FaultScore

Worst years for a Audi A3

Owners have filed 945 complaints about the Audi A3 with NHTSA across model years 2001 to 2025. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.

Avoid

2016 Audi A3

115 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly airbags.

Cleanest on record

2023 Audi A3

10 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Audi A3 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2025 8 4 0 Other & Unspecified
2024 1 0 0 Electrical System
2023 A 10 0 0 Electrical System
2022 A 12 0 0 Electrical System
2020 C 19 2 0 7,000 Airbags
2019 B 15 0 0 13,500 Fuel & Propulsion
2018 C 47 1 0 34,400 Airbags
2017 C 75 1 0 47,000 Airbags
2016 D 115 5 2 65,500 Airbags
2015 C 134 0 0 62,000 Airbags
2013 B 25 0 0 31,000 Airbags
2012 B 48 1 4 64,230 Airbags
2011 B 51 0 3 56,000 Airbags
2010 C 60 3 0 48,500 Fuel & Propulsion
2009 D 66 10 0 70,000 Airbags
2008 C 46 2 0 27,500 Airbags
2007 B 63 0 0 65,000 Airbags
2006 C 140 3 0 71,580 Airbags
2004 7 0 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control
2003 2 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2001 1 1 0 Electrical System

What breaks on a Audi A3

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Airbags 339 35.9%

Worst in 2006

Worst in 2006

Fuel & Propulsion 115 12.2%

Worst in 2010

Worst in 2015

Worst in 2016

Worst in 2016

Lights 30 3.2%

Worst in 2006

Seat Belts 20 2.1%

Worst in 2015

Seats 20 2.1%

Worst in 2015

Brakes 14 1.5%

Worst in 2009

Acceleration & Cruise Control 14 1.5%

Worst in 2004

Tires 14 1.5%

Worst in 2016

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 11 1.2%

Worst in 2017

Suspension 9 1.0%

Worst in 2006

Exactly what failed on a Audi A3

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Automatic Transmission 38 56.7%
Body 7 10.4%
Engine 6 9.0%
Sidewall 4 6.0%
Automatic Emergency Braking 3 4.5%
Warnings 3 4.5%
Warnings 2 3.0%
Manual Transmission 2 3.0%
Seals/Gaskets 1 1.5%
Critical Fasteners 1 1.5%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Audi A3, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Oct 2003 peak 25 Aug 2026

Audi A3 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Audi A3

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.