The 2013 Audi A3 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 314,775 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS19V8620002019-12-04226 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring…
Consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9,…
AIR BAGS18V0820002018-01-30162,782 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the…
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially…
AIR BAGS16V0790002016-02-10151,767 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
10
ENGINE
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
POWER TRAIN
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
1
Total complaints25
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2013 audi a3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly went into limp mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the glow plugs failed to function and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to…”
“Car stalled in fast moving traffic, and then lurched forward. In the stall the car behind me almost ran into me. In the lurch, I almost rear ended someone. Fortunate that both times there was no collision. Took the vehicle to audi and the car has been diagnosed with failed mechatronic - a $4,000…”
“Car stalled in fast moving traffic, and then lurched forward. In the stall the car behind me almost ran into me. In the lurch, I almost rear ended someone. Fortunate that both times there was no collision. Took the vehicle to audi and the car has been diagnosed with failed mechatronic - a $4,000…”
“Intermittent problems with exterior lighting. I already replaced one of the rear license plate lights (not a bulb issue) and am now experiencing rear passenger side tail light issues where the tail light and directional signal cease working during the driving process and then start working at…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2013 audi a3. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shifted into first gear without warning. The vehicle was taken to audi temecula (40955 temecula center dr, temecula, ca 92591, [REDACTED]) where it was diagnosed that the dps filter needed to be replaced; however, the…”
“Takata recall - dealer informed me the recall part has been unavailable for 1 year and will continue to be unavailable for an additional 2 - 6 months. No recall maintence is able to be scheduled. The risk associated with this recall is death to the driver. Unacceptable.”
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 audi a3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Royal…”
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 audi a3. The contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 18v084000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. The dealer (audi minneapolis, 9393 wyzata blvd, golden valley,…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2013 Audi A3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.