Short answer
Among Audi A3 model years through 2024, 2024 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2015 and 2018 have the most (7). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Audi A3: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 20 (2005–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 31
- Fewest recalls
- 2024 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2015 and 2018 (7)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (36)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2015, 2016, 2017 and 3 more years
Audi A3 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2024 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2023 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2022 | 6 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Air bags, Child seat |
| 2020 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Tires |
| 2019 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Tires |
| 2018 | 7 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Seats |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2016 | 6 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Exterior lighting |
| 2015 | 7 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Equipment |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2012 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, diesel |
| 2011 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, diesel |
| 2010 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, diesel, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2009 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2007 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2006 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20250 recalls
- 20240 recalls
- 20232 recalls
- 20226 recalls
- 20203 recalls
- 20194 recalls
- 20187 recalls
- 20175 recalls
- 20166 recalls
- 20157 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20124 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20105 recalls
- 20095 recalls
- 20083 recalls
- 20073 recalls
- 20064 recalls
- 20051 recall
Audi A3: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Audi A3 recalls are air bags (36), fuel system, gasoline (15), equipment (3), fuel system, diesel (3) and seats (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 6 of these 20 model years, and 2015, 2016, 2017 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Audi A3 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Audi A3?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Audi A3 model years have the most recalls?
2015 and 2018 have the most, with 7 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "A3", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy