Menu

2010 Audi A3Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 50 owner complaints about the 2010 Audi A3, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-079 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.

2010 Audi A3
49
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the A3 median · #5 of 14 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 40%Owner complaints502 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage96kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 25, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: OSX, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2010 Audi A3 has problems

50 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags131
Fuel system, diesel130
Power train110
Fuel/propulsion system40
Engine40
Fuel system, gasoline30
Service brakes20
Electrical system20
Tires20
4 other systems52

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2010 Audi A3 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

75%repaired · 2020 Q3

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 18V-082 · Jan 30, 2018 · 162,782 vehicles · 122,309 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

40%repaired · 2018 Q2

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 16V-079 · Feb 10, 2016 · 151,767 vehicles · 61,266 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, diesel

Recall 11V-490 · Oct 3, 2011 · 168,275 vehicles

Risk. DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Audi.

Best & worst years

2010 vs. every other A3 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the A3 median. How we score

'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'15'16'17'18'19'20'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2010 Audi A3 safety ratings

2010 Audi A3 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2010 Audi A3, and the recalls they led to.

  1. High-Pressure Fuel Pump FailureEA11003 · closed Mar 27, 2015
    No recall
  2. VEHICLE STALL/LOSS MOTIVE POWERPE09035 · closed Nov 19, 2009
    Led to recall 09V-333
  3. High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (HPFP)PE10034 · closed Feb 8, 2011
    No recall
  4. Diesel Fuel Injector Line LeakagePE11023 · closed Dec 2, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-490
In owners' words

What A3 owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. THE…
Complaint 11141431 · Oct 19, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED (AUDI MARIN, 700 FRANCISCO BLVD W, SAN…
Complaint 11140418 · Oct 15, 2018
TAKATA RECALL-THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT HAD ANY REPLACEMENT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, THAT WOULD REPLACE THE BAD AIRBAG.
Complaint 11123847 · Aug 31, 2018

Own a 2010 A3?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.