YearToAvoid

2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#5 most-complained of 5 A3 Cabriolet years

The 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet has 4 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, with a complaint index of 0, making it the best year of the 5 model years covered. All complaints relate to airbag recall parts availability, with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported.

Complaints
4
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 32.5 hwy

Top 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags4 (100%)

What owners report

  • Owners report receiving Takata airbag recall notices (campaign 19V474000) but being told replacement parts were not available at dealers.
  • Some owners later received a second notice under campaign 21V198000 for the same airbag issue, again facing part shortages.
  • One owner reported the passenger-side airbag warning light failed to operate as expected while waiting for the recall repair.
  • A dealer reportedly told one owner that only five replacement parts arrived per week, and she could not be placed on a waiting list.
  • Median mileage at failure for airbag-related reports was 40,000 miles, with no crashes or fires linked to any of these complaints.
2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet complaints: complaints filed per month1Aug 2019Sep 2021Jan 2022Mar 2022
4 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2019 to Mar 2022; peak Aug 2019 (1).

2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
32.5 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,425
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.

2019 compared with other A3 Cabriolet years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Caution5025326.5
2018Good2512526.5
2019No verdict04127

All Audi A3 Cabriolet years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2019 model has a complaint index of 0, the lowest (best) among the 5 A3 Cabriolet model years tracked, with only 4 complaints total.
Does the 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 19V474000) covers an airbag connector issue affecting 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and Cabriolet models; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
What is the top complaint area for the 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Airbags are the only reported problem area, accounting for 100% of the 4 complaints, all tied to recall part availability rather than crashes or fires.
How does the 2019 A3 Cabriolet compare to other years?
It ranks best among the 5 years covered, with a complaint index of 0 versus 100 for 2015 and 75 for 2016, which are both rated Avoid.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.