Audi A3 Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 339 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Audi A3 across 16 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (56). The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (16% of reports).
- 339air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 8related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Takata air bags: mentioned in 54 of 339 complaints (16%)
- Passenger seat: mentioned in 42 of 339 complaints (12%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 78 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 339 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 6 an injury.
Audi A3 air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 A3 | 3 | 33% | 26,000 |
| 2020 A3 | 9 | 56% | 7,000 |
| 2019 A3 | 3 | 30% | 13,500 |
| 2018 A3 | 17 | 52% | 16,500 |
| 2017 A3 | 16 | 36% | 47,500 |
| 2016 A3 | 37 | 45% | 44,000 |
| 2015 A3 | 45 | 48% | 53,250 |
| 2013 A3 | 10 | 50% | 40,500 |
| 2012 A3 | 31 | 72% | 60,000 |
| 2011 A3 | 20 | 47% | 48,000 |
| 2010 A3 | 13 | 26% | 96,000 |
| 2009 A3 | 22 | 47% | 88,500 |
| 2008 A3 | 24 | 56% | 87,000 |
| 2007 A3 | 32 | 62% | 77,500 |
| 2006 A3 | 56 | 46% | 120,000 |
| 2003 A3 | 1 | 50% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (8)
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Model years: 2023
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
Risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2022
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Audi S3, A3, and RS3 vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been folded incorrectly.
Risk: An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69DZ.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Model years: 2016
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger; air bags:on-off switch assembly
Model years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 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
Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Air bags:side/window
Model years: 2006
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, during production of the air bag, either the left or the right side curtain air bag inflation module may leak.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the air bag may not inflate as designed increasing the risk of injury to a seat occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the side curtain air bag free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2006. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2016 Audi A3 (VIN [XXX]) underwent Safety Recall 69BY on XXX, to correct a defect in the front passenger occupant detection system (PODS), including replacement of the occupant detection sensor. Less than two years later, the same safety-system malfunction returned. The vehicle intermittently…
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the front passengerâs side air bag occupant sensor failed to identify a passenger seat in the seat. A dealer was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that PODS…
Airbag pressure sensing fault in passenger seat. Fix is $1,800
Passenger airbag not activated when passenger is seated
Audi had a recall on my 2018 A3 for a Passenger Occupant Detection System. in July 2023, Audi replaced the PODS Sensor mat. Recently, the same car has encountered the same issue. The PODS light indicates the airbag is off even if a passenger is sitting in the seat. There has been not repair work…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Audi A3s have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 339 owner complaints about air bags for the Audi A3. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Audi A3 air bags?
Yes: 8 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Audi A3?
The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 54 of 339 complaints, followed by “passenger seat” (42).
Other Audi A3 problems
- Power Train problems (126)
See all Audi A3 problems.