I have a 2012 Audi A3 TDI, the hood is stuck shut and the latch will not release from the cable. You can hear the cable move at the front when you pull the release under the dash, but it does not release the latch.

We have tried several things,
-Removed drivers side inner fender, found rood release cable and tried pulling adding tension from there.
-Removed plastic panned underneath car and tried to go from the bottom(lock is not visible from bottom as it is mounted on top/front side of core support)
-shimmed hood open to remove bolts on latch (bolts come from backside of core support/latch)
-removed release arm under dash and pulled with vise grip.

We see lots of suggestions for other models/years, but none of those methods have worked.

Can't go through the grill from the front either, if anyone has had success with getting into a 2012 Audi A3 TDI Hood please share!

 

After a couple of days of thinking and thinking around, I was able to get the hood open. Had to remove the fan from underneath, four bolts, not easy to get to the passenger side top one. Unplugged the fan and dropped it out the bottom.
Was then able to lay on the floor under the car and reach up from behind the radiator and find the three bolts that hold the latch in. They are not visible as they are above the radiator, you have to feel for them. They are torx. After removing them (which took some time and a lot of stretching) he hood swung free.

I hope this save someone else some time!