2012 Audi A3
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 31 of 43 complaints (72%) mention it.
Complaints filed held steady at 43 in both 2011 and 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | vs. 2012 Small Station Wagons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,800–3,250 | 2,800–3,250 | 2,800–3,250 | 2,800–3,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–32 | 24–32 | 24–32 | 24–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–29 / 28–37 | 21–29 / 28–37 | 21–29 / 28–37 | 21–29 / 28–37 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 318–370 | 318–370 | 318–370 | 318–385 | |
| Complaints filed | 50 | 43 | 43 | 20 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Audi A3 have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Audi A3?
Airbags & Restraints: 31 of 43 NHTSA complaints (72%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Audi A3 get?
EPA rates it 24–32 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Audi A3?
EPA estimates $2,800–$3,250 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Small Station Wagons | 29 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $2,800 (low) | 318 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 21 mpg (low) | 30 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | $3,250 (high) | 370 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 22 mpg | 28 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $3,250 (high) | 370 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 21 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $3,250 (high) | 370 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 19V862000 · Dec 5, 2019
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 after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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, and 69Y5.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 18V082000 · Feb 2, 2018
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 inflator to explode.
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 supersedes recall 16V-078.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 16V079000 · Feb 10, 2016
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL · Campaign 11V490000 · Oct 3, 2011
Defect: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.
Consequence: DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.