Research · Compact Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2018 Audi A3Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 44 owner complaints for the 2018 Audi A3. Most complaints involve air bags (24) and fuel/propulsion system (5). The EPA rates it 25–36 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
25–36mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Feb 2024
Owner complaints
44
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,150est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system, gasoline

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Feb 14, 2024NHTSA 24V110000

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Mar 22, 2021NHTSA 21V198000

Air bags: occupant classification

Free remedy

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.

Air bagsReported Jun 19, 2019NHTSA 19V474000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

44 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jun 2018 – Jun 2026
  1. Air bags24
  2. Fuel/propulsion system5
  3. Electrical system5
  4. Engine4
  5. Tires4
  6. Power train4
  7. Seats2
  8. Exterior lighting2
  9. Fuel system, gasoline1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each A3 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2006123
200752
200843
200948
201050
201142
201243
201320
2015180
2016114
201763
201844
201912
202017
20242
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

24 reports1 crash
“Audi had a recall on my 2018 A3 for a Passenger Occupant Detection System. in July 2023, Audi replaced the PODS Sensor mat. Recently, the same car has encountered the same issue. The PODS light indicates the airbag is off even if a passenger is sitting in the seat. There has been not repair work since July 2023, that would impact the PODS. And the warning lights reappeared after a period of normalcy. I feel this is an incomplete recall remedy and Audi is now wanting to charge me for the repair”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2025Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11668621

Fuel/propulsion system

5 reports
“Hello, I dropped my car off at Audi and Dominion in San Antonio Texas on Thursday July 10th for a repair this was a recall for the fuel pump system in something in the mechatronic controls. They had my car until Saturday I was informed that the repairs were done under warranty. Then on Saturday July 19th as I began to drive the vehicle a alert for my transmission malfunction appeared on my dashboard and I Lost first gear. I had my car taken to Audi on Dominion where I was informed by several service staff that this is a common malfunction after the last software update that was done the week prior and that it could take up to 48 hours to do the repair and recall warranty work on my vehicle. Audi on Dominion has had my vehicle for 5 days and has not given me an answer as to know whether or not the repairs will be approved as this is covered under my extended warranty. My car was working perfectly fine until I was forced to take it in for this recall of which Audi has failed to provide a loaner vehicle or give accurate information as to whether or not the repairs will be covered. I have been informed that I will be responsible for the cost of the repairs. These…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2025Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11675534

Electrical system

5 reports
“The vehicle pre-sense stopped the vehicle due to the detection of an object however, there was no object. This happened going forward and in reverse multiple times, causing the car to come to a sudden, abrupt stop even at speeds in excess of 30mph. This resulting in my teen daughter having bruising from the seat belt. The car was taken to the dealership and the dealership recalibrated the control unit. The vehicle continues to unnecessarily activate pre-sense when in reverse, and causes the car to come to an abrupt halt despite there being no object. The system may be responding to shadows. Numerous returns to the service department continue to yield “no codes”. The PODS system was recalled and this is a related system.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2024Electrical system, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11582606
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Subcompact Cars
Engines
1.4L 4-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (AM-S6) · Automatic (AM-S7)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline · Regular Gasoline
EV range
400 mi (EPA)

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
A3 e-tron
Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
343936$2,150150
A3
Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263529$2,150303
A3 Cabriolet
Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
253328$2,200315
A3 quattro
Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
243127$2,300330
A3 Cabriolet quattro
Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500359
  • A3 e-tron
    Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    34 city · 39 hwy · $2,150/yr
    36
    mpg comb.
  • A3
    Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    26 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • A3 Cabriolet
    Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    25 city · 33 hwy · $2,200/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • A3 quattro
    Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    24 city · 31 hwy · $2,300/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
  • A3 Cabriolet quattro
    Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

5 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Audi A3 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.9%
Overall
5 / 5
Audi A3 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 12375Vehicle 12374Vehicle 12280
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2018 A3 questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Audi A3 have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2018 Audi A3 problems?

Owners filed 44 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (24), fuel/propulsion system (5), electrical system (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2018 Audi A3 get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Audi A3 at 25–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

How safe is the 2018 Audi A3?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Audi A3 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026