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2008 Audi A3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Audi A3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 18 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

43 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2017
Air Bags

"TAKATA RECALL" RECALL I RECEIVED IF FROM FEBRUARY 2016 (OVER 1 YEAR!!!) AND I STILL DO NOT EVEN HAVE AN INFORMATION WHEN IT IS PLANNED TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10966593

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL. SAFETY RECALL 69N2 - TAKATA PSDI-5 DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG. I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL IN APRIL, 2016. NEARLY 11 MONTHS LATER AND AUDI'S POSITION IS STILL THAT "REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE" FOR MY VEHICLE. THE INACTION BY AUDI AND THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT BY NHTSA IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND PLACES MYS…

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TAKATA RECALL. SAFETY RECALL 69N2 - TAKATA PSDI-5 DRIVER FRONTAL AIRBAG. I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL IN APRIL, 2016. NEARLY 11 MONTHS LATER AND AUDI'S POSITION IS STILL THAT "REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE" FOR MY VEHICLE. THE INACTION BY AUDI AND THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT BY NHTSA IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND PLACES MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN CONTINUING DANGER. PLEASE WORK WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS TO BRING A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST AUDI TO FORCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECALL. AUDI'S POSITION, THAT THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAG INFLATORS, IS CLEARLY FALSE, AS AUDI CONTINUES TO SELL NEW VEHICLES IN THE US EQUIPPED WITH INFLATORS. I SUGGEST THAT NHTSA AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEK AN INJUNCTION BARRING AUDI FROM SELLING ANY NEW VEHICLES IN THE US UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY HAVE FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL, AND REPLACED ALL THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG INFLATORS WITH REPLACEMENT INFLATORS THAT DO NOT UTILIZE AMMONIUM NITRATE PROPELLANTS.

NHTSA ODI #10957428

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2017
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 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 IS…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10947039

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL - AUDI AND TAKATA HAS NOT PROVIDED ME WITH AN OPTION TO EITHER REPAIR MY CAR OR BUY BACK MY CAR. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE AND TO HAVE AUDI SAY "DRIVE CAREFULLY AND WAIT" IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10947035

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2017
Air Bags

I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2016. AFTER WAITING ALMOST A YEAR, AUDI HAS NO IDEA WHEN MY AIR BAG WILL BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND UNSAFE TO SELL TO ANOTHER PARTY. I NEED WAITING ONE YEAR IS PLENTY OF TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10945181

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL: MY AUDI IS ON THE RECALL LIST BUT AUDI HAS NO FIX AVAILABLE AND CAN'T TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL. THEY OFFER TO GIVE ME A BREAK ON A NEW CAR. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER AUDI. I AM MEANWHILE TRYING TO SELL THE AUDI THAT I DO HAVE AND THIS UNREMEDIED RECALL ISSUE IS MAKING THAT IMPOSSIBLE. ALSO, I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTI…

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TAKATA RECALL: MY AUDI IS ON THE RECALL LIST BUT AUDI HAS NO FIX AVAILABLE AND CAN'T TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL. THEY OFFER TO GIVE ME A BREAK ON A NEW CAR. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER AUDI. I AM MEANWHILE TRYING TO SELL THE AUDI THAT I DO HAVE AND THIS UNREMEDIED RECALL ISSUE IS MAKING THAT IMPOSSIBLE. ALSO, I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I SAW THE RECALL INFORMATION ON A CARFAX REPORT.

NHTSA ODI #10936356

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2016
Air Bags

"TAKATA RECALL" RECALL IS OUT SINCE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2016; I RECEIVED RECALL INFO IN APRIL 2016; UNTIL TODAY (9 MONTHS) THERE IS STILL NOT EVEN A DATE FOR REMEDY AVAILABLE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND AUDI IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTIONS TO REDUCE/AVOID THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY. SOUTH CAROLINA IS CLIMATEWISE HIGH-RISK …

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"TAKATA RECALL" RECALL IS OUT SINCE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2016; I RECEIVED RECALL INFO IN APRIL 2016; UNTIL TODAY (9 MONTHS) THERE IS STILL NOT EVEN A DATE FOR REMEDY AVAILABLE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND AUDI IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTIONS TO REDUCE/AVOID THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY. SOUTH CAROLINA IS CLIMATEWISE HIGH-RISK AREA, BUT NOTHING HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI #10928848

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL. BEEN WAITING 8 MONTHS FOR THIS PART TO BE REPLACED AND I WANT TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE?

NHTSA ODI #10918619

75,000 miles · Oct 6, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED THE ATTACHED NOTICE FROM AUDI OF AMERICA, INC., DATED APRIL 2016, AND STATING THAT MY VEHICLE CONTAINS A TAKATA FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR THAT "COULD POTENTIALLY RUPTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY. IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAG…

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TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED THE ATTACHED NOTICE FROM AUDI OF AMERICA, INC., DATED APRIL 2016, AND STATING THAT MY VEHICLE CONTAINS A TAKATA FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR THAT "COULD POTENTIALLY RUPTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY. IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS." THE NOTICE STATES THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I RECENTLY SERVICED MY CAR, AND AGAIN THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I CALLED AUDI USA TODAY AND THEY SAID THAT TAKATA HAS NOT MADE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME AND THEY HAVE NO TIMELINE FOR SUPPLYING THE PARTS. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT A CRITICAL PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN MY VEHICLE COULD ITSELF CAUSE ME OR MY PASSENGERS "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH." I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE WOULD PLEASE ADVISE WHEN THESE REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THIS CRITICAL REPAIR. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10914294

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2016
Air Bags

WHEN ASKING FOR A RECALL REPAIR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS THE MESSAGE I RECEIVED: GOOD AFTERNOON, "WE RECEIVED YOUR INQUIRY TO SETUP AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR AUDI A3 FOR THE AIRBAG CAMPAIGN. UNFORTUNATELY, PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR US TO DO THE REPAIR. YOU WILL BE RECEIVING A SECOND LETTER FROM AUDI SOMETIME FIRST QUA…

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WHEN ASKING FOR A RECALL REPAIR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS THE MESSAGE I RECEIVED: GOOD AFTERNOON, "WE RECEIVED YOUR INQUIRY TO SETUP AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR AUDI A3 FOR THE AIRBAG CAMPAIGN. UNFORTUNATELY, PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR US TO DO THE REPAIR. YOU WILL BE RECEIVING A SECOND LETTER FROM AUDI SOMETIME FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR ON WHEN THE REPAIRS CAN BE DONE. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW. THANKS," IS THIS AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER? I DON'T THINK SO.

NHTSA ODI #10914122

Official recalls

3

18V082000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 30, 2018

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 & remedy

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.

16V079000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Feb 10, 2016

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 & remedy

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.

09V377000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 30, 2009

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUDI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-253-2834.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.