AutoDefect IQ

2008 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (23) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (10) · Power Train (3)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

94 /100
✓ Typical or better for this model

Compared against other Audi A3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 10 complaints 10 <25k 25–50k miles: 5 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 1 complaints 50–75k 75–100k miles: 5 complaints 75–100k 100–125k miles: 2 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 0 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 2 complaints 150k+

25 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

43
Complaints
2
Recalls
477
Service bulletins
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Deaths

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 (477)

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.

Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2024-02-07 · A9124632044694_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this bulletin provides information pertaining to mmi navigation database concerns.

Electrical System:adas:parking Assist:software 2023-12-21 · A912306202432310 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this bulletin provides information when the parking assistance provides false warnings.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2023-11-16 · A9023562032113_8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this bulletin provides general information about the outside air temperature reading.

Equipment 2023-11-07 · A0023812070568_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this bulletin provides information on the vas 611 015 pico-nvh tool for professional noise analysis.

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.

Showing the 6 most recent of 477 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

2019-12-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 154,000 mi

“the check engine light illuminated and has not been able to properly diagnose. more than one mechanic has told me the code p0171 that reads as the diagnostic does not correlate with my car as my car does not have a pcv valve. they have inspected the car to look for similar issues and have found none. yet the check engine light remains illuminated. …”

2019-06-28 · Unknown Or Other · 100,000 mi

“takata recall i received notice in january of 2019 that my vehicle was having a second recall on the takata airbags. i immediately attempted to have the repair done at my local dealership; i could not get through. i then contacted audi corporate, who said they left the local dealershiop messages on my behalf; again no response. after calling multi…”

2019-06-28 · Structure:body · 110,000 mi

“excessive rear subframe corrosion that isn't being covered by a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty. the safety issue stems from; a, a proper alignment isn't possible, b the rear subframe is responsible for maintaining the rear geometry of the vehicle, wheels, brakes and suspension.…”

2018-11-15 · Air Bags · 89,000 mi

“hi, i have been getting emails from audi usa about n airbag recall for my audi a3 but everytime i call my audi dealership in santa monica, ca they say they don't have at the store to try another dealership, i told them to call when they have it and it has been three months and they still don't have it. i bought my car there and i guess their costum…”

2018-10-12 · Air Bags

“tl* the contact owns a 2008 audi a3. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the vehicle was taken to audi roanoke (located at 2006 peters creek rd, roanoke, va 24017, (540) 562-0099), but the part was not availa…”

2018-10-12 · Air Bags · 175,000 mi

“i keep getting recall notices, month after month, for about 6 months. i had the interim repair done, and have called now at least three times and they keep telling me the part is not available yet. now i get a notice that says to repair immediately even if an interim repair was recently done. how do i get this done? i keep calling and they kee…”

2018-07-15 · Air Bags

“takata recall i am still receiving notices by mail but nothing has happened yet. i contacted my local audi dealer and they still don't have the parts to replace my airbag. how much longer can wait without putting my family's life in danger. thank you…”

2017-11-08 · Air Bags

“"takata recall" on march 18, 2017, i went in to audi calabasas and spoke with scott gomez, service advisor, and the manager on duty that day, to inquire on having my driver side airbag replace in response to the manufacturer safety recall issued. his response was to try back later. he said he did not expect for any bags to be available for mon…”

2017-08-24 · Air Bags

“takata airbag- i have been given a replacement airbag that is exactly the airbag that has problems. my first letter was feb. 2016 and the problem is still not fully resolved at this time aug.24, 2017. i want a new airbag that will save my life, not take it asap!…”

2017-03-20 · Air Bags

“takata recall dear sir / madam, i would like to inquire about why it is taking over 4 months to have the new parts delivered to my local audi dealer in san francisco ca. the recall 16v079 seems pretty serious as people have been killed by this defect. i have called audi customer service multiple times and they are unable to provide any upd…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Audi A3 years