2008 AUDI A3 WITH 2.0 ENGINE AND 6-SPD AUTO DSG GEARBOX. DURING SUMMER OF 2009 STARTED HAVING PROBLEM IN WHICH FROM A STOP (RED LIGHT, ETC.), WHEN LETTING OFF THE BRAKE AND GIVING IT GAS IT WOULD HESITATE FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY JERKING OR LURCHING (SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY) INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES IT WOULD JERK TWICE. ALSO THE DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST IS SOMEWHAT ROUGH. THE PROBLEM IS STILL PR…
2008 Audi A3 powertrain problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
SINCE PURCHASE AS A CPO IN EARLY 2009, MY 2008 AUDI A3 AND ITS DSG TRANSMISSION HAVE EXHIBITED IRREGULAR AND DANGEROUS SHIFTING BEHAVIOR. THE TRANSMISSION SURGES UNPREDICTABLY AT LOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IN 1ST OR REVERSE WITH BRAKES OFF AND LITTLE/NO GAS. THIS LOW SPEED SURGING BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC AS THE CAR OFTEN UNPREDICTABLY JUMPS TOWARDS OTHER VEHICLES. ALSO ON SEV…
2008 AUDI A3 3.2 DSG: TRANSMISSION WOULD DROP VIOLENTLY FORCING A REDUCTION IN SPEED. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR SOMETIMES WOULD NOT LET THE CAR ACCELERATE...ENGINE REVOLUTIONS WOULD NOT RISE. DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED CONSISTENTLY. TAKING TWO BOTH DEALERSHIPS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (THE COLLECTION AND PRESTIGE). THE SERVICE EVENTUALLY DID NOTHING TO THE CAR. AUDI WOULD NOT HONOR ANY SERVICE…
I HAVE AN AUDI A3 2008 2.0 MODEL THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 11/07. I STARTED EXPERIENCING A HESITATION WITH THE TRANSMISSION A FEW MONTHS AGO. BASICALLY, FROM A ROLLING START IN 1ST GEAR, THERE CAN BE A JERKY ACTION WITH THE CAR. I DON'T THINK THIS IS TURBO LAG BECAUSE I CAN HEAR THE CLUTCH TRYING TO CATCH ONTO THE GEAR. ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN I SLOW THE CAR DOWN (I.E. 40 MPH TO 0 MPH)…
FROM A STOP, OR SLOW SPEEDS, TRANSMISSION WAS LURCHING W/OUT AN APPARENT PATTERN. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Audi A3?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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