There are 7 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2017 Audi A3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While driving at highway speeds, a warning light appeared as well as an alert indicating the car was limited to no more than 4000rpm. After coming to a stop, a strong smell of gasoline was noticed in the passenger compartment. Continued driving home uneventfully but the strong smell of gas persisted. The next day I drove the car to a mechanic. Their inspection notes the following: The technician verified the customer concern of a fuel smell. He performed a fault scan, finding codes for low fuel pressure. He inspected the vehicle, finding a major fuel leak under the intake manifold, most likely from a cracked fuel rail. The system is supposed to operate at 125 bar of fuel pressure, but is currently at 9-11 bar. The high pressure fuel pump is operating at 100% duty cycle, which means it has overheated and been damaged. Metal shavings from the fuel pump then ends up inside of the injectors, ruining them. The low pressure fuel pump may be ok, but it is unclear at this time. **RECOMMEND REPLACING FUEL RAIL, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, INJECTORS WITH SEALS, AND PRESSURE SENSOR **MAY NEED LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP They also noted that the leaking fuel could cause a fire hazard. The fact that this fuel leak happened at only 98,750 miles and that the car continued to be drivable with fuel spraying all over the engine compartment is extremely concerning.
The car started having issues around February 2024. The car first started misfiring and dying at stops which was a safety issue. When parked I noticed that there was an excessive amount of fuel that started coming out of the charcoal canister, another problem that could have resulted in the car catching on fire. The car could not be filled up with more fuel as there was pressurized fuel coming out through the fuel filler neck when the cap was removed. The problem was determined to be related to the currently active recall. I waited for 5 months for there to be a fix for the recall without being able to use the vehicle. I finally got tired of waiting and had my mechanic repair it. The fuel tank and charcoal canister were replaced and the old parts are available for inspection by interested authorities upon request. The car is now fully functional again after replacement of those components.
The vehicle cabin started to smell like gas and the car would not accept fuel into the tank. Took to Audi/VW independent repair shop where they indicated fuel jet pump in gas tank was not working properly and that it had flooded various components with fuel (charcoal cannister, etc.). Directed us not to drive as it was a fire danger and said that we should send to Audi to see if they would cover this under warranty as it was a major emissions and safety problem. Towed to Audi dealer in Dallas. Dallas Audi dealer indicated this sounded like exactly what had happened for a recall issued for 2016 A3s. I learned this was subject to a warranty extension. Am working with the dealer who is trying to determine if that applies. Regardless, this is my daughter's car and a fuel leak with fumes in the cabin is a danger that should be fixed by recall.
Was trying to fill up my car at the gas station. The car would not accept any fuel. Frustrated, I went to try another gas station. Same thing happened. Went home to check and see what the problem was and gas started spewing out of the gas tank from where you fill it up with gas. Car (to my knowledge) has never been overfilled, by me. This is apparently a problem with the 2017 VW golf's as well (which run on the same platform as my Audi A3). It is a problem that most people are saying could be the Charcoal canister prematurely dying, or a suction pump dying, which is supposed to last the lifetime of the vehicle.
On Tuesday, June 7, 2022 my vehicle began having a hard time accelerating, then my vehicle started leaking out gas from the back of the vehicle located in front of the rear passenger tire. I then took the vehicle to Audi West Houston to have a diagnosis. After a day and a half, Audi misdiagnosed my vehicle with ethanal composition too high and recommended that the gas tank be drain. I then took my car to an independent mechanic who replaced the fuel pump. On the way to the independent mechanic for a second opinion, the check engine light surface. I then stopped at the gas station to put gas in the vehicle, but the vehicle would not take fuel even though After the fuel pump repair, the car was still misfiring and gas was still leaking from the rear of the vehicle and gas fumes would be smelled from inside the car. The charcoal canister of the vehicle was changed with OEM parts. The vehicle's sending units were pulled and the fuel level was tested. The vehicle's Leak Defection Pump was then inspected for the fuel intrusion and were not obstructed. The vehicle again began leaking fuel. The purge and vent valves of the vehicle were working properly and the vent filter was wet with fuel. The fuel was being pushed into the charcoal canister from an internal valving issue inside the fuel tank. The independent mechanic then called an authorized Audi dealership who acknowledged similar problems in Audi vehicles. The authorized Audi dealership deemed the car unsafe to drive and suggested that the independent mechanic park the vehicle outside of the mechanic shop because a simply spark could cause the vehicle to easily caught on fire. Audi also acknowledged that there are no available parts for the car as all of them are on indefinitely on backorder. The car is not only an emission issue but also a safety issue with not feasible solution. Furthermore, I live in Texas during an unpredictable drought, even the weather could cause the vehicle to spontaneously combust in flames.
Vehicle tank was almost empty. Was unable to fill the tank because the gas station pump stopped constantly without being full. Took 15 minutes to fill the tank. Fuel came out of my tank and a very unpleasant fuel odor came into the car. When arrived home gasoline came out of the tank again, a significant amount of fuel came out. Fortunately the car didn't catch fire. Took it to a mechanic and the gasoline pump valve was replaced. This valve is under the rear seats. No recall available for my car for this issue. I was told that VW/AUDI knows well about this issue but they didn't include all VIN numbers on this recall. I ended paying $140 for this repair.
I WAS REFILLING MY FUEL TANK OF MY VEHICLE AT GAS STATION, BUT IT KEPT CLICKING OFF WITH THE BACK PRESSURE AS IF THE TANK WAS FULL. I TRIED FILLING SLOWLY TO SEE IF THAT WOULD WORK, IT DID THE SAME THING. . I LEFT AND ON MY WAY ON THE HIGHWAY, A YOUNG MAN SIGNALED ME TO PULL OVER, I WAS HESITANT, BUT DID SO. HE SHOWED ME THAT FUEL WAS DRAINING FROM MY CAR. LUCKILY , I DID NOT HAVE A FIRE AS IT WAS CLOSE TO THE MUFFLER SYSTEM. I GOT IT TO A NEARBY MECHANIC SHOP TO SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM IT WAS NOT A BURST HOSE NOR A TANK LEAK , HOWEVER THEY FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE SIPHON HOSE THAT WAS BLOCKED , IT WAS NOT. THEY TRACED THE FUEL LEAK TO THE EVAP SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS FILLED WITH FUEL. AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT TAKE ANY FUEL BECAUSE BACK PRESSURE, KEPT FORCING THE FUEL OUT. UPON SEEING THAT THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE AUDI DEALER IN CORAL SPRING FLORIDA. I DID SO AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID NO. I POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT THE 2016 AUDI A3 HAS A RECALL THAT IS EXACTLY AS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR. RECALL # 16V647000 THIS WAS ISSUED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF 2016. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DIAGNOSE MY CAR FOR $390.00 I OK"D THAT. THIS IS THEIR DIAGNOSIS: 1 FUEL TANK = S2654.00 PLUS TAX/SS I AM NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT AND CALLED TO AUDI AMERICA AND MADE MY COMPLAINT, THE YOUNG LADY " MORGAN " TOOK MY COMPLAINT AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP RE THEIR ASSESSMENT AND CALL ME BACK. SHE CALLED ME WITH NO REAL ANSWERS EXCEPT TO SAY THAT I HAVE A RIGHT TO A SECOND OPINION. I TOLD HER THAT I INTENDED TO DO SO AND TO MAKE A COMPLAINT TO YOUR AGENCY, AND THE FTC AS THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. SHE SAID IT WAS MY RIGHT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026