2013 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (9) · Fuel/Propulsion System (2) · Engine (2)
🧭 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 (3)
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.
Service bulletins (864)
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.
Structure:body 2026-09-08 · TSB_2068999_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
Showing the 6 most recent of 864 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-16 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 128,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 audi a3. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly went into limp mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. the contact stated that the glow plugs failed to function and became inoperable. the vehicle was taken to several dealers, where it was diagnosed with exhaust s…”
2022-05-13 · Unknown Or Other“car stalled in fast moving traffic, and then lurched forward. in the stall the car behind me almost ran into me. in the lurch, i almost rear ended someone. fortunate that both times there was no collision. took the vehicle to audi and the car has been diagnosed with failed mechatronic - a $4,000 repair. it was shared that this is a known issue wit…”
2020-01-27 · Exterior Lighting · 58,800 mi“intermittent problems with exterior lighting. i already replaced one of the rear license plate lights (not a bulb issue) and am now experiencing rear passenger side tail light issues where the tail light and directional signal cease working during the driving process and then start working at random. this appears to be a similar electrical issue …”
2019-12-06 · Engine · 69,500 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 audi a3. while driving various speeds, the vehicle shifted into first gear without warning. the vehicle was taken to audi temecula (40955 temecula center dr, temecula, ca 92591, (951) 200-8100) where it was diagnosed that the dps filter needed to be replaced; however, the parts to do the repair were not available. the fa…”
2018-12-07 · Air Bags · 50,000 mi“takata recall - dealer informed me the recall part has been unavailable for 1 year and will continue to be unavailable for an additional 2 - 6 months. no recall maintence is able to be scheduled. the risk associated with this recall is death to the driver. unacceptable.…”
2018-10-17 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2013 audi a3. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 18v084000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. the dealer (audi minneapolis, 9393 wyzata blvd, golden valley, mn 55426) confirmed that parts were not available t…”
2018-10-16 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2013 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. royal automotive group (1525 howard street, san francisco, cali…”
2018-01-05 · Air Bags · 31,000 mi“takata inflator replacement issue on 12/31/2017 i was driving in los angeles under normal conditions when suddenly there was a hissing noise and some kind of particulate matter spewed from around the steering column where there is a join with the wheel. this was directed at my face for 10-15 seconds which i breathed in as i was driving. i am als…”
2017-04-13 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2013 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had n…”
2017-03-09 · Air Bags“we have not yet heard from audi or takata when this recall will be performed. because this car is driven by teenagers, we are very concerned and anxious to get this recall done. please advise. thanks, nick p.s. note that the car was purchased used and was first registered and driven in new jersey from 2013-2016…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.