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2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 A3 Cabriolet.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM-S6)

The 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is a passenger‑car conversion of the compact A3 platform, equipped with a 5.2‑quart engine‑oil capacity that accepts 5W‑40, 5W‑30 or 0W‑40 viscosity grades, and paired to an automatic AM‑S6 transmission; its EPA‑rated fuel economy of 24 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined underscores its efficient engineering. With 176 owner complaints recorded for the year—predominantly concerning air‑bag issues—and a total of seven recalls, the model’s reliability profile for 2015 sits slightly above the brand’s average, suggesting that while the vehicle offers a refined driving experience, attention to its safety components remains essential for prospective owners.

Model year2018201720162015

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-40 / 5W-30 / 0W-40OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/35/28 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · 540-680 CCA battery, OE oil filter 03N198070. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI NS · 540-680 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225/40R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter03N198070 alt 06L115562B
Engine air filter5Q0129620B alt 5Q0129620C
Fuel filter5Q0127177
Spark plug06K905601B
Battery000915089F alt 000915089E
Front wiper blades8V1998002B alt 8V1955425
Serpentine belt06L903137A alt 04L260849AB
Thermostat04L121113C alt WHT007713
Cabin air filter5Q0819669

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174.8 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Curb weight3583 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 35 / 28 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.2 qt of 5W-40 / 5W-30 / 0W-40 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.4 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantAudi coolant G13 TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity8.4
Engine CoolantUse Audi Coolant G13TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity10.5
Engine Oil5W-40 · 5W-30 · 0W-40
Engine Oil Capacity5.2 qt
Engine Oil5W-30

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts6.6
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18.4
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.1 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.4 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Torque22 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Torque22 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity17.12-18.24 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540-680 cca
Optional BCI Cranking Performance640, 680 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Thermostat Opening TemperatureGasoline Engines: 188, Diesel Engines:198 °F
Residual Pressure44 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum87 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum58

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 26; Rear: 26 Use; Front: 22.0; Rear: 26 Use
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 147.5; Rear: 66 Use; Front: 145; Rear: 75 use
ABS Sensor Torque6 / 6.6 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.354; Rear: 0.315 Specifications
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront w/1ZE, 1ZP, 1ZA and 1ZD:

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install new bolt and tighten to 148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180 degrees.148 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install new bolt and tighten to 148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180 degrees.148 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9048 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 35,000 mi.

At 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Headlamp Washer Nozzle (inspect) · Headlamp Washer System (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
At 15,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Convertible Top Latch (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Convertible Top Latch (lubricate) · Diesel Particulate Filter (inspect)
At 35,000 miBrake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 40,000 miBrake Rotor (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 55,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean)
Every 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean)
At 75,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet dominate in one area — the air bags, 55 of 176 reports (31%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the air bags are also the target of recall 21V-198 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1093
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
176
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 176 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags55
Fuel System, Gasoline14
Fuel/Propulsion System13
Electrical System,Air Bags9
Electrical System8
Engine8
Unknown Or Other7
Exterior Lighting6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V198000Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front PassengerReported 22/03/2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system… Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service…

24V110000Fuel System, GasolineReported 14/02/2024

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf… Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1093 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2074640_32026-06-26EngineThis bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2074729_32026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2059335_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2082323_12026-06-10EngineThis bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
TSB_2052680_62026-06-04Unknown Or OtherThis Reporting Obligation requires technicains to contact the Technical Assistance Center…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific A3 Cabriolet. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group NS batteryVehicles taking 5.2 qtEngine oil filter 03N198070Engine air filter 5Q0129620BFuel filter 5Q0127177Spark plug 06K905601B

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2015 A3 Cabriolet take?

5.2 qt of 5W-40, 5W-30 or 0W-40 meeting Audi specification 502 00 or equivalent., per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 A3 Cabriolet have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the A3 Cabriolet get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 35 highway / 28 combined mpg.