Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Audi A3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Audi A3. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle shifted to neutral and the selector lever on the instrument panel illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle veered to the side, the engine stalled, and the vehicle restarted. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V333000 (power train). The failure mileage was 48,000.
From a stopped position on a side street in a left hand turn lane I stepped on the gas pedal and the car started to move then immediately had a loss of power in making a left hand turn onto a major street. The car lurched forward then hesitated. It is really dangerous because it can surprise people and cause cars to crash into me. It has done this a few other times. I feel given the right circumstances this could cause an accident.
2nd time this has happened in just a few days. I want to start documenting every time this has happened. I was pulling into fast moving traffic from a side street. I was making a left hand turn and the car hesitated putting me into the way of on coming traffic at 50 MPH. This was very dangerous because I was accelerating trying to reach 50 MPH could have been rear ended only going about 10 MPH.
Random loss of power, the transmission will randomly slip while the car is in reverse from a parked position. It will also slip randomly while in forward motion and during turning. This is very dangerous and could cause an accident resulting in being rear ended. Please help! Last time it happened was 1/15/2017.
Was a normal day of driving, car was warming up. I live in florida so it warms up pretty quickly. I was pulling out onto 4th street when I gave the car a lot of gas, but the transmission did nothing. It just revved up and then after about 1 or 2 seconds, the transmission engaged and the car began to slowly accelerate. After this 1-3 second delay, the car was driving like normal. But the initial hesitation almost caused me to be rear ended because I was pulling into traffic. My dsg has no fault codes, yet it hesitates at times and sometimes scares me. My other complaint has to do with it hesitating and jerking in reverse. It has almost caused me to back into stuff. Reverse is very inconsistent. My final complaint is in regard to the fuel pump system. The fuel pump uses a cam follower. These cam followers wear out, and can cause failure of the high pressure fuel pump system. …
I have a 2006 Audi A3 3.2 quattro with the dsg transmission. I was driving home from my 45K mile service(the last one before it goes out of warranty). I was doing about 45-50 MPH going through the sunpass express lane. I lifted off of the throttle for a second and then, when I went back to the gas, no drive, no gears. The rpms shot up to around 7500 RPM's and the gear indicator screen lights (p,r,n,d,s) were flashing and I had to pull off of to the shoulder. And trying to pull over with no drive on the palmetto expressway in miami almost got me into 2 different accidents. I tried to select reverse then drive and sport mode on the shifter, nothing, screen still flashing and the car would not move. I called my dealer and he told me to call Audi road service and have it flat bedded back to them. …
My wife is traveling a long trip. She is driving a 2006 Audi A3. She had been having weird things happen during her trip. It started when she made a right hand turn from a stop sign. She pushed the gas, but the car did not move for a few seconds and then it went. This happened a few times, all the same sort of way. Then after a right-hand corner turn, the car made this huge noise and clunk upon acceleration. Again, it drove OK after that. However, the big unsafe problem first occurred @ apx. 49,870 on odometer, ironically, just before the warranty was out. She was driving about 45 MPH & backed off of the gas to slide in between two cars & then pressed on the gas to accelerate to the speed of the moving traffic & suddenly without warning, the car seemed to go into neutral but because the gas was increasing, the engine kept revving. She seemed to coast, no increase in speed. …
This is for a 2006 Audi A3 2.0t with the fsi engine and the dsg transmission. Both my wife and I experience a few dangerous situations where the automatic transmission disengaged unexpectedly and we lost the ability to make the car move via the gas pedal. The car's lcd gear selector display then began to flash intermittently to indicate a transmission failure of some type. We did regain 1st gear after a few seconds as well but this put us at danger and is not acceptable for a family car with only 42590 miles on it. The problem then re-occurred within the next few days about 3 more times and even failed while driving into the dealership. I had to call a couple of dealerships to get a straight answer as well on whether this was covered under any kind of recall warranty as well as they were about to try and make me pay for this until I asked. …
Since the day I bought my 2006 Audi A3 2.0t, I am having this issue. When I start moving from a complete stop (such as on a red light), the car jerks back and forth 1-2 times roughly. This happens all the time without fail. The jerk is so powerful that it makes all passengers' bodies shift forward with its momentum. It feels as if I slammed on the brake suddenly. Also, at times, from a stop when I put my foot on the gas, the car hesitates before slamming into gear after 2-3 seconds of not responding to my throttle input. This has scared hell out of me at couple of instances because I almost got into a read rend collision from someone behind me not paying attention and almost slamming into the back of my car. Luckily, as I know my car had this characteristic so I react quickly in such occasions. …
My vehicle failed on three different occasions - failed to move on a stop sign - moved very weakly when taking a left turn while in the center turn lane. Cars were coming from the opposite direction and I barely missed having an accident. - vehicle went into neutral and completely failed to move while still in heavy traffic. When this happened "prnds" flashed on the dash. - I have the video of the problem when it happened. This problem is a very common problem and Audi has recalled many cars (2007 onwards), but my car wasn't recalled. The recall notice from Audi is in 2009 and my car was not in it. Why is that? How does Audi decide which cars to include in the recall? I think that process is completely flawed. I believe Audi cut corners and did not recall all the cars they should have. Just enough to calm people down as this problem was also shown on tv news. …
Transmission complaints in other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Audi A3?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Audi A3, 30% of the model year's 123 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Audi A3 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 Audi A3, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Audi A3 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.