AUDI A3 · model year

2010 AUDI A3

60 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010AUDIA3 carries 60 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 A3 is fuel system, diesel with 13 filings, followed by air bags (13) and power train (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2010 A3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

60
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

60 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL13
AIR BAGS13
POWER TRAIN10
ENGINE4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
TIRES2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
SEATS1

Recalls (5)

09V37700030/09/2009

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER

18V08200030/01/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 m

09V33300020/08/2009

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND AUGUST 2009. THE WIRING HARNESS OF A TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN THE DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX (DSG) MAY HAVE CONNECTOR WIRES THAT WERE INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. WITH INSUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED CONNECTOR

16V07900010/02/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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.

11V49000003/10/2011

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

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 SEPTE

Recent Complaints

20230225TIRES

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 immediately. The tire sidewall was cut almost all the way around the tire. I assume from low pressure or tire malfunction. The tire is only a few months old. I am going to visit discount tire today and see what they say/do. I commute 150 miles a day at highway speeds. Fortunately I was able to pull over and not damage my rim. I removed the tire and put the spare on. I was flying to Columbia south America and nearly missed my flight. I have not found any reason the tire lost air pressure. Because this tire was nearly new it should have held air. Had discount tire fully corrected the TPMS system i may have been able to save the tire and not experien

20201030UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN DRIVING. ALL POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL, POWER BRAKES, ENGINE...EVERYTHING. HAS SHUT OFF DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING 70MPH

Mileage: 100,000

20200208POWER 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 FOR THIS MODELS POWER TRAIN AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS TESTIMONIES ON THE WEB FROM AUDI AND VW OWNERS WHOSE 2009/2010 VEHICLES ARE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS, YET WHO ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE AUDI RECALL #'S 37E3/S7 & 37E5/J7 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #09V333000) DO NOT APPLY TO THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO THEIR HAVING BEEN BUILT OUTSIDE THE BUILD DATE PARAMETERS OF THE RECALL. IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM AUDI AND VW OWNERS THAT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR HARNESSES WERE INSTALLED IN VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL PARAMETERS AND AUDI AND VW ARE NOT WILLING TO AUTHORIZE DEALERS TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE OF

20190918SERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 80,000

20181023SERVICE BRAKES

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 PRESENTING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THOSE ON THE RECALL AUDI IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY UNNERVING AS THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. FORTUNATELY THE CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP ON TIME AVOIDING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ASIDE FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING LOSES POSITION AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. FURTHERMORE THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED, THIS IS VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO WHY THERE WILL BE A NEW PART NUMBER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL IF ALLEGEDLY THERE'S NO PROBLEMS WITH MINE...?

Mileage: 81,000

20181023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 PRESENTING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THOSE ON THE RECALL AUDI IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY UNNERVING AS THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. FORTUNATELY THE CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP ON TIME AVOIDING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ASIDE FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING LOSES POSITION AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. FURTHERMORE THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED, THIS IS VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO WHY THERE WILL BE A NEW PART NUMBER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL IF ALLEGEDLY THERE'S NO PROBLEMS WITH MINE...?

Mileage: 81,000

20181023POWER TRAIN

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 PRESENTING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THOSE ON THE RECALL AUDI IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY UNNERVING AS THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. FORTUNATELY THE CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP ON TIME AVOIDING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ASIDE FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING LOSES POSITION AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. FURTHERMORE THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED, THIS IS VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO WHY THERE WILL BE A NEW PART NUMBER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL IF ALLEGEDLY THERE'S NO PROBLEMS WITH MINE...?

Mileage: 81,000

20181019AIR 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 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20852, (301) 637-6496) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A POSTCARD FROM THE AUDI MANUFACTURER, ALERTING HER THAT THEY HAD THE PARTS. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED AT OURISMAN CHEVROLET OF ROCKVILLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20181015AIR 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 PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WAIT TIME FOR THE PARTS WAS TOO LONG. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20180831AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL-THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT HAD ANY REPLACEMENT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, THAT WOULD REPLACE THE BAD AIRBAG.

20180713CrashAIR BAGS

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 ALSO CAUSE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT TO OPEN. FRONT AND SIDE DAMAGE TO BODY OF CAR

Mileage: 96,000

20180713CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

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 ALSO CAUSE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT TO OPEN. FRONT AND SIDE DAMAGE TO BODY OF CAR

Mileage: 96,000

20180713CrashSEATS

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 ALSO CAUSE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT TO OPEN. FRONT AND SIDE DAMAGE TO BODY OF CAR

Mileage: 96,000

20171111AIR 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 OUT THAT THE RECALL FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE WAS POSTED TO AUDI IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. I KNOW THE REPLACEMENT WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED FOR MY PARTICULAR CAR. I THINK THIS BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THE DEALERSHIP, AUDI OF NATICK IS NEGLIGENT, AND VERY DANGEROUS.

20171104AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 04/28/2016 BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED.

Mileage: 96,000

20170919POWER TRAIN

AT SLOW SPEEDS & WHEN STOPPED WITH VEHICLE IN GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERS) THE TRANSMISSION JERKS, CLUNKS, FEELS LIKE IT'S ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. IT IS DANGEROUS - ESPECIALLY WHEN STOPPED OR PARKING AS THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON THE GEAR YOU ARE IN. UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS ONLY RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO MY OWN VEHICLE - NOT TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON.

Mileage: 70,000

20170622AIR BAGS

I'VE BEEN CALLING FOR MONTHS & MONTHS TO HAVE THIS RECALL FIXED. I'M ALWAYS TOLD THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I NEED TO HAVE THIS FIXED!! IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. FORD SHOULD FIND A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM OR OFFER TO REPLACE THE CAR AT NO COST TO ME. I FEAR THAT IF THIS PART IS NOT REPLACED, THAT MY FAMILY MAY BE HARMED BY THE RUPTURED INFLATOR. SEE THE RECALL NOTICE BELOW: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION> 16V079 RECALL DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 69N2 SUMMARY: TAKATA HAS REPORTED THAT THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR COULD POTENTIALLY RUPTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY. IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. SAFETY RISK: AS REPORTED BY TAKATA: IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUS

20170503POWER TRAIN

FULL TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Mileage: 102,000

20161222AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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 NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ UPDATED 06/23/2017 *JS

20161021AIR BAGS

TAKATA AIRBAGS: AUDI NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2016 BUT SAID THERE WAS NO FIX. THE AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 2 TO 2 AND 1/2 YEARS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR; I WANT IT FIXED.

Compare 2010AUDIA3 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 AUDI A3 have?
The 2010 AUDI A3 has 60 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 AUDI A3?
Yes, the 2010 AUDI A3 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 AUDI A3?
The most-complained component for the 2010 AUDI A3 is FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2010 AUDI A3 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.