightly since collecting the car.

5 Rattle from instrument cluster at times.

6 Car not idling smoothly at times.

7 Car appears to have been built in June 2005 going by date on (Volkswagen / Audi) factory sheet in the car. Also has green mould visible around window seals etc, I understood the car I was getting was only a couple of months old max.

Please Please advise me what to do.

I have just traded in a troublesome 04 golf (all issues almost satisfactorily resolved at time of trade in) and don't want all this trouble of bring a car to the dealer time after time again.

I will first admit that I don't have a great deal of experience with luxury cars, so you may take my advice with a grain of salt, and if anyone responds who has more experience with Audis, please feel free to supersede me. To me, it doesn't sound as though these are serious problems, or perhaps even problems. The rattling under the car sounds like a loose heat shield, which is of no concern. The turn signal was probably only a function of how far you happened to turn the wheel. Sometimes if you make only a gradual turn, like veering onto an off-ramp, the wheel doesn't turn far enough to switch off the signal. The grinding noise when turning left could be an indication to check your power steering fluid level. Also keep in mind that if you turn the wheel all the way and "bottom it out" the power steering pump will make noise like a groan or rattle. It's not something you should do on any car. The green mold around the weather stripping is probably an indication that this car sat out on a lot since last summer, so that supports the June 2005 manufacture date. What would be the difference between buying a car made in November 2005 or June 2005, as long as they both have 0 miles? Not sure what is meant by "sometimes idle not smooth" but it is to be expected that at low RPMs like at a stop sign, with many accessories running such as the air conditioning and lights, the added stress may cause the engine to run a couple hundred RPMs lower than normal idle, and this would make it not smooth. All in all, it doesn't sound to me as though there is anything out of the ordinary here. If these are the kinds of "problems" that you had with your VW, maybe it was a pretty good car with a lot of life left in it...

Why, if you had so many problems with your Golf, did you trade it in on a car made on the same platform with much of the same equipment?

Hi.

Thanks for your reply.

I would agree with you that the rattling could be a heat shield or something to do with the exhaust system. Easy enough to put right I think (I am not a mechanic).

The turn-signal (indicator) is still working OK, it happened a couple of times on the first day, I am sure I turned the wheel enough 90 degree left turn. Anyway it is OK now.

I understand what you are saying about the full turn will make a noise. However this noise is as soon as I turn the wheel to the left at all from a straight line at very low speeds, such as parking. I have heard that this could be a known Audi problem with the steering rack.

In effect there would be no difference if the car was sitting out, it had practically no mileage. It just concerns me why it wasn't sold previously, as VW and Audi are ordered into Ireland for either stock (very low quantities as far as I know) or customer order. Anyway if they can fix the problems in the car in an agreeable time frame (1 week) I will be happy to keep the car, even though I thought I was getting a two month old (max) car.

The idle problem is that the revs are jumping up and down slightly (a couple of hundred RPM) when the car is at a stop. Possibly nothing to worry about!

The Volkswagen had a long list of (different) problems, but all in all it was quite a good car, but it is a complete pain having to go back to the dealer time after time.

I presumed an Audi would be better built and more reliable. I also presumed that the problems I had my golf were only with my golf and not all golf's! The problems were, door seals had to be replaced, front passenger seat broke and took numerous trips to the garage to fix it (leaving the seat slightly damaged with pieces falling off it afterwards), drivers window kept going back down after I put it up, rear wiper arm catching when I tried to lift it up off the window, the car lost all power twice and then miraculously fixed iteslf both times, etc etc etc.

No it appears to me VW and AUDI have a reputation for quality that is undeserved. I'm the guy whose wife has the tdi a couple of posts up the car was off the road for a month,got the car back still not fixed. Don't worry about the grinding steering they all do that top build quality these cars you know!!!

I HAVE PURCHASED A USED AUDI A3 2.0 fsi 2003 reg, since I have the car the water pump has stopped working and had to be replaced. warning lights on the display have come on to indicate engine fault. the oil appears to need constant replacing. help.

I own a 2.0 fsi Octavia. Stop laughing.

Since picking it up it has idles poorly, not noticeably on the rev counter, but you can 'feel' it, almost like it's running lumpy. Sometimes on pulling away on heavy throttle it dies, then picks up causing almost Kangaroo type pull-offs. Skoda are unable to rectify this and I'm now 3 months down the line from reporting it.

I bought an Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 FSI SE Automatic in August 2005, and have also noticed the grinding noise when turning the steering to the left at slow speed. I took the car to the dealer yesterday, and the service guy said it's probably the steering rack. The engineer came out with me, so I could demo the noise, and when we went back into the showroom, said to the service guy, yes, as you thought, it needs a new steering rack. Clearly a known problem, and from reading the comments above, quite widespread. I have also found comments on other sites regarding Golfs with the same problem. The dealer has ordered the part, but I am now less confident that this will fix it, unless they have re-designed the rack?

Other problems I have found with my A3, which on the whole I love, is that firstly, the engine frequently sounds more like a rattly diesel engine than the smooth noise I was expecting. Secondly, after having driven about 20-40 miles or so, the car will suddenly get noisier, either from the wheels, or engine, I'm not sure which, and I can feel vibration though the pedals. This continues for the whole of the rest of the journey, but is gone when I start the car again the next day. Has anyone else noticed either of these problems or had them resolved?

Hi to all, I am the owner of an Audi A3 Sport, a little older than the models you mention. I think it would be fair to say that I have owned many cars over the years.

Guys don't be too dispondent with your choice of vehicle. I too have had little problems with my Audi. That said, they are little, and it is 8 years old now. It seems like it is comparable to a vintage wine, the car gets better with age. You know the old saying, the grass isn't always greener on the other side, it's true!

Maybe it's not the car which is the problem, but your dealer/franchise, after sales service is very important when buying a luxury car! Expect it.

The general build quality of Audi is next to none, compared to its German rivals. I doubt every car is quality tested off the production line though! I was once a Merc, BMW and Alfa Romeo owner! Say no more! Oh and I'm not employed by Audi, just in case you were wondering.

I bought an A3 2.0TFSI DSG in July 05 and started having the "grinding" noise on left turns after 5 weeks. The rack was replaced and lasted 2 weeks before the noise started again. The dealership then told me Audi knew about the fault and I must wait for a modified steering rack. This was finally fitted 3 weeks ago (7 months later!) and guess what happened today - the noise is back. Anyone got any advice on rejecting the car and getting my money back?