Summary
The Audi A3 has 18 recalls spanning 2005 through 2023, with the most serious being a fuel connector that can come loose on 2018 models and leak fuel into the engine compartment, creating a fire risk.
The 2022 model year carries several safety equipment concerns. The front passenger airbag may have been folded incorrectly during assembly, which can cause it to tear and fail to deploy properly in a crash. On 2022 sedans, the seatbelt pretensioners on the driver and front passenger seats may not generate enough force to hold occupants during a crash. There is also a compliance issue on 2022 models where child seat anchor fittings are marked with the wrong symbol, which can lead to confusion during installation and leave a child seat improperly secured, and separately, the anchor labeling on the rear seat may be incorrect for the same reason.
The 2021-2022 model years share a software error where the rearview camera image can fail to appear immediately when the driver shifts into reverse, reducing rear visibility.
On 2017 models, the engine can lose power without warning at startup or low engine speeds, raising the risk of a crash. A compliance issue on the same year causes the speedometer to display speed in miles per hour only when switched from kilometers, which does not affect safety but does not meet Canadian regulations.
The 2015 model year has a fuel pump with contaminated internal components that can cause an unexpected stall or prevent the engine from restarting. There is also a 2015 recall where incorrect seat cover stitching can prevent side impact airbags from deploying properly in a crash.
The 2018 model has an additional issue where the center rear head restraint can detach during a crash, becoming a hazard to occupants.
Going back further, 2005-2013 models are covered by the Takata airbag recall, where the driver's frontal airbag inflator can rupture under excess pressure and send metal fragments into the cabin. The 2006 model year has several related concerns: a separate driver airbag defect where heat and humidity degrade the propellant and cause the bag to deploy with excessive force; curtain airbags on either side that can leak from the inflator module and fail to inflate in a crash; and on Quattro models, a fuel tank ventilation valve that can allow liquid fuel to migrate into the evaporative emissions system and saturate the carbon canister. The 2023 model has a compliance label on the B-pillar that omits vehicle weight ratings, which could lead to overloading.
