2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 12 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2018 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving in a parking lot, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the battery was drained, and the vehicle failed to restart. The contact jumpstarted the vehicle. The battery was replaced. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was called, but there was no response. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2023
“The contact owns a 2018 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2022
“The contact owns a 2018 Audi A3. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2021
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“The contact owns a 2018 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2021
“The contact owns a 2018 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the remedy was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v474000 (air bags). The contact stated that audi grapevine (located at 1260 e state hwy 114, grapevine, tx 76051, (817) 354-2834) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that the part was not available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v474000 (air bags). After contacting the dealer (audi of tyson, 8598 leesburg pike, vienna, va) and the manufacturer, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v474000 (air bags). Circle audi (located at 1919 n lakewood blvd, long beach, ca 90815, (562) 597-3663) stated that the part was not available. The contact felt that the dealer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. *as *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2018 audi a3 equipped with continental conti pro contact tx tires, size: 225/40r18 92hxl (na). While driving 55 mph, the front passenger tire thread separated. The vehicle was taken to paul miller audi (179 us-46, parsippany, nj 07054, (973) 575-7750) where the contact was informed that the tire performed as designed; however, the tire was replaced. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the dealer could send the tire back to them for review and inspection. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was 8,101. The dot number was unknown.”Owner report · Tires · Jan 2019
“Due to condensation/fogging, front headlight projection is reduced to less than half. This is a safety issue driving at night time.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2018
Recalls - 5 campaigns
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf and Golf R vehicles, and Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles. The rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners, and dealers will inspect the guide sleeves for incorrect welds, replacing the rear seat frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. 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 72H8 (VW) and 72H9(Audi).
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A3 sedan and RS3 vehicles. The latching pins for the center rear seat head restraint may be missing.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the head restraints, replacing any that are missing pins, free of charge. The recall began on March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72I8.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply line in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the fuel line connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BK.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and A3 Sedan vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may misinterpret the flywheel rotation on engine start-up as a "knocking" condition, and the adjusted air/fuel mixture may result in an engine stall.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24DF.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all A3 Cabriolet years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact A3 Cabriolet by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet reliable?
NHTSA has 12 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seats. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.