2010 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel System, Diesel (12) · Air Bags (12) · Power Train (9)
🧭 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
37 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.
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.
Fuel System, Diesel 2011-10-03 · campaign 11V490000 · 168,275 vehicles
Defect: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR
Risk: DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Fix: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Service bulletins (812)
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.
Service Brakes 2026-08-21 · TSB_2069078_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-11 · TSB_2079732_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels.
Service Brakes 2026-08-11 · TSB_2072304_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when there is an abs/esc speed sensor implausible signal.
Structure:body 2026-07-09 · TSB_2073282_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.
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
Showing the 6 most recent of 812 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-02-25 · Tires“225/45zr1794w purchased at discount tire. tpms system failed after tire installation. i told the technician and he reset the system. five miles later tpms indicator came on. malfunction tpms. i monitor the tire pressure periodically and the tires seemed fine. while driving on florida 528 to the airport i heard a rumbling and pulled over immediatel…”
2020-10-30 · Unknown Or Other · 100,000 mi“the car shuts off when driving. all power steering, electrical, power brakes, engine...everything. has shut off driving on freeway going 70mph…”
2020-02-08 · Power Train“this 2010 audi a3 tdi equipped with an s tronic direct-shift gearbox will randomly shift into neutral or limp mode and it is not possible to proceed with normal vehicle operation after this occurs without first placing the vehicle in park, turning off the ignition and then restarting the vehicle. these symptoms are indicative of a known defect fo…”
2019-09-18 · Service Brakes · 80,000 mi“related to recall 45f5 abs control module. this vehicle has a failed abs control module that deactivates abs braking systems, electronic stability control, and headlight range control. this specific vin is not included in the affected range per the recall stated above although it demonstrates the same known safety issues.…”
2018-10-23 · Service Brakes · 81,000 mi“i have an audi a3 manufactured in 2009 presenting severe issues with the abs control module. audi has a recall for several audi and vw models manufactured the same year, recall number 16v913000. audi of america was notified however declined responsibility allegedly because my vehicle was not in the specified vin range. although my vehicle is presen…”
2018-10-19 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2010 audi a3. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 16v383000 (air bags). the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair as the recall notice was received over a year ago. the dealer (ourisman chevrolet of rockville, 807 rockvi…”
2018-10-15 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2010 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags). the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact called (audi marin, 700 francisco blvd w, san rafael, ca 94901, 415-460-4100) and was informed that the…”
2018-08-31 · Air Bags“takata recall-the dealership has not had any replacement for the last year and a half, that would replace the bad airbag.…”
2018-07-13 · Structure:body · 96,000 mi · 💥 crash“on june 8 2018 the car was in motion in the city of atlanta driving straight when another car turn improperly causing accident. this cause the car to get involved in a car accident front end. the driver chest hit the steering. which from the that cause the impact of the air bag to improperly inflate but deflated cause burns to right arm. the impact…”
2017-11-11 · Air Bags“takata recall i had taken my automobile to audi of natick in natick, massachusetts for service twice in the spring of 2017, once at the end of may, and once more later in june. both times the dealership offered a "check for active recalls" included with service. both times the dealership did not report any active recalls. i only recently found o…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.