2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (7) · Wheels (1) · Tires (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A3 Cabriolet model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2019-06-19 · campaign 19V474000 · 138,896 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2019-02-13 · campaign 19V095000 · 3,326 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A3 sedan and RS3 vehicles. The latching pins for the center rear seat head restraint may be missing.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the head restraint may detach and cause injury to the vehicle occupants.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the head restraints, replacing any that are missing pins, free of charge. The recall began on March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72I8.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2018-12-05 · campaign 18V863000 · 1,104 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply line in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the engine compartment can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the fuel line connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BK.
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2018-11-14 · campaign 18V803000 · 169 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf and Golf R vehicles, and Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles. The rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame.
Risk: If the guide sleeves are incorrectly welded, in the event of a crash, the rear seat head restraints may have reduced stability, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners, and dealers will inspect the guide sleeves for incorrect welds, replacing the rear seat frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. 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 72H8 (VW) and 72H9(Audi).
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2017-08-16 · campaign 17V508000 · 8,383 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and A3 Sedan vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may misinterpret the flywheel rotation on engine start-up as a "knocking" condition, and the adjusted air/fuel mixture may result in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24DF.
Service bulletins (444)
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.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-09-22 · TSB_2020552_15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
Structure:body 2026-09-18 · TSB_2078648_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 444 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-04-15 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 62,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact stated after parking the vehicle, a bystander alerted the contact that there was fuel leaking from the rear passenger's side near the fuel tank. the contact drove the vehicle to a gas station and was unable to refuel the vehicle. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was towed to th…”
2023-11-15 · Electrical System · 60,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact stated while driving in a parking lot, the vehicle stalled. the contact stated that the battery was drained, and the vehicle failed to restart. the contact jumpstarted the vehicle. the battery was replaced. several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where …”
2022-06-30 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v198000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recal…”
2021-11-16 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v198000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount …”
2021-11-16 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 21v198000 (air bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer wa…”
2021-07-01 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v198000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the issue and infor…”
2019-09-23 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v474000 (air bags). the contact stated that audi grapevine (located at 1260 e state hwy 114, grapevine, tx 76051, (817) 354-2834) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that …”
2019-09-04 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 19v474000 (air bags). after contacting the dealer (audi of tyson, 8598 leesburg pike, vienna, va) and the manufacturer, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available. the contact had not experienced a failur…”
2019-08-02 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 19v474000 (air bags). circle audi (located at 1919 n lakewood blvd, long beach, ca 90815, (562) 597-3663) stated that the part was not available. the contact felt that the dealer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufactur…”
2019-02-15 · Tires · 8,101 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3 equipped with continental conti pro contact tx tires, size: 225/40r18 92hxl (na). while driving 55 mph, the front passenger tire thread separated. the vehicle was taken to paul miller audi (179 us-46, parsippany, nj 07054, (973) 575-7750) where the contact was informed that the tire performed as designed; however…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.