21 NHTSA safety recalls cover the Audi A3, across model years 2005–2023. Every recall repair is free at any Audi dealer.
Is yours affected? Check your A3 by VIN — or pick your model year below for every recall, complaint and fix.
Recalls and owner complaints by model year
Of the Audi A3 model years, the 2016 has the most recalls (6); the 2015 drew the most owner complaints (180).
Recalls: NHTSA campaigns covering each Audi A3 model year on this page. Complaints: owner reports filed with NHTSA for that model year, including trims and variants sold under the model name (e.g. an F-150 page counts F-150 Raptor). Separate scales: compare the shape, not the heights across panels.
| Model year | Recalls | Owner complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | no data |
| 2006 | 3 | no data |
| 2007 | 3 | no data |
| 2008 | 3 | no data |
| 2009 | 5 | no data |
| 2010 | 5 | 50 |
| 2011 | 4 | 43 |
| 2012 | 4 | 43 |
| 2013 | 3 | 20 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 180 |
| 2016 | 6 | 119 |
| 2017 | 4 | 71 |
| 2018 | 4 | 45 |
| 2019 | 4 | 15 |
| 2020 | 3 | 17 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 9 |
| 2023 | 1 | 7 |
| 2024 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| 2027 | 0 | 0 |
What these recalls fix, grouped by the vehicle system NHTSA files them under:
Volkswagen Group recalls 2023 Audi S5 models with deactivated front passenger air bags that won't deploy during crashes, risking injury. Owners must contact dealers for free replacement of the seat occupant detection system control module.
Audi A3 (2020) vehicles with a fuel leak risk fire if near ignition sources. Dealers will replace the suction pump free of charge.
Volkswagen Group recalls 2020 Audi A3s with potential tire pressure monitoring system failure, increasing crash risk. Owners must update TPMS software for safety.
Audi is recalling certain 2021-2022 A6 Allroad models due to rearview camera display failure that reduces rear visibility, increasing crash risk. Owners must have the infotainment unit replaced free of charge.
Volkswagen Group recalls 2016 Audi S3 vehicles with front passenger air bag safety risks. Improper deployment may cause serious injury or death. Owners must have air bag module replaced by dealers.
When the Audi A3 recalls were issued, by year — a cluster usually means one defect recalled in stages or across a platform.
Owners have filed 627 complaints with NHTSA about the Audi A3; the most reported area is air bags. These are reports, not recalls: they are how NHTSA spots defects.
We have 21 NHTSA safety recalls on record for the Audi A3, covering model years 2005–2023. The most recent was issued Mar 4, 2024 (Air Bags).
The 2016 Audi A3 has the most, with 6 recalls on record. Every model year with a recall is listed on this page with links to each one.
By system: Air Bags (8), Fuel System, Gasoline (4), Back Over Prevention (2), Tires (1).
None of these recalls carries an NHTSA do-not-drive or park-outside warning, but each fixes a safety defect, so book the free repair promptly.
Run a VIN recall check: enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact year, then confirm at NHTSA.gov which are still unrepaired on your vehicle. Any Audi dealer can also look it up.
Yes. Federal law requires Audi to fix safety recalls free of charge at any authorized Audi dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had.