Audi A3 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 727 consumer complaints across the 18 model years of the Audi A3 (2004–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2006 has the most, with 123. Across all years, the part named most often is air bags (338 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All A3 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | — | 0 | 464 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 7 | 57,083 | 2 | 739 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 9 | 26,000 | 6 | 823 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 16 | 7,000 | 3 | 731 | — | Falling |
| 2019 | 10 | 13,223 | 3 | 664 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 33 | 23,000 | 2 | 641 | 24 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2017 | 44 | 48,500 | 2 | 592 | 19 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2016 | 83 | 62,300 | 3 | 507 | 20 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2015 | 93 | 63,500 | 2 | 596 | 8 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 20 | 50,000 | 3 | 863 | — | Falling |
| 2012 | 43 | 66,557 | 4 | 882 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 43 | 50,100 | 4 | 853 | 73 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 50 | 48,500 | 5 | 812 | 99 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 47 | 72,500 | 5 | 579 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 43 | 25,000 | 3 | 477 | 82 · More | Stable |
| 2007 | 52 | 62,000 | 3 | 375 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 123 | 72,000 | 4 | 350 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 6 | 2,650 | 0 | 62 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Air bags338 42%
- Transmission and drivetrain125 15%
- Fuel system115 14%
- Electrical system85 10%
- Engine59 7.3%
- Other or unknown41 5.0%
- Exterior lighting29 3.6%
- Seats21 2.6%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2015: “My car keeps having a safety system fault. There are two errors: 1. The paasenger airbag off indicator stays on even when a passenger is in the front passenger seat 2. Buckle seatbelt sign is on when there is no passenger I took my car for a recall but it did not fix the issue of the airbag being off! This has been happening for quite some time.”
NHTSA complaint #11318915, filed 2020-03, 36,000 miles2018: “I've been waiting since march for Audi nj to repair my airbag (pods) and it's already may 1st this is absurd and completely on the hands of Audi and Audi only. I don't want to risk having anyone in my passenger seat and god forbid get into an accident and it would be on my hands. Audi has to step it up because I'm more than sure I'm not the only one waiting for this to be available to service our cars.”
NHTSA complaint #11414765, filed 2021-05, 7,280 miles2006: “Takata recall I live on the island of maui and Audi USA has still not provided service technicians to replace recalled takata airbags. They expect residents to ship their cars to oahu at $600 for the recall! We have trained Audi service techs at the maui volkswagon dealer karmart, but Audi USA will not approve them to do the service.”
NHTSA complaint #11098702, filed 2018-05, 38,000 milesOther Audi models
2,893 complaintsAudi A6
1,653 complaintsAudi Q5
1,348 complaintsAudi Q7
1,052 complaintsAudi S4
577 complaintsAudi A5
324 complaintsAudi TT
306 complaintsAudi A4 Allroad
243 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology