2009 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (18) · Power Train (11) · Service Brakes (7)
🧭 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
24 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
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.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2016-12-20 · campaign 16V913000 · 135,683 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
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 (579)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-22 · TSB_2070568_6 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the vas 611 015 pico-nvh tool
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-19 · TSB_2070568_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the vas 611 015 pico-nvh tool
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-10 · TSB_2070568_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the vas 611 015 pico-nvh tool
Engine 2025-03-12 · TSB_2075530_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds.
Electrical System 2024-12-06 · A2724842074729_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information in circumstances where there are noises/vibration from front of vehicle in dynamic mode.
Showing the 6 most recent of 579 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-12-13 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock:abs Warning Light · 67,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 audi a3. the contact stated while driving approximately 20 mph, the traction control and abs control module warning lights were illuminated. the local dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. the contact stated that the fail…”
2022-09-06 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated unable to control or stop crashed into bush 2014 audi checked said no issuue vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags audi checked said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a full stop at a light anothet auto in front audi suddenly switched gear and started to accelerate would…”
2022-03-13 · Power Train“i had purchased the car back in august 17th 2021 my power steering my brakes my airbag light and the fuel system fuel leak started happening all at once water was draining out of the middle of the engine . it overheating the engine speed ball down and i automatically i instantly pulled over and turned it off and towed it home 2 days after i bought …”
2021-10-23 · Power Train“dsg transmission will abruptly shift down to first gear and would not respond in any other gear. the shift indicator in the dashboard will light up and blink and the check engine light will come on. there are no warnings before this happens and it will happen at random times. it has happen in separate occasions while traveling at different speeds. …”
2021-01-26 · Power Train“the wiring harness of a temperature sensor in the dsg may have connector wires that were insufficiently crimped by the connector supplier during a limited production period. with insufficiently crimped connector wires, a temperature sensor has the potential to falsely detect a high gearbox oil temperature, causing the clutch to open and can cause t…”
2020-04-23 · Power Train · 10,000 mi“purchased car in 2010 with around 10,000 miles on it. a few months after purchasing, check engine light would illuminate, vehicle would have a noticeable decrease in power and not accelerate over about 40mph. sometimes after shutting car off and restarting problem would go away, other times it would not. vehicle taken to audi dealership car purchas…”
2020-01-20 · Power Train · 100,120 mi“driving 30 minutes into the highway, the vehicle decided to shift into neutral while the vehicle was in "d" drive and in motion. the "prnds" started flashing on my dash, while not letting me accelerate going 65mph. i had to quickly slowdown, and pull over to the emergency lane. the vehicle seems to have gone into "limp mode". after turning off the …”
2019-08-21 · Engine · 95,000 mi“audi / vw had a class action lawsuit on this cars timing chain and timing chain tensioner. the extended warranty has expired. mine broke at 95000 miles. so i'm sure there are other audi owners that don't even know this happened. this is costing me over 1000$. and should of been a full recall, not this other bs. it is leaving us high and d…”
2019-08-17 · Power Train · 61,200 mi“transmission goes into neutral while at highway speeds. engine rpms jump to redline while car is in neutral, then goes back into gear. has happen several times while on the highway. transmission also kicks down to lowest gear when coming at stop, jerking the car while braking.…”
2019-04-29 · Service Brakes · 109,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 audi a3. the contact stated that the abs and stability control failed to function properly and made the vehicle unstable to drive. bell audi (782 us-1, edison, nj 08817, (732) 388-2800) and the manufacturer indicated that the vehicle was excluded from nhtsa campaign number: 16v913000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electroni…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.