2007 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (30) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (8) · Power Train (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
23 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2018-01-30 · campaign 18V082000 · 162,782 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-10 · campaign 16V079000 · 151,767 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Service bulletins (375)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights 2023-10-30 · A9423672071954_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information pertaining to when there are foreign objects inside of a headlight or taillight.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-10-04 · A0023742052680_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-28 · DC_AudiRingsV12 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
inside the rings | volume 12, spring 2023
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_MA_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the massachusetts dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,907 audi owners in the state of massachusetts on march 13, 2023.
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_NM_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the new mexico dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 389 audi owners in the state of new mexico on march 13, 2023.
Showing the 6 most recent of 375 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-07-25 · Suspension · 180,000 mi“my car stald on me at a shopping center located on 32nd street north of mcdowell rd in phoenix,az. it anti locked on me and was not able to start vehicle. due to this my car was towed from establishment to a tow garage and is still thier. im unable to take it out due to i dont have the amount to pay it due to i am a single parent and i dont have a …”
2019-09-03 · Power Train · 105,000 mi“car is bucking and gears are slipping while in motion. issue has continued to get worse. this is my first audi & might be my last.…”
2019-04-25 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2007 audi a3. the contact stated that a recall notice was received for nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags). after contacting mckenna audi (10850 firestone blvd, norwalk, ca), the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available. the manufacturer was not contacted…”
2018-11-14 · Air Bags · 140,000 mi“takata recall. i have scheduled with my local audi dealer two times to have this airbag recall replacement completed, and both times, they have called me to inform me that they a) do not have the parts, and b) do not know when they will get them. this happened again for the second time today, 11/14/2018 with royal motors san francisco. accor…”
2018-11-09 · Fuel/Propulsion System“"takata recall" - i have been getting notices for a year and still can't get this work performed. i have contacted (800) 253-2834 and they still haven't gotten back to me. nhsta campaign number: 16v079000. fuel tank ventilation valve nhtsa campain number: 09v37700 never got notice on this recall till i went on your site. i need to know i…”
2018-10-22 · Air Bags“takata recall i have called the audi dealer to get my defective airbag replaced in june. i have made repeated calls to see when i can have this replaced. the dealer advised they only receive the parts intermittently and will advise us when we are next on the list for replacement. it is october and still have not received replacement. this is my ma…”
2018-10-19 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2007 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. audi south coast (1425 auto mall dr, santa ana, ca 92705, (71…”
2018-10-16 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2007 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags). the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. audi raleigh (4000 capital hills drive, raleigh, north carolina 27616, (888) 803-8545) was notified and stated that…”
2018-10-16 · Air Bags“takata recall - this recall is 2 years old. audi still does not have parts to repair my affected vehicle. they do not know when they will have parts. when will i be able to get my car repaired? will i ever be able to get my car repaired?…”
2018-10-15 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2007 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. the dealer (audi of lexington, 3000 pink pigeon pkwy, lexington, ky 40509, 859-264-0697) was unable to verify wh…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.