KnownCarProblems2012 Audi A3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Audi A3, most often about the air bags (72% of complaints). It is 10th of 22 A3 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2012 Audi A3 problems
Air bags
31 complaints · 72%Takata recall. I got a letter from Audi on 4/27/2106. The letter is attached. Please ignore my notes. It stated my car was being recalled due to a defective front airbag made by takata. Parts are unavailable and no knows when they will be. I called Audi and they said they would not be providing rental cars to their…
Takata recall I received recall information for the takata airbag in my vehicle. - I called Audi stevens creek [phone] as instructed to schedule repair - Audi said they are not doing the repair as no airbags have been provided by Audi america - there is no eta when repair may be done the stevens creek Audi dealership…
Electrical
6 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles.
1.car slips on wet snow when applying brakes with brake assist on 2. 30 amp fuse for right side control module blows off every week after replacing to a black char
After starting the car and moving a short distance, the dash display showed multiple warnings regarding the exterior lights. Approximately 12 exterior lights had all gone out at once. After some research on the issue I checked the fuse box in the engine bay and fuse f16 (30a) had melted with residue on the contact but…
Lights
5 complaints · 12%The f16 fuse which is recalled on the vw side melted, causing the smell of burnt plastic and exterior lights going out while driving on the interstate at night. The dealer on top if this refuses to acknowledge this issue, and will not properly fix the car. I replaced the fuse with another, the recall on the vw side is…
While driving my lights would randomly go out both during day and night. Dash warning would be bulb out needing replacing but nothing was ever wrong with the bulbs or turn signals. Issue was intermittent and warning would go away on it's own or after car restarted. Later when dash warning came on and stayed on I took…
Fuel system
4 complaints · 9%Traveling at speed on the interstate when the glow plug light warning indicator started flashing on the dash. Car instantly became inoperable. Luckily was approaching an exit and attempted to exit the interstate. The car died on the ramp and would not restart. Called a tow truck to haul the car to Audi of lexington.…
Loss of power at speed in traffic due to a high pressure fuel pump failure, just avoiding a serious accident. I was told it was caused by either incorrect/contaminated fuel or incorrect oil by the dealer service department. I have used only diesel fuel from national stations, have never used bio diesel and have used…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Audi A3 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel system, diesel
Risk: Due to the resonance condition, injector line number 2 could develop small cracks which could lead to fuel leakage. Leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source, may lead to a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line for the number 2 cylinder on certain vehicles and will install vibration dampers on all of the injector lines. Volkswagen and audi will notify owners to have the vehicles repaired free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during november 2011. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling certain model 2009-2012 jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles, manufactured from may 2008 through september 2011, model year 2010-2012 volkswagen golf vehicles, manufactured from may 2009 through september 2011, and model year 2010-2012 audi a3 vehicles, manufactured from september 2009 through september 2011, that are equipped with a 2.0l tdi common rail diesel engine/clean diesel engine. The fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of the injector line #2, in specific load and RPM conditions. This resonance creates additional stress in the fuel line.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Diesel fuel injector line leakage
Summary
By letter dated october 3, 2011, volkswagen group of america, inc. (vw) notified the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately 168,275 model year (my) 2009-2012 volkswagen jetta, jetta sportwagen, golf, and audi a3 vehicles equipped with the 2.0l tdi common rail clean diesel engine (NHTSA recall no. 11v-490).the recalled jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles were built from may 2008 through september 2011, the golf vehicles were built from may 2009 through september 2011, and the audi a3 vehicles were built from september 2009 through september 2011.according to volkswagen, in u.s. Applications of the above
High-pressure fuel pump failure
Summary
The office of defects investgation (odi) opened ea11-003 on february 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to odi and volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) failures in model year (my) 2009 through 2010 volkswagen jetta and golf and audi a3 tdi vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by volkswagen as part of its response to pe10-034.during ea11-003, odi analyzed design information, field experience and test data for my 2009 through 2012 volkswagen jetta, golf and touareg and audi a3 and q7 vehicles equipped with tdi engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject tdi clean diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pum
Questions about the 2012 Audi A3
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Audi A3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (31 complaints); electrical (6 complaints, typically around 67,500 miles); lights (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Audi A3 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 4, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Audi A3?
- It is 10th of 22 A3 model years by number of complaints, with 43 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.