YearToAvoid

2020 Audi A3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

38/100

#9 most-complained of 14 A3 years

The 2020 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 38 and ranks 9th worst among 14 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other A3 years. It has 16 complaints, 3 recalls, and airbags are the top problem area with 56% of complaints.

Complaints
16
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27.5
24.5 city / 33 hwy

Top 2020 Audi A3 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags9 (56%)
  2. Engine2 (13%)
  3. Other2 (13%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (13%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain2 (13%)
  6. Electrical System1 (6%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the airbag warning light illuminating intermittently, sometimes labeled "Air bag Off" or "Malfunction, air bag off," even at highway speeds.
  • Some owners describe being notified of the PODS airbag recall but told the replacement part was unavailable for an extended period.
  • One owner reported the vehicle independently coming to a stop while brake, air bag, and seat belt warning lights appeared, with the steering wheel locking during another incident.
  • Owners describe the transmission malfunction light coming on along with failure to shift into reverse, later diagnosed as failed transmission mechatronics.
  • A tire owner reported sidewall bubbles on the OEM Continental ProContact TX tires occurring twice on separate tires at low mileage.
  • One owner described the vehicle going into limp mode and skipping gears while merging onto a highway.
2020 Audi A3 complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2021Nov 2021Jan 2022May 2022Sep 2022Feb 2025Jun 2025
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2021 to Jun 2026; peak Aug 2021 (3).

2020 Audi A3 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 22V815000Oct 31, 2022Suspension, Wheels & Tires296,044 vehicles

    Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

    Risk: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

  3. 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.

2020 Audi A3 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,375
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.

2020 compared with other A3 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution5433229
2019Best810327
2020Good3816327.5
2022Best239631.5
2023Best157231

All Audi A3 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Audi A3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 38 and ranks 9th worst out of 14 model years, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other A3 years.
What problems does the 2020 Audi A3 have?
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Audi A3 are led by airbag issues, making up 56% of the 16 total complaints, followed by engine, suspension/wheels/tires, and transmission/powertrain issues, each at 13%.
Does the 2020 Audi A3 have an airbag recall?
Yes. Recall 21V198000 covers a passenger occupant detection system (PODS) sensor mat and control module update on the 2020 Audi A3, among other Audi and Volkswagen Group models.
What other recalls affect the 2020 Audi A3?
The 2020 Audi A3 has 3 recalls total: a fuel system suction pump recall (24V110000), a TPMS software update recall (22V815000), and the airbag PODS sensor recall (21V198000).
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Audi A3?
The 2020 Audi A3 gets an EPA-rated 27.5 mpg combined (24.5 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,375.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.