Problems · NHTSA complaints

2020 Audi A3 problems

Owners filed 17 complaints about the 2020 Audi A3 with NHTSA between Aug 2021 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (9).

Complaints
17
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags9
  2. Power train2
  3. Electrical system2
  4. Engine1
  5. Tires1
  6. Structure1
  7. Seat belts1
  8. Wheels1
  9. Vehicle speed control1
  10. Other / unknown2

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20215
20227
20230
20241
20253
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

9 reports1 related recall
“The passenger occupant detection system has permanently failed and causes my passenger airbag to be off at all times including when a passenger is seated in the vehicle. The seatbelt sensor also goes off when no one is in the seat. Audi dealership said this is an Audi issue and the parts are not in stock. This is a huge safety issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2022Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11482940

Power train

2 reports
“Car has 50,000 miles and vehicle has a bulletin on the vehicle from Audi, where the vehicle goes into limp mode and only shift through certain gears, rendering the vehicle, unable to drive and creating a safety hazard due to the fact that it can’t drive at Highway speed and or jolt and skips gears. Code for the P173600 known issue by Audi, went into mode while merging onto freeway and a lost control of vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2025Power trainODI 11654220

Electrical system

2 reports1 crash
“Water leaking into interior of vehicle and to the trunk of the vehicle. Noticed significant water entered and entering into the trunk of the Audi after a recent rain. Also tested the drainage of water when the moonroof is opened and noticed water leaking into the interior. The audi e-tron is an electric vehicle which may have dangerous electrical implications if water leaking into the interior of the vehicle finds it way to the batteries (fire, electrical system failure, etc.). I have already noticed some electrical malfunctions that may be related to the water intrusion. Traffic avoidance sensors deactivated and or compromised while driving during the rain/cold.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2024Electrical system, StructureODI 11566054

Engine

1 report
“At 70,000 miles with only one owner, it develops transmission problems, making it unsafe to drive and control the car; control of the car is lost. Here is the link from the Dealer [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2026EngineODI 11743138

Tires

1 report1 related recall
“Tire Brand: Continental Tire Line / Model: ProContact TX Tire Size: 225/40R18 What Happened: This is the second tire failure I’ve experienced on Continental ProContact TX tires (OEM on my 2020 Audi A3 S Line). At only 13,000 total miles, I’ve had two separate instances of sidewall bubbles on different tires. •The first occurred in 2022 at just under 7,000 miles and caused the vehicle to fail PA state inspection. Continental covered 50% of the replacement cost after I submitted a warranty claim. •The second bubble appeared in June 2025 on the front passenger tire. At that point, I replaced all four tires out of safety concerns and disposed of the Continentals. The vehicle is in excellent condition, lightly driven, and is not exposed to potholes, curbs, or harsh use. I work remotely, so mileage is extremely low. Both tire failures were from normal road use and developed without any impact or external damage. I contacted Continental again in June 2025 with a full explanation and referenced my prior case. They refused to offer any goodwill or further investigation, stating that I had already disposed of the tires. ⸻ Why This Matters: Experiencing two identical…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2025TiresODI 11669583

Structure

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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