Of the 10 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Audi A3,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
1 (50%)
50-75k
1 (50%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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
All 2 active airbags recalls on this vehicle are classified critical — based on documented crash, fire, or fatality outcomes in NHTSA's record.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2013 A3 owners are stuck in a parts-shortage limbo on multiple Takata airbag recalls; one owner reported debris discharge from the steering column module, raising questions about inflator degradation even before a crash.
Ten complaints center almost entirely on a parts-supply breakdown during the Takata airbag recall campaigns. Owners received official recall notices (16V061000, 16V079000, 18V082000, 18V084000) but dealers—including Royal Automotive Group in San Francisco and Audi Minneapolis—confirmed that replacement inflators were simply not available. One owner noted the parts had been unavailable for a year with an additional 2–6 month delay projected. Multiple owners contacted dealers and Audi multiple times with no resolution or firm delivery date.
One notable exception: an owner reported a hissing noise and particulate discharge from the steering column airbag during normal driving on 12/31/2017. Debris was directed at the driver's face for 10–15 seconds and was inhaled. The owner expressed concern about inflator integrity and the risk of unintended deployment.
The remaining complaints reflect frustration over the recall's delay—owners emphasized the safety risk, particularly those with teenage drivers. No owner reported an actual airbag deployment failure or injury, only the inability to complete the mandated repair due to parts scarcity.
Takata airbag inflator parts unavailable for recall repair
Multiple NHTSA recalls issued for Takata airbag inflators (campaigns 16V061000, 16V079000, 18V082000, 18V084000), but dealers and manufacturers could not obtain replacement parts for extended periods, preventing owners from completing the recall work. Owners reported waiting months to years without resolution or clear timelines for part availability.
When: 2016-2017 timeframe; one owner noted waiting 1 year already with 2-6 months additional delay projected
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notices received but repair could not be scheduled; Dealers confirm parts unavailable; No estimated delivery date provided by manufacturer; Prolonged wait times (owners reported recalls initiated April 2016, February 2016 with no resolution months/years later)
Takata inflator degradation with particulate matter discharge
One owner reported a hissing noise and discharge of particulate matter from the steering column airbag area during normal driving on 12/31/2017. The debris was directed at the driver's face for 10-15 seconds and was inhaled. Owner expressed concern about airbag functionality in a crash or risk of unintended deployment.
When: 12/31/2017 during normal driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Hissing noise from steering column area; Particulate matter discharge from airbag module; Debris directed toward driver's face; Concern about airbag reliability and unintended deployment risk
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
10 most recent
airbags · 50,000 mi
· filed 12/07/2018
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.
airbags
· filed 10/17/2018
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, mn 55426) confirmed that parts were not available to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was…
airbags
· filed 10/16/2018
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 automotive group (1525 howard street, san francisco, california, (415) 241-8100) was made aware of the…
airbags
· filed 10/05/2016
Takata recall- 16v079 recall date: february 9, 2016 my vehicle is almost 4 years old and no due diligence has been taken to remedy this unsafe and possibly defective airbag.
airbags
· filed 08/25/2016
Nothing has happened yet, but my airbag was recalled 6 months ago and I haven't been notified of any fix available. Please advise.
airbags
· filed 08/24/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Audi a3. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags) was received in april of 2016. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be…
airbags
· filed 04/13/2017
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Audi a3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v079000 (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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution…
airbags
· filed 03/23/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Audi a3. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). The part was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
airbags
· filed 03/09/2017
We have not yet heard from Audi or takata when this recall will be performed. Because this car is driven by teenagers, we are very concerned and anxious to get this recall done. Please advise. Thanks, nick p.s. Note that the car was purchased used and was first registered and driven in new jersey from 2013-2016
airbags · 31,000 mi
· filed 01/05/2018
Takata inflator replacement issue on 12/31/2017 I was driving in los angeles under normal conditions when suddenly there was a hissing noise and some kind of particulate matter spewed from around the steering column where there is a join with the wheel. This was directed at my face for 10-15 seconds which I breathed in as I was driving. I am also "concerned" about the nature and contents of…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Audi A3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 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 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 40,500 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?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2013/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.