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2013 Audi A3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2013 Audi A3, and owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
20
owner complaints to NHTSA
24–32
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2013 Audi A3

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V862000 Reported 226 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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 degradation occurring after long-term exposure…

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V082000 Reported 162,782 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

  3. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V079000 Reported 151,767 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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.…

20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2013 Audi A3 have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 44,883 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 6 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2013 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contac”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 16, 2026 · Engine and engine cooling

“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 colli”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 13, 2022 · Power train

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2013 Audi A3 (A3 quattro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined24–32 mpg
City / Highway21–29 / 28–37
FuelDiesel, Premium
EPA classSmall Station Wagons
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S6); Manual 6-spd

Compare Audi A3 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A3 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2001 Audi A301
2003 Audi A302
2004 Audi A306
2005 Audi A310
2006 Audi A34123
2007 Audi A3352
2008 Audi A3343
2009 Audi A3547
2010 Audi A3550
2011 Audi A3443
2012 Audi A3443
2013 Audi A3320
2015 Audi A3293
2016 Audi A3381
2017 Audi A3244
2018 Audi A3233
2019 Audi A3310
2020 Audi A3316
2022 Audi A369
2023 Audi A327
2024 Audi A302
2025 Audi A305
2026 Audi A301

Checking a specific 2013 Audi A3

How do I know if my 2013 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 2013 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 16V079000).

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

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.