Audi A3
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
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Every Audi A3 model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Gas | A | 0 | 0 | — | 28 mpg | |
| 2026 | Gas | A | 0 | 2 | — | 28 mpg | |
| 2025 | Gas | A | 0 | 5 | — | 28 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 2 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2023 | Hybrid | B | 2 | 7 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2022 | Hybrid | C | 6 | 9 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2020 | Gas | B | 3 | 16 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | |
| 2019 | Gas | C | 4 | 14 | ★★★★★ | 29 mpg | |
| 2018 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | F | 7 | 45 | ★★★★★ | 36 mpg | |
| 2017 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | C | 5 | 71 | ★★★★★ | 34 mpg | |
| 2016 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | D | 6 | 121 | ★★★★★ | 39 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2020 is the cleanest A3 year we hold, and the 2018 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What owners filed about the Audi A3, by system
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsEvery system, every year →The systems the federal record is deep on for this nameplate: the complaints per model year, the mileage owners reported them at, and every recall, investigation and manufacturer bulletin filed under the heading — each one linked, none a failure rate.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2025: added gas; dropped hybrid; best combined mpg 32 → 28; 2 → 1 EPA configurations
- 2022: added hybrid; dropped gas; best combined mpg 30 → 32; 3 → 2 EPA configurations
- 2020: best combined mpg 29 → 30; 4 → 3 EPA configurations
- 2019: dropped plug-in hybrid; best combined mpg 36 → 29; 5 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2018: best combined mpg 34 → 36
- 2017: best combined mpg 39 → 34; 6 → 5 EPA configurations
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 A3 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class · Compact Sedan | Toss-up | |
| 2027 A3 vs Toyota Corolla · Compact Sedan | Corolla +31.8 | |
| 2027 A3 vs Volkswagen Jetta · Compact Sedan | Jetta +29.5 | |
| 2027 A3 vs Genesis G70 · Compact Sedan | G70 +29.5 | |
| 2025 A3 vs BMW i4 · Compact Hatchback | i4 +22.5 |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Audi A3
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Audi A3 year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2020 A3 comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade B (83/100), 3 recalls and 16 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Audi A3 years should I avoid?
2016, 2018 have the weakest recall records in this range. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every A3 model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Audi A3 have?
Across model years 2016–2027, NHTSA has posted 33 recall campaigns for the Audi A3. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.