2023 Audi A3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
15/100
#12 most-complained of 14 A3 years
The 2023 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 15 and ranks 12th worst out of 14 model years, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other A3 years. NHTSA lists 7 complaints and 2 recalls, with Electrical System issues making up 57% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 7
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 31
- 27.5 city / 36.5 hwy
Top 2023 Audi A3 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System4 (57%)
- Other3 (43%)
- Brakes1 (14%)
- Engine1 (14%)
- Steering1 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (14%)
What owners report
- Vehicle displayed an "Electrical System Malfunction Defect - Low Charge" warning and lost motive power while driving at 70 MPH before stalling on the roadside.
- Owners report a recurring 48V Belt Starter Generator (BSG) failure that caused complete loss of power steering and brake assist.
- A red electrical malfunction warning appeared suddenly, prompting an immediate stop before the vehicle threatened to shut down while driving.
- The engine reportedly stopped completely on a highway at very low mileage, leaving occupants stranded in poor weather conditions.
2023 Audi A3 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V251000Apr 3, 2024Airbags91 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
Risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.
- NHTSA 22V901000Dec 7, 2022Other297 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S3, RS3, and A3 vehicles. The Safety Certification label on the B-pillar is missing weight capacity information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: Missing weight information may result in unintentional overloading of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi dealers will install an overlay label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 50ZZ.
2023 Audi A3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27.5 MPG
- Highway
- 36.5 MPG
- Combined
- 31 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,100
- 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.
2023 compared with other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Audi A3 reliable?
- Compared to other A3 model years, the 2023 A3 ranks well, with a complaint index of 15 and rank 12th worst out of 14 years tracked, giving it a "Best" verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2023 Audi A3?
- NHTSA complaints show the Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 57% of the 7 complaints filed, followed by single complaints each in Brakes, Engine, Steering, and Transmission & Powertrain.
- Does the 2023 Audi A3 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for an airbag occupant detection system control module (campaign 24V251000) and one for a missing weight capacity label on the B-pillar (campaign 22V901000). Neither is marked as a do-not-drive recall.
- What mileage do 2023 Audi A3 electrical problems show up at?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2023 A3 is 57,083 miles.
- How does the 2023 A3 compare to other bad years like 2016?
- The 2016 Audi A3 has a complaint index of 100 and is rated "Avoid," while the 2023 A3 has a much lower complaint index of 15 and is rated "Best" among A3 years.