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ProblemsByVin File / 2013-AUDI-A3
2013 · audi

audi A3 problems

2 safety recalls. 20 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.4 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

2
Critical
0
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
10 reports · avg $1,100
moderate
engine
3 reports · avg $3,100
moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2013 A3 · airbags
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.
12/07/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11156765.0
2013 A3 · engine
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, (951) 200-8100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DPS FILTER NEEDED TO BE…
12/06/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11287569.0
2013 A3 · airbags
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…
10/17/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11140822.0
2013 A3 · airbags
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…
10/16/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11140631.0

Estimate your repair exposure

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Active recalls showing 2 of 2

critical NHTSA 18V082000 30/01/2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

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.

Fix: 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.
critical NHTSA 16V079000 10/02/2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2013 Audi A3 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Audi A3 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2013 Audi A3?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 10 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Audi A3 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Audi A3?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 20 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with audi. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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