From the rtl-SDR web site. USB 3.0 ports don’t work
Unfortunately many USB 3.0 controllers are buggy and don’t work with some devices. Generally, USB 3.0 works fine with the RTL-SDR, but there are some controllers that will just recognise the dongle. In this case use a USB 2.0 port instead.
Mine work fine on USB 3.0 ports (The same NooElec dongles, Transformer Book T100TA with docking station attached). They also work through a USB 3.0 hub attached to the same machine. I'd also suspect the controller hardware.