Buying a used 2018 Audi A3? Check these 2 recalls first
Two recalls apply: a critical fuel leak risk shared with the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta, and a passenger airbag that may deactivate on the A3 and S3. Neither carries a stop-driving or park-outside warning. The complaint record leans the same way — of 44 unverified reports to NHTSA (1 crash, 2 injuries, no fires), 24 fall under air bags, far ahead of fuel, electrical and engine. Airbag behavior is the recurring theme for this year.
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.
- Verify the fuel leak recall was completed and look for fuel odor or staining under the car.
- Sit in the passenger seat and confirm the airbag status light reads correctly.
- Ask for service records showing the passenger airbag deactivation recall repair.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf, Jetta and Audi A3 fuel leak risk | Fuel System, Gasoline | critical |
| Audi A3 and S3 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 |