Model year record
2025 Audi A3 recalls & problems
The 2025 Audi A3 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 5 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2025 Audi A3.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2025 Audi A3 4 DR AWD
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
2025 Audi A3 4 DR FWD
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
A3 quattro
| City / highway | 24 / 34 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,950/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 3 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
| Back over preventionWarnings | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
| Forward collision avoidanceAutomatic emergency braking | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or other
On two separate occasions, approximately four months apart in spring and summer 2026, while turning left across oncoming traffic at a green light, the vehicle's brakes applied hard on their own with no driver input. Each time the vehicle came to an abrupt halt mid-turn for roughly one second before releasing. On both occasions a driver-assistance warning message displayed on the dashboard at the time of the event. Because this occurred while turning in front of oncoming traffic, it created a serious risk of a collision. The exact dates were not recorded. These events occurred after a battery replacement performed at the dealership in February 2026. This is reported so it is on record under…
- Service brakes
My 2025 Audi A3 has been experiencing severe and recurring 'phantom braking' issues, where the vehicle violently and unexpectedly engages the emergency braking system without any obstacles present. This poses an immediate, life-threatening risk of being rear-ended at high speeds. Despite formally notifying Volkswagen Group of America via certified mail in May 2026, the vehicle has not been successfully repaired. The situation escalated on July 4, 2026, when the vehicle suffered a complete breakdown during operation and had to be towed to Audi Sugar Land, where it remains out of service. The manufacturer is refusing to repurchase this unsafe vehicle.
- Back over prevention › WarningsCrash
The Park Assist function caused me to have an incident with my vehicle when parking. I safely engaged the autopark function and followed the prompts for the car to proceed with the parking. Suddenly, when reversing the car violently accelerated, making it impossible to brake or stop the collision with the parked car. The Park Assist failed. The safety of pedestrians was put at risk, as people were walking around the area of the collision. Audi has been contacted with no current response to the issue. No warning lights other than the prompt to follow instructions.
- Unknown or other
The honk stopped functioning on January 21 2026. I noticed this when a car was moving into my lane on a major highway and I need to honk to alert them. Not being able to alert another drive that they are about to hit me puts me, the other driver, and potentially others at risk. I had to break hard, which is also a safety hazard. The honk has not functioned since, so it was not an isolated issue. No warning lights went on. I have scheduled an appointment with the Bridgewater dealership for Friday January 30.
- Electrical systemCrash
1) Electronic emergency brake goes on repeatedly when attempting to put vehicle in gear. 2) Speed control has coasted to a very low speed while on the highway several times, on its own with no vehicles in front of me. 3) Numerous other âglitchyâ electrical issues exist. Dealer says they are collaborating with engineers in Germany. There is currently no fix. It is as if the vehicle is always cycling through various âglitchesâ.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.