2020 Audi A3: owner complaints and recalls

Analysis of 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.

16
Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Injuries
25.0
Severity index

Severity index 25.0 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.

What actually fails

ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS956.2%
POWER TRAIN212.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER212.5%
ENGINE16.2%
TIRES16.2%
SEAT BELTS16.2%
WHEELS16.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16.2%

The single most-reported system is AIR BAGS, cited in 9 of 16 complaints (56.2%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.

Complaints filed per year

2021: 52022: 72025: 32026: 121222526
YearComplaints
20215
20227
20253
2026 (year to date)1

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
22V81500031/10/2022TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMSVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas
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
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.