2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
25/100
#4 most-complained of 5 A3 Cabriolet years
The 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet has a Complaint Index of 25 and ranks 4th out of 5 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other A3 Cabriolet years. It has 12 complaints and 5 recalls, with airbags making up 58% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 26.5
- 23.5 city / 31.5 hwy
Top 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags7 (58%)
- Electrical System2 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (17%)
- Fuel System1 (8%)
What owners report
- Owners report reduced headlight visibility at night caused by condensation and fogging inside the housing.
- A front passenger tire tread separated while driving at 55 mph, with the tire later replaced by the dealer.
- Multiple owners received the airbag recall notice (Campaign 19V474000) but reported dealers could not obtain the replacement part within a reasonable time.
- One owner's vehicle stalled in a parking lot due to a drained battery, later diagnosed as an alternator issue, at 60,000 miles.
- Another owner found fuel leaking near the rear passenger side fuel tank at 62,000 miles, with the check engine light on and the charcoal canister implicated.
2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V474000Jun 19, 2019Airbags138,896 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
- NHTSA 19V095000Feb 13, 2019Structure & Body3,326 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A3 sedan and RS3 vehicles. The latching pins for the center rear seat head restraint may be missing.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the head restraint may detach and cause injury to the vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the head restraints, replacing any that are missing pins, free of charge. The recall began on March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72I8.
- NHTSA 18V863000Dec 5, 2018Fuel System1,104 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply line in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the engine compartment can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the fuel line connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BK.
2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23.5 MPG
- Highway
- 31.5 MPG
- Combined
- 26.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,450
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2018 compared with other A3 Cabriolet years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet a good year?
- Yes, relative to other A3 Cabriolet years. It has a Complaint Index of 25, the second-lowest among the 5 model years with data, and ranks 4th worst out of 5.
- What problems does the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet have?
- NHTSA lists 12 complaints for the 2018 A3 Cabriolet, with airbags as the top problem area at 58% of complaints, followed by electrical system and suspension issues at 17% each.
- Does the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls covering airbags, structure & body (head restraints), fuel system, and engine control unit software.
- How does the 2018 A3 Cabriolet compare to other years?
- The 2015 and 2016 model years are rated 'Avoid' with Complaint Index values of 100 and 75, while 2017 is 'Caution' at 50. The 2018 model year scores 25, making it one of the better years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
- EPA rates it at 26.5 mpg combined (23.5 city / 31.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,450.