In conjunction with the New Mexico DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 389 Audi owners in the State of New Mexico on March 13, 2023.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Audi A3 airbags problems
moderate 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 32 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Audi A3, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 32 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
In conjunction with the Massachusetts DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,907 Audi owners in the State of Massachusetts on March 13, 2023.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In conjunction with the Colorado DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,174 Audi owners in the State of Colorado on February 13, 2023.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Takata recall and 3G turndown
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In conjunction with the New York DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 5,165 Audi owners in the State of New York on October 17, 2022.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report receiving Takata recall notices (campaign numbers 16V079000 and 18V082000) for the driver frontal airbag inflator, which Takata states could rupture during a crash, sending metal fragments through the cushion into the occupant's face. Audi promised free repair, but dealers nationwide cannot perform the work—parts remain unavailable or indefinitely backordered. One owner waited over a year after the initial 2016 notice; another was notified in April, called dealers by month's end in 2017, and still had no timeline by June 2017. A third owner reports the April 2018 promised availability came and went by November 2018, leaving parts still unavailable. Most dealers cannot estimate when stock will arrive. Audi's website claims parts are available, but dealers contradict this. One owner in Hawaii was told no local dealer exists and Audi would not cover transport costs. Several owners emphasize driving an unrepaired vehicle with family or passengers feels dangerous. A few state other manufacturers provided loaner cars; Audi has not. One owner confirms eventual repair (August 2017), but the vast majority of 32 complaints cite unresolved, indefinitely delayed recalls.
Same Audi A3 airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Takata PSDI-5 Driver Frontal Airbag Inflator Rupture Risk
Takata driver frontal airbag inflator could rupture during a frontal crash deployment, allowing metal fragments to pass through the airbag cushion and strike occupants, risking serious injury or death.
When: Multiple model years; 2007 A3 affected. Recall notices issued 2016–2018 (campaigns 16V079000, 18V082000). Defect has existed for 10+ years in some owner vehicles.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received from Audi; Potential rupture and metal fragment projection during frontal crash
Codes mentioned: 16V079000, 18V082000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall requires replacement of Takata PSDI-5 driver frontal airbag inflator; however, repair parts have been unavailable or on indefinite backorder at dealers nationwide. Multiple owners report attempted repairs canceled multiple times due to lack of parts. One owner reports vehicle eventually repaired (narrative #5, updated 08/29/2017). Most owners remain unrepaired as of complaint date.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi stated (March 2017) it would replace affected airbags at no cost per NHTSA oversight. However, dealers consistently report no parts availability and no estimated arrival date. Audi website claims parts are available (narrative #3), contradicting dealer reports. Some owners told Takata is responsible for supply (narrative #22). No loaner vehicles or alternative transportation offered. One owner in Hawaii (narrative #17, #26) refused to pay $500 shipping plus 2-week vehicle downtime; no dealer service available locally. One owner (narrative #11) noted other manufacturers provided rental cars during recall repairs.
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 17 most recent
Air bag recall taking too long. They keep saying that a repair is not yet available.
Takata recall I am unable to obtain any definitive information from the nearest dealer regarding when an airbag replacement can be done. The dealerships state that they do not have a loaner program. What can a consumer do to expedite a resolution to this matter?
Takata recall.I have had no information from Audi since the initial notice in april. My car will be 10 years old this coming april. According to news media there is suppose to be some priority status set based on age and location but I can not find what my priority is. Given the lack of action I would like my priority number or approval to disconnect this safety hazard!
Takata recall. I have scheduled with my local Audi dealer two times to have this airbag recall replacement completed, and both times, they have called me to inform me that they a) do not have the parts, and b) do not know when they will get them. This happened again for the second time today, 11/14/2018 with royal motors san francisco. According to https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/VIN/vinlookup…
"takata recall" - I have been getting notices for a year and still can't get this work performed. I have contacted (800) 253-2834 and they still haven't gotten back to me. Nhsta campaign number: 16v079000. Fuel tank ventilation valve NHTSA campain number: 09v37700 never got notice on this recall till I went on your site. I need to know if Audi will ever get these parts/service centers…
Takata recall. No repair to this issue is available nor can I be given an estimate of the time frame involved from Audi of america. Yet other manufacturers such as Honda are already making the repairs. This is a complete outrage. If something happens to myself or family who is accountable for this issue?
Takata recall I have called the Audi dealer to get my defective airbag replaced in june. I have made repeated calls to see when I can have this replaced. The dealer advised they only receive the parts intermittently and will advise us when we are next on the list for replacement. It is october and still have not received replacement. This is my main car for daily use.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Audi a3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Audi south coast (1425 auto mall dr, santa ana, ca 92705, (714) 973-7766) was contacted and confirmed that the…
Takata recall has not been responded to with actionable options.
Takata recall - this recall is 2 years old. Audi still does not have parts to repair my affected vehicle. They do not know when they will have parts. When will I be able to get my car repaired? Will I ever be able to get my car repaired?
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Audi A3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Audi A3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 32 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 32 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 73,667 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Audi/A3.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.