2012 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (31) · Exterior Lighting (5) · Fuel/Propulsion System (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-12-04 · campaign 19V862000 · 226 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
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 (882)
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 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
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 2026-08-26 · TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Showing the 6 most recent of 882 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-06-11 · Exterior Lighting“the tail light bulbs melts plastic and can cause fire. my light indicator came on. when i checked the bulb, the internal structure was melted. i ordered exact model from a junk yard. when i received, i noticed it had the same issue and the internal structure was melting from heat of light bulb. both left and right tail light structures were me…”
2022-01-04 · Air Bags“air bag came on in dash. even though the air bag was recalled and fixed by dealer…”
2019-07-07 · Air Bags“this car was totally destroyed in 2012 and therefore no longer needs the airbag recall to be accomplished. please remove this recall notice from the database.…”
2019-04-04 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2012 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v079000 (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 carlsbad (5425 paseo del norte, carlsbad, ca 92008, (760) 438-9490) was…”
2018-12-08 · Air Bags · 90,000 mi · 💥 crash“i have had a recall on my vehicle and have been trying to get it replaced at audi since 2016, i have sent emails to the general manager and they kept saying "they do not have the airbags in stock". i have tried another auid and gert the same answer.…”
2018-11-12 · Air Bags · 60,000 mi“takata recall i received recall information for the takata airbag in my vehicle. - i called audi stevens creek 888-462-7410 as instructed to schedule repair - audi said they are not doing the repair as no airbags have been provided by audi america - there is no eta when repair may be done the stevens creek audi dealership refused to sched…”
2018-11-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System“carbon buildup on fuel injectors after 60k, dealership is denying extended warranty coverage. it's common issue with di engines, the manufacturer should be responsible for the maintenance.…”
2018-10-18 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2012 audi a3. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. the dealer (rusnak pasadena audi, 267 w colorado boulevard, pasadena, ca 91105) confirmed that the part was not av…”
2018-10-15 · Air Bags“takata recall. last year i specifically made an appointment with audi tampa (105 e fowler ave, tampa, fl) for this purpose on august 9 2017. the service manager at the time, even though they knew why i was there said they had run out and not to worry that the recall isn't that bad. i am frustrated that a year later i am reminded that this still …”
2018-07-20 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2012 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. the dealer (audi chandler, 7460 w orchid ln, chandler, az 852…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.