NHTSA lists 43 complaints for the 2012 Audi A3, 1 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-07.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as AUDI A3.
Model-generated complaint tags
These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.
Failure modes| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| restraint or airbag | 30 | 73.2% | 0.90 |
|---|
| mechanical failure | 4 | 9.8% | 0.88 |
|---|
| electrical electronic | 3 | 7.3% | 0.54 |
|---|
| fire or overheating | 2 | 4.9% | 0.52 |
|---|
| loss of control | 2 | 4.9% | 0.60 |
|---|
Severities| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| low | 21 | 51.2% | 0.70 |
|---|
| moderate | 17 | 41.5% | 0.83 |
|---|
| none | 2 | 4.9% | 0.55 |
|---|
| high | 1 | 2.4% | 0.76 |
|---|
Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 41 tagged complaints of 43 complaints (95.3%).
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
Recalls
4 recalls.
Date: 2019-12-04. Systems: AIR BAGS.
Defect: 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 to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temper (excerpt)
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)
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 customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2018-01-30. Systems: AIR BAGS.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
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 at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2016-02-10. Systems: AIR BAGS.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2011-10-03. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL.
Defect: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN (excerpt)
Consequence: DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE. (excerpt)
Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
2 investigations; 0 open.
PE11023
Opened: 2011-08-02. Closed: 2011-12-02.
Diesel Fuel Injector Line Leakage
By letter dated October 3, 2011, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately 168,275 model year (MY) 2009-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, Golf, and Audi A3 vehicles equipped with the 2.0L TDI Common Rail Clean Diesel engine (NHTSA Recall No. 11V-490).The
Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL.
Linked campaign numbers: 11V490000.
EA11003
Opened: 2011-02-07. Closed: 2015-03-27.
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed desig
Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
881 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 263 |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 146 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 118 |
|---|
| ENGINE | 59 |
|---|
| AIR BAGS | 57 |
|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 54 |
|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 52 |
|---|
| STEERING | 51 |
|---|
11038027
Date: 2026-09-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
11038130
Date: 2026-09-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
11038042
Date: 2026-09-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.
This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
11038025
Date: 2026-09-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
11038143
Date: 2026-09-09. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
11036917
Date: 2026-08-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
11036909
Date: 2026-08-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.
This bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
11036911
Date: 2026-08-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.
This bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
11036921
Date: 2026-08-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.
This bulletin provides information about the general approach for brake vibration concerns.
11036934
Date: 2026-08-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels.