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Electrical systemPart report

2018 Audi A3 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
12%of 33 total for the year
Median mileage
40,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Audi A3, 12% of the 33 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“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

“appointment Aug2022 to take car for recall work of the PODS sensor mat & to update the PODS control module but was told the part was out of stock due to logistics. Why they scheduled appointment without confirming the part was in stock. I was then told before I left that there was a couple hundred cars needing this recall and that there would be a waiting list for recall work and that I would get a call to be put on a waiting list, never received a call. Then 6 months later in Feb 2023, I received another letter from Audi informing me again of the recall 69BY & a new recall item 24Wi. …”

NHTSA complaint #11539014, filed 2023-08

“The vehicle pre-sense stopped the vehicle due to the detection of an object however, there was no object. This happened going forward and in reverse multiple times, causing the car to come to a sudden, abrupt stop even at speeds in excess of 30mph. This resulting in my teen daughter having bruising from the seat belt. The car was taken to the dealership and the dealership recalibrated the control unit. The vehicle continues to unnecessarily activate pre-sense when in reverse, and causes the car to come to an abrupt halt despite there being no object. The system may be responding to shadows. …”

NHTSA complaint #11582606, filed 2024-04

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025120%
2023457%
2022444%
202016%
2019110%
2018412%
20171227%
20161619%
20151718%
2012614%
201149%
201024%
2009511%
200812%
200712%
200665%

Other parts of the 2018 Audi A3

Air bags
17 complaints
Fuel system
5 complaints
Engine
4 complaints
Other or unknown
4 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
4 complaints
Tires
3 complaints
Seats
2 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
1 complaints
Seat belts
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Audi A3

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology