2011 Audi A3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 10th out of 19 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA logged 43 complaints and 4 recalls, with airbags (47% of complaints) and fuel system issues (23%) the top problem areas.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #10 of 19 A3 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 43
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21.5 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2011 Audi A3 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags20 (47%)
- Fuel System10 (23%)
- Engine6 (14%)
- Electrical System5 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (7%)
- Other2 (5%)
- Steering1 (2%)
- Structure & Body1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Fuel pumps have failed or imploded, sending metal debris through the fuel delivery system and requiring full replacement.
- Diesel models have stalled at highway speed with the glow plug light flashing, sometimes leaving the car unable to restart.
- A fuse panel behind the dash has overheated and melted, cutting out the headlights and triggering a service vehicle sensor warning.
- The DSG transmission has briefly dropped into neutral during acceleration, causing the engine RPM to spike before re-engaging.
- Owners report the transmission jerking or hesitating between 1st and 2nd gear, with inappropriate early downshifts.
- Fuel contamination described as glitter-like or metal shard particles has clogged fuel lines and damaged fuel system components.
2011 Audi A3 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V862000Dec 4, 2019Airbags226 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. 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 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
- NHTSA 18V082000Jan 30, 2018Airbags162,782 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
- 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.
2011 Audi A3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21.5 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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.
2011 compared with other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Audi A3 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 A3 has a complaint index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 10th out of 19 model years. Airbags and fuel system problems are the most reported issues.
- Does the 2011 Audi A3 have a Takata airbag recall?
- Yes. Recall 19V862000 covers 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles previously repaired under an earlier Takata airbag recall, and two more airbag recalls (18V082000 and 16V079000) also apply to this year.
- What is the top complaint category for the 2011 Audi A3?
- Airbags account for 47% of complaints (20 of 43), followed by fuel system issues at 23% (10 complaints).
- How does the 2011 Audi A3 compare to other A3 years?
- Its complaint index of 50 is better than 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2016, which all carry an Avoid verdict, but worse than 2007, 2008, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, which rate Good or Best.
- What mileage do 2011 Audi A3 problems typically show up at?
- Across all complaints the median mileage at failure is 50,100 miles; airbag complaints cluster around 48,000 miles and fuel system complaints around 49,300 miles.