2018 Audi A3 problems and recalls

55% of owner complaints on the 2018 Audi A3 related to the Air Bags (24 of 44).

44
Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
56.2
Severity index

Severity index 56.2 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 56.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 61 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 50% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 24 complaints (54.5%)24 55%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 5 complaints (11.4%)5 11%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 5 complaints (11.4%)5 11%EngineEngine: 4 complaints (9.1%)4 9%TiresTires: 4 complaints (9.1%)4 9%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (9.1%)4 9%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 3 complaints (6.8%)3 7%SeatsSeats: 2 complaints (4.5%)2 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS2454.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM511.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM511.4%
ENGINE49.1%
TIRES49.1%
POWER TRAIN49.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER36.8%
SEATS24.5%

Complaints filed per year

08162018: 22019: 42020: 12021: 162022: 72023: 52024: 32025: 52026: 1 (partial year)18192021162223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20182
20194
20201
202116
20227
20235
20243
20255
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (13 against 24).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V19800022/03/2021AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even
24V11000014/02/2024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 20

Other Audi A3 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.