2013 Audi A3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2013 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 28, ranking 14th out of 19 model years, with a Good verdict. It has 20 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls, mostly tied to Takata airbag inflators.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 28/100
- #14 of 19 A3 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 20
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2013 Audi A3 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags10 (50%)
- Engine5 (25%)
- Fuel System3 (15%)
- Other2 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (10%)
- Electrical System1 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (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 the engine stalling unexpectedly while driving, sometimes right after exiting a highway or coming to a stop in traffic.
- Diesel A3 owners describe the car losing power or hiccuping, then failing to restart, with one case tracing the failure to a high-pressure fuel pump shedding metal shards into the fuel system.
- Several owners with Takata airbag recalls report long waits for replacement parts, with dealers unable to complete the inflator swap months after notification.
- One owner reported the panoramic sunroof fracturing without warning while driving at 45 mph.
- An owner reported the transmission shifting into first gear unexpectedly at various speeds, with the diagnosis pointing to a diesel particulate filter needing replacement that had no parts available.
2013 Audi A3 recalls
3 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.
2013 Audi A3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 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.
2013 compared with other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Audi A3 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2013 A3 has a complaint index of 28, the 14th-highest out of 19 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other A3 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Audi A3?
- Airbags account for 50% of complaints (10 of 20), followed by engine issues at 25% and fuel system problems at 15%, per NHTSA data.
- Does the 2013 Audi A3 have a Takata airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three airbag-related recall campaigns covering the 2013 A3, including two Takata inflator recalls affecting driver-side airbags.
- At what mileage do 2013 Audi A3 problems typically show up?
- NHTSA's median mileage at failure for this model year is 50,000 miles overall, though fuel system complaints clustered much earlier, with a median around 5,111 miles.