2018 Audi A3 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi A3 over 9 years — 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most A3 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Fuel system, gasoline and Front passenger seat weight sensor.

2012 Audi A3 — Photo by Peulle, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (24 of 44), then Electrical system (5) and Fuel and propulsion system (5). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 A3 has 36 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 12 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Audi A3. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall Fuel system, gasoline 2024-02-14 · NHTSA campaign 24V110000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.

Remedy Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. 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 VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.

Recall Front passenger seat weight sensor 2021-03-22 · NHTSA campaign 21V198000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.

Remedy Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.

Complaints by component (44 total)

Air bags

Electrical system

Fuel and propulsion system

Engine

Powertrain

Tires

Exterior lighting

Seats

Back-over prevention

Forward collision avoidance

Fuel system, gasoline

Seat belts

Wheels

Show 5 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Coolant Water Pump and Thermostat -- Coolant temperature indicator gauge runs from normal to high after about 10-15 miles drive. Coolant levels are good and no signs of leak. Engine light is activated along with warning…"
Engine · filed 2026-06-18
"225/45-R18 DOT(17/22) On September 6, 2025, I purchased a 2018 Audi A3 (VIN [VIN], 56,634 miles) delivered by Carvana. Within days, I had the vehicle inspected at multiple independent repair shops. Each shop documented…"
Tires · filed 2025-09-21
"Hello, I dropped my car off at Audi and Dominion in San Antonio Texas on Thursday July 10th for a repair this was a recall for the fuel pump system in something in the mechatronic controls. They had my car until…"
Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-07-23
"Audi had a recall on my 2018 A3 for a Passenger Occupant Detection System. in July 2023, Audi replaced the PODS Sensor mat. Recently, the same car has encountered the same issue. The PODS light indicates the airbag is…"
Electrical system, Air bags · filed 2025-06-23
"My 2018 Audi A3 began having fuel-related issues after receiving the recall service for campaign 20YF (Suction Jet Pump Seal) at an authorized Audi dealership. I first took the vehicle to an independent mechanic,…"
Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-06-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2018 Audi A3 4 DR AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2018 Audi A3 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2018 Audi A3 C AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2018 Audi A3 C FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2018 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
A3	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S7)	Front-wheel drive	26	35	29 MPG	$2250
A3 Cabriolet	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S7)	Front-wheel drive	25	33	28 MPG	$2300
A3 Cabriolet quattro	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S6)	All-wheel drive	22	30	25 MPG	$2600
A3 e-tron	1.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S6)	Front-wheel drive	34	39	36 MPG / 400 mi range	$2200
A3 quattro	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S6)	All-wheel drive	24	31	27 MPG	$2400

Specs and fitment

8V A3, 2012–2020

Body styles Sedan, Cabriolet

Oil 5W-30 full synthetic (common US fills) , 5.5 qt capacity

Tire size 225/45R17, 225/40R18, 235/35R19

Known issues for this generation

Recall 21V-198 covers certain 2015-2020 A3 Sedan and related A3/S3/RS3 and e-tron variants: the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied, increasing injury risk in a crash; dealers replace the PODS sensor mat and update the control module. Recall 24V-110 covers certain front-wheel-drive 2015-2020 A3 Sedan and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles (with several Volkswagen models in the same campaign): a fuel suction pump concern can allow a fuel leak that increases fire risk; dealers replace the suction pump.

Compare

Previous year 2017 Audi A3 Next year 2019 Audi A3 See every Audi A3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Audi A3 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2018 Audi A3?

Is the 2018 Audi A3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 A3 has 36 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 12 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 Audi A3 been recalled?

The 2018 Audi A3 has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Audi A3?

Owners have filed 44 complaints about the 2018 Audi A3 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Audi A3 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Audi A3 is 29 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does an Audi A3 take?

US 8V (2012-2020) commonly lists 5W-30; US 8Y (2022+) commonly lists 0W-20 full synthetic.

Does recall 21V-198 cover the Audi A3?

It covers certain 2015-2020 A3 Sedan and related A3/S3/RS3/e-tron variants: the passenger occupant detection system may switch off the passenger air bag incorrectly.

What generation is a 2020 Audi A3?

8V generation (2012-2020 in the US). The next US generation is 8Y from 2022.