2018 Audi A3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2018 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 61, ranking 8th worst out of 19 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 52% of complaints, driven mainly by a passenger occupant detection system (PODS) recall.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 61/100
- #8 of 19 A3 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 33
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29
- 26 city / 35 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2018 Audi A3 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags17 (52%)
- Fuel System5 (15%)
- Electrical System4 (12%)
- Engine4 (12%)
- Other4 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (9%)
- Structure & Body2 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
- Seat Belts1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Passenger-side airbags failed to deploy in a hard side-impact crash, totaling the vehicle.
- Owners reported the PODS passenger occupant detection sensor was flagged unsafe under recall but repairs were delayed for months.
- The car intermittently stalled or failed to advance despite pressing the gas pedal, then restarted on its own.
- Tire sidewalls blew out and separated with correct tire pressure and no more than roughly 30,000 miles on them.
- The transmission jerked or refused to switch gears, sometimes leaving the car stalled and inoperable in traffic.
- The low-pressure fuel pump shorted out and melted surrounding plastic housing near the fuel tank.
2018 Audi A3 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V110000Feb 14, 2024Fuel System261,257 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. 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 VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
- NHTSA 21V198000Mar 22, 2021Airbags153,152 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
2018 Audi A3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 35 MPG
- Combined
- 29 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,250
- 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.
2018 compared with other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Audi A3 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 A3 has a complaint index of 61 and a Caution verdict, ranking 8th worst among 19 model years of the A3.
- What is the main problem with the 2018 Audi A3?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 52% of complaints (17 of 33), largely tied to a passenger occupant detection system recall that affected side airbag deployment.
- Does the 2018 Audi A3 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2018 A3: one for the fuel system (suction pump replacement) and one for the airbags (PODS sensor mat and control module update).
- What year Audi A3 should I avoid?
- Among A3 model years, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2016 carry an Avoid verdict with complaint indexes of 94, 89, 78, 83, and 100 respectively, all worse than the 2018's index of 61.
- At what mileage do 2018 Audi A3 problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 23,000 miles, though airbag complaints had a lower median of 16,500 miles.