2012 Audi A3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 46 complaints
46
Total Complaints
64,230mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

50,209 25th Percentile
64,230 Median Mileage
71,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
31
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CPSC: I1360446A. 2012 AUDI A3 WAGON. CONSUMER STATED THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKES ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. ALSO STATES CANNOT GET FOOT OFF GAS WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT ON THE BRAKE IF IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *LN"
"TRAVELING AT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH. CAR INSTANTLY BECAME INOPERABLE. LUCKILY WAS APPROACHING AN EXIT AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR DIED ON THE RAMP AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAUL THE CAR ..."
"THE F16 FUSE WHICH IS RECALLED ON THE VW SIDE MELTED, CAUSING THE SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT. THE DEALER ON TOP IF THIS REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE, AND WILL NOT PROPERLY FIX THE CAR. I REPLACED THE FUSE WITH ANOTHER, THE RECAL..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28