RoadVitals

2012 Audi A3 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
43
Latest Jun 11, 2022
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 19, 2013

What this page shows

Our database holds 43 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Audi A3. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 43 · page 1 of 2

Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 11, 2022

The tail light bulbs melts plastic and can cause fire. My light indicator came on. When I checked the bulb, the internal structure was melted. I ordered exact model from a junk yard. When I received, I noticed it had the same issue and the internal structure was melting from heat of light bulb. Both Left and Right Tail light structures were melting. Potential fire hazard.

NHTSA ID
11468825
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2022

air bag came on in dash. even though the air bag was recalled and fixed by dealer

NHTSA ID
11446150
Incident
Aug 4, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jul 7, 2019

THIS CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED IN 2012 AND THEREFORE NO LONGER NEEDS THE AIRBAG RECALL TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. PLEASE REMOVE THIS RECALL NOTICE FROM THE DATABASE.

NHTSA ID
11229869
Incident
Nov 1, 2012
Airbags
Filed Apr 4, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI CARLSBAD (5425 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008, (760) 438-9490) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11193835
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Airbags
Filed Dec 8, 2018
Crash reported

I HAVE HAD A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT REPLACED AT AUDI SINCE 2016, I HAVE SENT EMAILS TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THEY KEPT SAYING "THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AIRBAGS IN STOCK". I HAVE TRIED ANOTHER AUID AND GERT THE SAME ANSWER.

NHTSA ID
11156978
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 12, 2018

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED RECALL INFORMATION FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE. - I CALLED AUDI STEVENS CREEK 888-462-7410 AS INSTRUCTED TO SCHEDULE REPAIR - AUDI SAID THEY ARE NOT DOING THE REPAIR AS NO AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY AUDI AMERICA - THERE IS NO ETA WHEN REPAIR MAY BE DONE THE STEVENS CREEK AUDI DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO SCHEDULE MY AIRBAG REPAIR. AUDI CLAIMS AIRBAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE AUDI A3 VEHICLES. AUDI'S INABILITY TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG AS REQUIRED BY THE SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE NOTED IN THE FILE IN CASE ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO ME OR MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING. AUDI WILL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES FOR THEIR INABILITY TO PROVIDE THE AIRBAG REPAIR IN A TIMELY MANOR. THANK YOU, [XXX] VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11150977
Incident
Nov 12, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 8, 2018

CARBON BUILDUP ON FUEL INJECTORS AFTER 60K, DEALERSHIP IS DENYING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. IT'S COMMON ISSUE WITH DI ENGINES, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA ID
11150212
Incident
Nov 2, 2018
Airbags
Filed Oct 18, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (RUSNAK PASADENA AUDI, 267 W COLORADO BOULEVARD, PASADENA, CA 91105) CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11141322
Incident
Mar 19, 2018
Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. LAST YEAR I SPECIFICALLY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AUDI TAMPA (105 E FOWLER AVE, TAMPA, FL) FOR THIS PURPOSE ON AUGUST 9 2017. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE TIME, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW WHY I WAS THERE SAID THEY HAD RUN OUT AND NOT TO WORRY THAT THE RECALL ISN'T THAT BAD. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT A YEAR LATER I AM REMINDED THAT THIS STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED BY AUDI. AS AN ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER I DON'T HAVE THE TIME NOR FLEXIBILITY TO CHASE AUDI DOWN. I WOULD EXPECT THAT AUDI WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS CONSIDERING THIS IS AN ERROR IN THEIR DESIGN AND IMPACTS THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

NHTSA ID
11140499
Incident
Aug 9, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jul 20, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI CHANDLER, 7460 W ORCHID LN, CHANDLER, AZ 85226, (480) 941-0000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11112604
Incident
Nov 4, 2017
Airbags
Filed Feb 13, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. UPON ATTEMPTING TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN CALIFORNIA, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND WAS UNABLE TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE DUE TO AN OPEN RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN AUDI DEALER IN SANTA ANA, CA AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL OF 2018. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11072496
Incident
Feb 13, 2018
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 17, 2017

1.CAR SLIPS ON WET SNOW WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WITH BRAKE ASSIST ON 2. 30 AMP FUSE FOR RIGHT SIDE CONTROL MODULE BLOWS OFF EVERY WEEK AFTER REPLACING TO A BLACK CHAR

NHTSA ID
11055129
Incident
Dec 15, 2017
Mileage
64,230 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. WAITING OVER 10 MONTHS FOR RECALL REPLACEMENT. TAKING TOO LONG.

NHTSA ID
11035333
Incident
Dec 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jul 24, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI SOUTH BURLINGTON, 1325 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403 (802) 861-3010, WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE INQUIRED ABOUT A LOANER VEHICLE BUT WAS DENIED VIA THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11010313
Incident
Jul 24, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jun 23, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. RECALL DATED FEBRUARY 2016. IT IS NOW JUNE 2017. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLY LONG TIME FOR BOTH AUDI AND TAKATA.

NHTSA ID
11000767
Incident
Feb 9, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 13, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10972338
Incident
Feb 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 2, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10958294
Incident
Apr 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 27, 2017

TAKATA RECALL: I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL BY LETTER OVER ONE YEAR AGO. I HAVE TRIED TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT TWO DIFFERENT AUDI DEALERSHIPS. BOTH DEALERSHIPS STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WAIT FOR A REPAIR ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THE CURRENT AIRBAG IN MY CAR IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK THAT WHEN INFLATED DURING A CRASH COULD SHOOT METAL FRAGMENTS INTO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS (ME!). THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE. I EXPECT AN EXPEDIENT INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
10957361
Incident
Feb 9, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 22, 2017

TAMARA RECALL. I RECEIVED A LETTER FEBRUARY OF 2016 NOTIFYING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ONE YEAR LATER THERE IS STILL NO SOLUTION FROM AUDI TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE I AM DRIVING A TIME BOMB. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?

NHTSA ID
10956342
Incident
Feb 9, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE INTERIM RECALL NOTIFICATION DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10950132
Incident
Feb 9, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 5, 2017

TAKATA RECALL I FEEL PARANOID,SCARED AND WORRIED TO DRIVE ANYWHERE IN MY CAR, THIS IS NEGLIGENCE AND IT HAS TAKEN ALMOST 2 YEARS AND NOTHING IS GOING ON. I CANT BELIEVE SUCH A COMPANY ISNT BEING FORCED TO PRODUCE NEW BAGS!!! ITS ABSURD.

NHTSA ID
10949650
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 19, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. AM VERY ANNOYED AND ANGRY AT HOW LONG THIS IS TAKING. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE ON THE ROAD AND ITS NOT OK, ITS NEGLECT! I GOT A LETTER IN APRIL 2016 AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BBB AND THEY CANT DO MUCH EITHER.

NHTSA ID
10946513
Incident
Apr 12, 2016
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 12, 2017

AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND MOVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE DASH DISPLAY SHOWED MULTIPLE WARNINGS REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS. APPROXIMATELY 12 EXTERIOR LIGHTS HAD ALL GONE OUT AT ONCE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE I CHECKED THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE BAY AND FUSE F16 (30A) HAD MELTED WITH RESIDUE ON THE CONTACT BUT NOT FAILED. THE CONTACT ON THE FUSE BOX ALSO HAD RESIDUE AND THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC WAS MELTED AS WELL. THE SAME EXACT ISSUE OCCURRED ON MY 2009-2011 VW TIGUAN AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V569000 AND VW RECALL NUMBER: 97Z9/2V). THE PART RECALLED IN THE TIGUAN IS THE SAME EXACT PART USED IN THE 2012 AUDI A3 (PART #: 1K0937125D). AOA SHOULD RECALL THE PART AS WAS DONE BY VW. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE SUCH AS LOSS OF EXTERIOR LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND POSSIBILITY OF FIRE CAUSED BY OVERHEATING. ATTACHED ARE PHOTOS OF THE MELTED FUSE AND FUSE BOX AS WELL AS THE VW TIGUAN RECALL NOTICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10944962
Incident
Jan 12, 2017
Mileage
72,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 26, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I'M MAKING CAR PAYMENTS ON IT AND CANNOT DRIVE IT. THE AIRBAGS NEED TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10928078
Incident
Feb 9, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 6, 2016

TAKATA RECALL REPAIR NOT AVAILABLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. IT'S BEEN 7 MONTHS SINCE WE RECEIVED THE NOTICE OF RECALL, BUT NO SOLUTION IS YET AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10924483
Incident
Apr 1, 2016

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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