Buying a used 2018 Audi A3? Check these 2 recalls first
The 2018 Audi A3 has 2 recalls in this group: a fuel tank seal that may cause leaks and a passenger airbag that may deactivate. Airbag issues stand out in the complaint record as well, with 24 of the 44 NHTSA owner complaints listed under air bags. These are unverified reports, not confirmed defects. Other listed areas include fuel/propulsion system and electrical system with 5 each, and engine with 4. Verify recall repairs separately from symptom history.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Request fuel tank seal recall completion and any leak repair records.
- Verify passenger airbag recall completion and check airbag warning indicators.
- Ask about electrical faults and documented engine problems.
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Audi dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2018 Audi A3
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Audi, VW Fuel Tank Seal May Cause Leaks | Fuel System, Gasoline | critical |
| Audi A3, S3, RS3 Passenger Airbag May Deactivate | AIR Bags | high |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
44 complaints filed for this model year, including 1 mentioning a crash, 0 a fire and 2 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| AIR Bags | 24 | Yes |
| Fuel System | 5 | Yes |
| Electrical System | 5 | None found |
| Engine | 4 | None found |
| Tires | 4 | None found |
| Power Train | 4 | None found |