The 2018 Audi A3 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 414,409 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a…
Consequence
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. …
AIR BAGS21V1980002021-03-22153,152 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Consequence
A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
17
1crashes1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
1injuries
ENGINE
4
POWER TRAIN
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
SEATS
2
TIRES
2
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
1
1injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
Total complaints47
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Coolant water pump and thermostat -- coolant temperature indicator gauge runs from normal to high after about 10-15 miles drive. Coolant levels are good and no signs of leak. Engine light is activated along with warning messages. Engine warning: drive system malfunction. Please call for service.…”
“225/45-r18 dot(17/22) on september 6, 2025, I purchased a 2018 audi a3 (vin [vin], 56,634 miles) delivered by carvana. Within days, I had the vehicle inspected at multiple independent repair shops. Each shop documented that all four tires showed dry rot and cracking and advised immediate…”
“Hello, I dropped my car off at audi and dominion in san antonio texas on thursday july 10th for a repair this was a recall for the fuel pump system in something in the mechatronic controls. They had my car until saturday I was informed that the repairs were done under warranty. Then on saturday…”
“Hello, I dropped my car off at audi and dominion in san antonio texas on thursday july 10th for a repair this was a recall for the fuel pump system in something in the mechatronic controls. They had my car until saturday I was informed that the repairs were done under warranty. Then on saturday…”
“My 2018 audi a3 began having fuel-related issues after receiving the recall service for campaign 20yf (suction jet pump seal) at an authorized audi dealership. I first took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, because the check engine light came on, and there was a strong fuel smell. Most…”
“Audi had a recall on my 2018 a3 for a passenger occupant detection system. In july 2023, audi replaced the pods sensor mat. Recently, the same car has encountered the same issue. The pods light indicates the airbag is off even if a passenger is sitting in the seat. There has been not repair work…”
“Audi had a recall on my 2018 a3 for a passenger occupant detection system. In july 2023, audi replaced the pods sensor mat. Recently, the same car has encountered the same issue. The pods light indicates the airbag is off even if a passenger is sitting in the seat. There has been not repair work…”
“I was driving on the freeway at 60 mph when I received a warning code of a transmission problem. The code said the car was driveable but I should take it in for service. About 1-2 minutes after that the car lost all power. Unfortunately I broke down in the left lane in a construction zone without…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationRQ23007 Opened 2023-12-12 · closed 2024-07-01
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a…
InvestigationRQ23007 Opened 2023-12-12 · closed 2024-07-01
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a…
InvestigationRQ23007 Opened 2023-12-12 · closed 2024-07-01
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2018 Audi A3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.