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Audi A3Model year report

2018 Audi A3 Problems

Compared with other Audi A3 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

24/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
33filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
23,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
29 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Audi A3 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2018 Audi A3. The part named most often is air bags, with 17 complaints (52% of the total), followed by fuel system (5) and electrical system (4). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 23,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 641 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the front passenger and 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign, 1 NHTSA investigation and 17 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 8 Audi A3 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 24 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Forward collision avoidance (1), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “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 miles

Fuel system: “On initial start, occasionally the car will become inactive while driving (sometimes stalls/sputters & sometimes just doesn't advance even while pressing on the gas pedal). Often the car spontaneously responds within seconds if it has not stalled, but recently now it stalls and sputters, then needs to be restarted. I was pulling out of a parking lot into traffic with safe distance, when the car became dormant and stalled. Luckily, there was a center lane that I could coast into to avoid causing a serious accident. …”

NHTSA complaint #11396648, filed 2021-02, 40,000 miles

Electrical system: “Audi had a recall on my 2018 A3 for a Passenger Occupant Detection System. in July 2023, Audi replaced the PODS Sensor mat. Recently, the same car has encountered the same issue. The PODS light indicates the airbag is off even if a passenger is sitting in the seat. There has been not repair work since July 2023, that would impact the PODS. And the warning lights reappeared after a period of normalcy. I feel this is an incomplete recall remedy and Audi is now wanting to charge me for the repair”

NHTSA complaint #11668621, filed 2025-06

Engine: “Hello, I dropped my car off at Audi and Dominion in San Antonio Texas on Thursday July 10th for a repair this was a recall for the fuel pump system in something in the mechatronic controls. They had my car until Saturday I was informed that the repairs were done under warranty. Then on Saturday July 19th as I began to drive the vehicle a alert for my transmission malfunction appeared on my dashboard and I Lost first gear. …”

NHTSA complaint #11675534, filed 2025-07

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 34,400 miles.

20%0–1040%10–2540%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 23,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

202020211320222023202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Audi A3. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
A3 · sedan AWD★★★★★4 / 5554 · 10.9% risk
A3 · sedan FWD★★★★★4 / 5554 · 10.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 Audi A3 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
A3 FWD2.0L 4-cyl7-speed automatic263529$2,300
A3 quattro AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic243127$2,500
A3 e-tron FWD1.4L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid6-speed automatic343936 gas only—

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2018 Audi A3 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 641 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 641 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi A3

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20255—0—28—Too new
2023757,0832—32—Too new
2022926,0006—32—Not enough data
2020167,0003530—Falling
20191013,2233529—Not enough data
20183323,000252924 · FewerFalling
20174448,500252919 · FewerFalling
20168362,300352720 · FewerFalling
20159363,50025278 · FewerFalling
20132050,0003—24—Falling
20124366,5574—2450 · TypicalFalling
20114350,1004—2473 · MoreFalling
20105048,5005—2499 · MoreFalling
20094772,5005—2478 · MoreFalling
20084325,0003—2582 · MoreStable
20075262,0003—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200612372,0004—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200462,6500———Not enough data

All Audi A3 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Audi A3 have?

NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2018 Audi A3 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Audi A3 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 17 complaints (52% of the total), followed by fuel system with 5.

Has the 2018 Audi A3 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Audi A3 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Audi A3 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi A3 get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Audi A3 (A3, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 26 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Audi A3 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 23,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 34,400 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.