Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2019 Audi A3 with NHTSA between 2020 and 2025.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Across this model's run it ranks 14 of 16 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 13
Against the median year of the Audi A3. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2019 Audi A3
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
426.7%
Median failure at 12,946 miles
Airbags
320.0%
Median failure at 13,500 miles
Seats
213.3%
Median failure at 13,500 miles
Other & Unspecified
16.7%
Median failure at 12,946 miles
Seat Belts
16.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Median failure at 11,700 miles
Lights
16.7%
Electrical System
16.7%
Median failure at 13,500 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
Median failure at 34,500 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 2020peak 3Dec 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2019 Audi A3
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
RQ23007Opened 12 Dec 2023Closed 1 Jul 2024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced SJP Version 1.0 with an improved version, Version 1.1. The SJP is designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emiss...
Recalls on the 2019 Audi A3
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202409586,308 units in Canada
Fuel System
Issue: On certain vehicles, a seal for the suction jet pump inside the fuel tank could fail. As a result, fuel may flow directly into the evaporative emission control system (EVAP). If this happens, fuel could leak from the charcoal canister. Note: This problem could cause a fuel odor, the fuel nozzle to stop early and/or fuel to spill when refueling. Safety Risk: A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the suction jet pump.
Recall 202116918,204 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may not work properly. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a person is seated in the front passenger seat. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off when it should be turned on could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: Audi will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development. To reduce the safety risk, Audi recommends that if the PODS in your vehicle is not working properly, you should contact an Audi dealer for assistance right away and not transport a person in the front-passenger seat until the PODS has been repaired.
Recall 20204994,030 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, when switching the distance display setting from kilometers to miles, the speedometer displays the vehicle speed in miles per hour (mph) only. Canadian regulations require that speed be displayed in either kilometers per hour (km/h) or in both km/h and mph. Safety Risk: This small error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. Volkswagen has made changes to ensure that all new vehicle speedometers display mph and km/h when the display distance is set to miles.
Recall 201930815,723 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a loose wiring connection for the passenger occupant detection system (PODS). This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even though the seat may be occupied. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to install a new connector for the passenger occupant detection system. The wiring will also be re-routed under the seat.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 34,500 milesLos Angeles, CA
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH for a 50-mile trip, the message "Transmission Failure" displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The transmission then inadvertently switched from automatic to manual transmission mode and became stuck in second gear. Additionally, the vehicle jerked and decelerated to 35 MPH while driving. The contact activated the hazard lights before pulling over to the right shoulder to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel very quickly. The contact was able to drive to the destination. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who retrieved DTC: P173500 (Electrical Malfunction with the Position Sensor for Clutch 1 in the Transmission). The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, but no cause for the failure was found. The contact then drove the vehicle for a long distance at high speeds and was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who determined that the mechatronic hardware, DSG transmission cover, gasket, and fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 2058504/1 (Transmission malfunction, DTC P173500 and/or P173600 stored in the TCM). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the Technical Service Bulletin. The failure mileage was approximately 34,500.
NHTSA complaint #11703985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlight assembly failed and manufacturer accepts no responsibility and quoted astronomical repair cost. This should not have been an issue with such new components. I've seen many vehicles like mine with the same problem.
NHTSA complaint #11634359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beaumont, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11590650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carson, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2019 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11589619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado Springs, CO
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle stalls while driving twice in a row several times a week. Check engine code P0148 indicating a fuel system error. Took my vehicle to the Audi Dealership but because my husband had cleared the code, nothing could be done. My vehicle stalling multiple times in a row, several times a week not only poses a safety risk to myself as the driver, but my passengers and other vehicles on the road. I am requesting an investigation into the faulty fuel systems of the 2019 Audi A3.
NHTSA complaint #11510142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MO
SEATS
Audi has stated there are no parts available to address the PODS recall 21V198 since March 2021. My dealership sold my vehicle to me at the end of my lease without having addressed this safety recall.
NHTSA complaint #11480136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MO
AIR BAGS
Audi has stated there are no parts available to address the PODS recall 21V198 since March 2021. My dealership sold my vehicle to me at the end of my lease without having addressed this safety recall.
NHTSA complaint #11480136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Van Alstyne, TX
SEAT BELTS
UNKNOWN
NHTSA complaint #11463885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Van Alstyne, TX
AIR BAGS
UNKNOWN
NHTSA complaint #11463885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,500 milesAtlanta, GA
SEATS
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WITH MY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR STARTED MADE A BEEPING SOUND AND MY DASHBOARD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SAFETY FEATURE BEING TURNED OFF/LIMITED. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURNED ON EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN MOTION. THIS CREATED AN UNSAFE SITUATION AS PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF WHEN IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS) DETECTED A MALFUNCTION AND SWITCH OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EVEN THOUGH THE SEAT WAS BE OCCUPIED. I REACHED OUT TO AUDI REGARDING THIS AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE YET I WILL HAVE TO WAIT. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS ISSUE IS 21V198. THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER IS 69BY. I HAVE ATTACHED THE LATEST VIDEO OF THIS SITUATION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO IT SHOWS THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED AND STILL THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE. I USE MY CAR DAILY AND SINCE THE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE YET THIS MAKES MY CAR UNSAFE ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11416083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,500 milesAtlanta, GA
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WITH MY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR STARTED MADE A BEEPING SOUND AND MY DASHBOARD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SAFETY FEATURE BEING TURNED OFF/LIMITED. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURNED ON EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN MOTION. THIS CREATED AN UNSAFE SITUATION AS PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF WHEN IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS) DETECTED A MALFUNCTION AND SWITCH OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EVEN THOUGH THE SEAT WAS BE OCCUPIED. I REACHED OUT TO AUDI REGARDING THIS AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE YET I WILL HAVE TO WAIT. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS ISSUE IS 21V198. THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER IS 69BY. I HAVE ATTACHED THE LATEST VIDEO OF THIS SITUATION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO IT SHOWS THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED AND STILL THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE. I USE MY CAR DAILY AND SINCE THE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE YET THIS MAKES MY CAR UNSAFE ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11416083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,500 milesAtlanta, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WITH MY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR STARTED MADE A BEEPING SOUND AND MY DASHBOARD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SAFETY FEATURE BEING TURNED OFF/LIMITED. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURNED ON EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN MOTION. THIS CREATED AN UNSAFE SITUATION AS PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF WHEN IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS) DETECTED A MALFUNCTION AND SWITCH OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EVEN THOUGH THE SEAT WAS BE OCCUPIED. I REACHED OUT TO AUDI REGARDING THIS AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE YET I WILL HAVE TO WAIT. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS ISSUE IS 21V198. THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER IS 69BY. I HAVE ATTACHED THE LATEST VIDEO OF THIS SITUATION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO IT SHOWS THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED AND STILL THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE. I USE MY CAR DAILY AND SINCE THE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE YET THIS MAKES MY CAR UNSAFE ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11416083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,700 milesColorado Springs, CO
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I PURCHASED A 2019 AUDI A3 ON JANUARY 18, 2021 (VIN [XXX]) FROM AUDI DENVER. I REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD 2/19/2021, WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE (2/2020 AT THE DEALERSHIP) AND 2 WEEKS AFTER REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD, HAVE A NEW CRACK THAT IS QUICKLY SPREADING. 4 UNREPAIRABLE WINDSHIELDS WITH ONLY 11K MILES ON THE VEHICLE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11398794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,946 milesClarksburg, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ON NJ TURNPIKE ON A 75 MILE TRIP BACK HOME AND AFTER INTO 55 MILES OF THE TRIP, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER.. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MILES OR SO AND IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. WITH THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO USE THE MOMENTUM TO MAKE IT TO A SIDE LANE BETWEEN THE TRAVEL LANES AND MERGE LANE OFF OF THE RAMP, THE ARE CAR LOST SO MUCH POWER AND TRYING TO MANEUVERING AROUND TRAFFIC THAT I WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SAFETY SIDE LANE. THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE EXIT. AUDI TOOK IT TO THEIR LOCAL DEALER. THE CAR IS A 2019 MODEL WITH 12946 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI DEALER IN FREEHOLD NJ AND I UNDERSTAND FROM THE TOW DRIVER THAT DAY BEFORE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, YEAR OF ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN TOWED TO AUDI IN EDISON NJ.
NHTSA complaint #11327937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,946 milesClarksburg, NJ
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON NJ TURNPIKE ON A 75 MILE TRIP BACK HOME AND AFTER INTO 55 MILES OF THE TRIP, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER.. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MILES OR SO AND IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. WITH THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO USE THE MOMENTUM TO MAKE IT TO A SIDE LANE BETWEEN THE TRAVEL LANES AND MERGE LANE OFF OF THE RAMP, THE ARE CAR LOST SO MUCH POWER AND TRYING TO MANEUVERING AROUND TRAFFIC THAT I WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SAFETY SIDE LANE. THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE EXIT. AUDI TOOK IT TO THEIR LOCAL DEALER. THE CAR IS A 2019 MODEL WITH 12946 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI DEALER IN FREEHOLD NJ AND I UNDERSTAND FROM THE TOW DRIVER THAT DAY BEFORE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, YEAR OF ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN TOWED TO AUDI IN EDISON NJ.
NHTSA complaint #11327937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.