VehicleVerdict

2012 Audi A3 airbags problems

The 2012 Audi A3 has 31 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 65% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

31

Airbags complaints

65%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

3

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Related recalls

19V862000AirbagsDecember 4, 2019 · 226 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

18V082000AirbagsJanuary 30, 2018 · 162,782 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V079000AirbagsFebruary 10, 2016 · 151,767 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

What owners report

I HAVE HAD A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT REPLACED AT AUDI SINCE 2016, I HAVE SENT EMAILS TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THEY KEPT SAYING "THEY DO NOT HAVE THE AIRBAGS IN STOCK". I HAVE TRIED ANOTHER AUID AND GERT THE SAME ANSWER.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · August 1, 2016 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2012 Audi A3 have?

NHTSA has 31 complaints about the 2012 Audi A3 airbags — 65% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2012 Audi A3 airbags?

Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the airbags: 16V079000, 18V082000, 19V862000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.