Research · complaint index
Audi A3 years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 15 model years of the Audi A3 by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2015, 2016, 2017, 2006 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2020 | 17 | 2 | 0.9 | 3 | 1 | Typical |
| 2019 | 12 | 2 | 0.6 | 3 | 0 | Typical |
| 2018 | 44 | 5 | 1.8 | 3 | 1 | Typical |
| 2017 | 63 | 6 | 2.4 | 3 | 0 | Most complaints |
| 2016 | 114 | 10 | 3.9 | 4 | 3 | Most complaints |
| 2015 | 180 | 15 | 5.6 | 2 | 1 | Most complaints |
| 2013 | 20 | 1 | 0.5 | 3 | 0 | Typical |
| 2012 | 43 | 3 | 1.1 | 4 | 1 | Typical |
| 2011 | 42 | 3 | 1.0 | 4 | 0 | Typical |
| 2010 | 50 | 3 | 1.1 | 5 | 1 | Typical |
| 2009 | 48 | 3 | 1.0 | 5 | 5 | Typical |
| 2008 | 43 | 2 | 0.8 | 3 | 2 | Typical |
| 2007 | 52 | 3 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | Typical |
| 2006 | 123 | 6 | 2.2 | 4 | 3 | Most complaints |
- 20242 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 202017 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 201912 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 201844 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 201763 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2016114 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2015180 complaints · 2 recallsMost complaints
- 201320 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 201243 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 201142 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 201050 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 200948 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 200843 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 200752 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2006123 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Nov 10, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2024.
About this comparison
What Audi A3 years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2006 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 15 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.