AUDI A3 · model year

2013 AUDI A3

24 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013AUDIA3 carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 A3 is air bags with 10 filings, followed by engine (3) and fuel/propulsion system (3). 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 3 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 2013 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.

24
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: Not Rated/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS10
ENGINE3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recalls (3)

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

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.

19V86200004/12/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 degradat

Recent Complaints

20220513POWER TRAIN

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 with Audi for my model year (faulty mechatronic), and as such has been recalled in several countries, but not the US. I called Audi USA and was informed that yes it is a known issue and has been recalled in other countries, but that NHTSA has not required Audi USA to open a recall here, and so they can't help me. I'm asking for some assistance. Thank you very much

20220513UNKNOWN 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 with Audi for my model year (faulty mechatronic), and as such has been recalled in several countries, but not the US. I called Audi USA and was informed that yes it is a known issue and has been recalled in other countries, but that NHTSA has not required Audi USA to open a recall here, and so they can't help me. I'm asking for some assistance. Thank you very much

20200127EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 LIKE THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. THE TAIL LIGHT & DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FAILURE ARE DANGEROUS AS THE FAILURES OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN.

Mileage: 58,800

20191206ENGINE

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 FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190810653. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,500.

Mileage: 69,500

20181207AIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 50,000

20181017AIR 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 TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20181016AIR 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, CALIFORNIA, (415) 241-8100) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20180105AIR BAGS

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 ALSO "CONCERNED" ABOUT THE NATURE AND CONTENTS OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER, AND, THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT OR THAT IT MIGHT INFLATE WITHOUT ANY REASON OF ITS OWN ACCORD. *TT *TR

Mileage: 31,000

20170413AIR 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 NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170309AIR 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

20161005AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL- 16V079 RECALL DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2016 MY VEHICLE IS ALMOST 4 YEARS OLD AND NO DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO REMEDY THIS UNSAFE AND POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE AIRBAG.

20161005UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL- 16V079 RECALL DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2016 MY VEHICLE IS ALMOST 4 YEARS OLD AND NO DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO REMEDY THIS UNSAFE AND POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE AIRBAG.

20160825AIR BAGS

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT MY AIRBAG WAS RECALLED 6 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY FIX AVAILABLE. PLEASE ADVISE.

20160824AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN APRIL OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ UPDATED 09/1/2017*JS

20160818VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,580.

Mileage: 51,580

20160323AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160209VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2013 AUDI A3 TDI., SERVICED FOR 65K MAINTENANCE 10/31/15. NEXT DAY , THE CAR BEGAN ABRUPTLY LOOSING FORWARD MOMENTUM UNDER ACCELERATION, AND DIED IN AN INTERSECTION. TOWED TO AUDI, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BAD DIESEL. THEY FLUSHED THE DIESEL AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. (KROGER DENIED MY BAD DIESEL CLAIM.) ON 11/2/15, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SAME ISSUES. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR AND REPLACED IT. ONE MONTH LATER, 11/6/15, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WITH THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT FLASHING. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID IT IS WAS THROTTLE SENSOR FAULT. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART, AND TOLD ME IT WAS 'SAFE TO DRIVE'. IN THE TIME BETWEEN, I WOULD REGULARLY EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM WHILE ACCELERATING UP HILLS. I HAD THE WORK DONE 1/7/16. 9 DAYS LATER AFTER THE THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACEMENT, SATURDAY, 1/16/16, WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR BEGAN UNEXPECTEDLY LOSING ACCELERATION IN AN EXTREME FASHION, AND STALLED OUT TWICE WITHIN A 15 MINUTE DRIVE.

Mileage: 65,000

20141008FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

PURCHASED USED 2013 AUDI A3 TDI 3 MONTHS AGO. ONLY USE DIESEL FUEL. DRIVING ONTO I80 WEST WHEN I HEARD/FELT CAR HICCUP, LOST POWER. COASTED TO STOP SIGN, TRIED MULTIPLE TIME BUT WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAD COME APART SPEWING METAL SHARDS INTO SYSTEM AND THAT ENTIRE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCH SHOWING DOCUMENTED FAILURES IN VW TDI (SAME ENGINE) HPFP IN 2010, 2011 AND 2012. IS SYSTEM SAFE? *TR

Mileage: 31,000

20130503FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, I FELT WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS A "CLUNK" AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE CAR HAD STALLED, AND I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR ENTIRELY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ON MY WAY. *TR

Mileage: 5,111

20130225FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

WHILE DRIVING IN SEATTLE'S NOTORIOUS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY A3 TDI, HAS STALLED. IT ACTS AS IF I HAVE "DROPPED" THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE BEING AN AUTOMATIC!!. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON TWO OCCASIONS. THERE IS LESS THAN 5K MILES ON MY NEW CAR. BOTH TIME IT HAS GONE IMMEDIATELY INTO UNIVERSITY AUDI. FIRST TIME, NO ANSWERS. STILL WAITING ON DIAGNOSTICS FROM TODAY'S EPISODES. *TR

Mileage: 2,300

Compare 2013AUDIA3 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 AUDI A3 have?
The 2013 AUDI A3 has 24 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2013 AUDI A3?
The 2013 AUDI A3 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 AUDI A3?
Yes, the 2013 AUDI A3 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 AUDI A3?
The most-complained component for the 2013 AUDI A3 is AIR BAGS with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2013 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. The 2013 AUDI A3 has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. 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.