2019 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seats (2) · Fuel System, Gasoline (2) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
🧭 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)
Fuel System, Gasoline 2024-02-14 · campaign 24V110000 · 261,257 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. 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 VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and re
Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 2022-10-31 · campaign 22V815000 · 296,044 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirem
Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2021-03-22 · campaign 21V198000 · 153,152 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
Service bulletins (664)
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.
Electrical System 2026-09-18 · TSB_2068573_6 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the rear parking sensor sometimes does not work, rear parking sensor loose, rear parking sensor fault message.
Showing the 6 most recent of 664 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-12-09 · Power Train · 34,500 mi“the contact owns a 2019 audi a3. the contact stated that while driving 65 mph for a 50-mile trip, the message "transmission failure" displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. the transmission then inadvertently switched from automatic to manual transmission mode and became stuck in second gear. additionally, the vehicle jerked and …”
2025-01-06 · Exterior Lighting“the headlight assembly failed and manufacturer accepts no responsibility and quoted astronomical repair cost. this should not have been an issue with such new components. i've seen many vehicles like mine with the same problem.…”
2024-05-24 · Fuel System, Gasoline“the contact owns a 2019 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v110000 (fuel system, gasoline); 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 was made aware of the issue and confirmed…”
2024-05-20 · Fuel System, Gasoline“the contact owns a 2019 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v110000 (fuel system, gasoline) 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 was made aware of the issue and confirmed …”
2023-03-04 · Fuel/Propulsion System“my vehicle stalls while driving twice in a row several times a week. check engine code p0148 indicating a fuel system error. took my vehicle to the audi dealership but because my husband had cleared the code, nothing could be done. my vehicle stalling multiple times in a row, several times a week not only poses a safety risk to myself as the driver…”
2022-08-19 · Seats“audi has stated there are no parts available to address the pods recall 21v198 since march 2021. my dealership sold my vehicle to me at the end of my lease without having addressed this safety recall. …”
2021-05-11 · Seats · 13,500 mi“i was driving my car with my friend in the passenger seat. all of a sudden car started made a beeping sound and my dashboard said something about safety feature being turned off/limited. also the passenger airbag off light turned on even when the passenger seat was occupied. the vehicle was already in motion. this created an unsafe situation as pas…”
2021-03-02 · Visibility/Wiper · 11,700 mi“i purchased a 2019 audi a3 on january 18, 2021 (vin [xxx]) from audi denver. i replaced the windshield 2/19/2021, was told the windshield had been replaced at least once before (2/2020 at the dealership) and 2 weeks after replacing the windshield, have a new crack that is quickly spreading. 4 unrepairable windshields with only 11k miles on the vehi…”
2020-06-09 · Unknown Or Other · 12,946 mi“i was driving on nj turnpike on a 75 mile trip back home and after into 55 miles of the trip, the vehicle completely lost power.. i was going about 65 miles or so and it was extremely scary and dangerous. with the grace of god, i was able to use the momentum to make it to a side lane between the travel lanes and merge lane off of the ramp, the ar…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.