2008 Audi A3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2008 Audi A3, and owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2008 Audi A3
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Inflator module (air bags)
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.
Remedy: 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.…
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
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 extreme driving conditions possibly…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and audi dealers will replace the fuel tank ventilation valve with an improved valve free of charge. The safety recall began on november 16, 2009. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-253-2834.
43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 Audi A3 have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 51,510 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 10 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The check engine light illuminated and has not been able to properly diagnose. More than one mechanic has told me the code p0171 that reads as the diagnostic does not correlate with my car as my car d”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 2, 2019 · Electrical system
“Excessive rear subframe corrosion that isn't being covered by a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty. The safety issue stems from; a, a proper alignment isn't possible, b the rear subframe is responsible f”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 28, 2019 · Structure
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 Audi A3 (A3 quattro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–22 / 25–29 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Audi A3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Audi A3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 Audi A3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2004 Audi A3 | 0 | 6 |
| 2005 Audi A3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 Audi A3 | 4 | 123 |
| 2007 Audi A3 | 3 | 52 |
| 2008 Audi A3 | 3 | 43 |
| 2009 Audi A3 | 5 | 47 |
| 2010 Audi A3 | 5 | 50 |
| 2011 Audi A3 | 4 | 43 |
| 2012 Audi A3 | 4 | 43 |
| 2013 Audi A3 | 3 | 20 |
| 2015 Audi A3 | 2 | 93 |
| 2016 Audi A3 | 3 | 81 |
| 2017 Audi A3 | 2 | 44 |
| 2018 Audi A3 | 2 | 33 |
| 2019 Audi A3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2020 Audi A3 | 3 | 16 |
| 2022 Audi A3 | 6 | 9 |
| 2023 Audi A3 | 2 | 7 |
| 2024 Audi A3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 Audi A3 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026 Audi A3 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2008 Audi A3
How do I know if my 2008 Audi A3 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2008 Audi A3; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 09V377000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Audi models
- A42,895 complaints
- A61,658 complaints
- Q51,342 complaints
- Q71,047 complaints
- S4588 complaints
- A5325 complaints
- TT319 complaints
- A4 Allroad252 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.