Audi

A3

Subcompact Cars · model years 2006 to 2027

Includes A3, A3 Cabriolet, A3 Cabriolet quattro and 1 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 62 A3 trims All Audi cars

The verdict

Best year: 2027. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 11; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4.

Worst year: 2016. complaints: 119, about 2.8x this model's typical 43; recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Audi A3
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2006	3Gas	24	no data	$3,200	4	123	0	no data	AIR BAGS 40%, POWER TRAIN 26%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7%
complaints: 123, about 3.8x this model's typical 32 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	3Gas	24	no data	$3,200	3	52	0	no data	AIR BAGS 51%, POWER TRAIN 25%, ENGINE 6%
complaints: 52, about 1.6x this model's typical 32 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 Score: 54 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	3Gas	24	no data	$3,200	3	43	0	no data	AIR BAGS 52%, POWER TRAIN 28%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4%
complaints: 43, above this model's typical 32 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	4Gas	24	no data	$3,200	5	47	0	no data	AIR BAGS 33%, POWER TRAIN 23%, SERVICE BRAKES 12%
complaints: 47, above this model's typical 43 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	4Diesel, Gas	24	200	$3,200	5	50	4	715	AIR BAGS 22%, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 22%, POWER TRAIN 18%
complaints: 50, above this model's typical 43 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	4Diesel, Gas	24	200	$3,200	4	43	2	742	AIR BAGS 40%, ENGINE 12%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 43, in line with this model's typical 43 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	4Diesel, Gas	24	140	$3,200	4	43	2	773	AIR BAGS 65%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10%
complaints: 43, in line with this model's typical 43 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	4Diesel, Gas	24	200	$3,200	3	20	0	773	AIR BAGS 40%, ENGINE 12%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 20, below this model's typical 43 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	5Diesel, Gas	27	no data	$2,850	7	180	1	970	AIR BAGS 34%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 180, about 3.3x this model's typical 54 recalls: 7, about 1.8x this model's typical 4 Score: 15 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	4Gas	27	no data	$2,300	6	119	1	829	AIR BAGS 32%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 119, about 2.8x this model's typical 43 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 14 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	4Gas	27.5	no data	$2,250	5	71	1	850	AIR BAGS 27%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 71, about 1.7x this model's typical 43 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 44 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	4Gas	27.5	no data	$2,250	7	45	1	787	AIR BAGS 41%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 45, above this model's typical 43 recalls: 7, about 1.8x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	4Gas	27	no data	$2,325	4	14	1	694	AIR BAGS 37%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 11%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 14, below this model's typical 43 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	3Gas	25	no data	$2,500	3	16	1	649	AIR BAGS 47%, POWER TRAIN 11%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11%
complaints: 16, below this model's typical 32 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Hybrid	31.5	no data	$1,975	6	9	0	726	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%, AIR BAGS 25%, POWER TRAIN 17%
complaints: 9, below this model's typical 22 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	2Hybrid	31	no data	$2,025	2	7	0	642	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 36%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, COMMUNICATION 9%
complaints: 7, below this model's typical 22 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	2Hybrid	31	no data	$2,025	0	2	0	543	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 50%, SERVICE BRAKES 25%, STEERING 25%
complaints: 2, below this model's typical 22 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 Score: 94 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	1Gas	28	no data	$2,950	0	5	0	375	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 38%, BACK OVER PREVENTION 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 5, below this model's typical 11 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 Score: 88 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	1Gas	28	no data	$2,950	0	1	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 11 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 Score: 94 of 100, where higher is better.
2027	1Gas	28	no data	$2,950	0	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 11 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2006: 24 to 2027: 28

Owner complaints2006: 123 to 2027: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Audi A3 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.