2005 Audi A3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict NHTSA lists zero complaints for the 2005 Audi A3, giving it a complaint index of 0, the lowest (best) of all 19 model years covered. It has one recall, for airbag inflators, but no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #19 of 19 A3 years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 0
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- —
Top 2005 Audi A3 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
No component data.
2005 Audi A3 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V079000Feb 10, 2016Airbags151,767 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
2005 compared with other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Audi A3 reliable?
- NHTSA records show zero owner complaints for the 2005 Audi A3, and it ranks 19th out of 19 in worst-first ranking, meaning it has the lowest complaint index of any A3 model year.
- Does the 2005 Audi A3 have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 16V079000) covers the driver's frontal airbag inflator, which Volkswagen/Audi dealers replace free of charge. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- What year Audi A3 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint index data, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2016 are rated Avoid, with 2016 having the highest complaint index (100) among all A3 years.
- How does the 2005 A3 compare to other years?
- The 2005 A3 has a complaint index of 0, far below years like 2016 (100) and 2006 (94), making it the least-complained-about model year in NHTSA's data.