2012 Audi A3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 67, ranking 7th worst out of 19 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 43 complaints, 4 recalls, and 2 fires, with airbags making up 72% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #7 of 19 A3 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 43
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21.5 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2012 Audi A3 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags31 (72%)
- Electrical System7 (16%)
- Fuel System4 (9%)
- Brakes2 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report exterior lights failing simultaneously while driving, with dash warnings for bulbs that were not actually burned out.
- Some describe a fuse (identified by owners as the F16 fuse) melting and giving off a burnt plastic smell, sometimes tied to a related recall.
- Airbag recall owners report long waits for replacement inflator parts, with dealers saying stock was unavailable.
- Diesel fuel system owners describe a flashing glow plug light followed by sudden loss of power at highway speed, in one case from a failed high-pressure fuel pump.
- One owner reported the gas and brake pedals sitting too close together, making it hard to lift off the gas without catching the brake.
2012 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.
2012 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.
2012 compared with other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Audi A3 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 A3 carries a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 67, ranking 7th worst of 19 model years for the A3.
- What is the top complaint area for the 2012 Audi A3?
- Airbags account for 72% of complaints (31 of 43), followed by electrical system issues at 16%.
- Does the 2012 Audi A3 have a Takata airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 16V079000 covers Takata airbag inflators on the 2012 A3, and separate campaigns 18V082000 and 19V862000 also address driver airbag inflators on this model.
- How does the 2012 Audi A3 compare to other A3 years?
- The 2012 A3's complaint index of 67 is worse than 2007, 2008, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, which are rated Good or Best, but better than 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2016, which are rated Avoid.
- What mileage do airbag problems show up at on the 2012 Audi A3?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2012 A3 is 60,000 miles.