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Audi · Compact car

2023 Audi A3

Hybrid

Subcompact Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

89 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns2

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA6

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

Fuel economybest combined, EPA32 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2023 Audi A3 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the A3, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 6 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
A3	Hybrid	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion	28	38	32	$1,950
A3 quattro	Hybrid	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion	27	35	30	$2,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45401, 45402.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Air Bags

69GU

91 vehicles

ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.RiskA deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixDealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.

NHTSA campaign 24V251000reported Apr 3, 2024Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

○minor

Equipment

50ZZ

297 vehicles

ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S3, RS3, and A3 vehicles. The Safety Certification label on the B-pillar is missing weight capacity information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."RiskMissing weight information may result in unintentional overloading of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixAudi dealers will install an overlay label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 50ZZ.

NHTSA campaign 22V901000reported Dec 7, 2022Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

6complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Electrical System3

Unspecified2

Engine1

Power Train1

Communication1

Service Brakes1

What owners describe

“Dealer is refusing to acknowledge the known BSG defect (TSB 2058831/13) and is instead attempting to charge for secondary electrical failures (ABS/AC) caused by the primary charging system failure. 2023 Audi A3 2.0T, VIN [XXX] . Recurring 48V BSG (Belt Starter Generator) failure causing complete loss of power steering …”May 5, 2026 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

“Please see attachment: â€œHello, my name is [XXX] . I'm I'm calling about a vehicle. Recall on an Audi 2023. And I'm having trouble with the manufacturer regarding this Notice that they sent us [XXX] . thank you very much bye-byeâ€¦â€� INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552…”Nov 5, 2025 · Communication · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2023 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact observed a RED triangle icon, and the message "Electrical System Malfunction Defect - Low Charge" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle then lost motive power. The vehicle was steered over to the side of the road and stal…”Feb 18, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other A3 model years

2026 Audi A3

0 recalls · 0 complaints

2025 Audi A3

0 recalls · 5 complaints

2024 Audi A3

0 recalls · 1 complaints

2022 Audi A3

6 recalls · 9 complaints

2020 Audi A3

3 recalls · 16 complaints

2019 Audi A3

4 recalls · 14 complaints

2018 Audi A3

7 recalls · 45 complaints

2017 Audi A3

5 recalls · 69 complaints

2016 Audi A3

6 recalls · 117 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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