2007 Audi A3 Problems: Airbags (51 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2007 Audi A3 is Airbags (59% of 51 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 51 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2007 Audi A3?

30 of 51 filings named Airbags (59% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (13 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2006 has 122 reports on file; this year has 51. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2007 Audi A3

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 30 complaints · 58.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
All Audi A3 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 30 of 51 owner complaints (58.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 30 complaints, 58.8% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 30 · 58.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 13 complaints, 25.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 13 · 25.5% Engine (ENGINE): 3 complaints, 5.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 · 5.9% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 2.0% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 · 2.0% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 1 complaints, 2.0% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 · 2.0% Tires (TIRES): 1 complaints, 2.0% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 · 2.0% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 2.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 2.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 10 complaints, 19.6% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 10 · 19.6% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 30 58.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 13 25.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 3 5.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 2.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 2.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 1 2.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 2.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 10 19.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2009; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2009. 2009-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2009-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2009 Jul 2020 Recall campaign 09V377000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V377000 Recall campaign 16V079000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V079000 Recall campaign 18V082000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V082000
  • Campaign 18V082000 was reported 635 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2009-Q3 Owner reports 5
2009-Q4 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2010-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q4 Owner reports 6
2017-Q1 Owner reports 5
2017-Q2 Owner reports 4
2018-Q2 Owner reports 1
2018-Q3 Owner reports 11
2018-Q4 Owner reports 7
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 09V377000
Recall campaign 1 16V079000
Recall campaign 1 18V082000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system and Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 09V377000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUDI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-253-2834.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 16V079000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 18V082000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 51 complaints · page 1 of 3
2020-07-25Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11341408
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY CAR STALD ON ME AT A SHOPPING CENTER LOCATED ON 32ND STREET NORTH OF MCDOWELL RD IN PHOENIX,AZ. IT ANTI LOCKED ON ME AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START VEHICLE. DUE TO THIS MY CAR WAS TOWED FROM ESTABLISHMENT TO A TOW GARAGE AND IS STILL THIER. IM UNABLE TO TAKE IT OUT DUE TO I DONT HAVE THE AMOUNT TO PAY IT DUE TO I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND I DONT HAVE A JOB AT MOMENT AND I RECIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE CAR I STILL OWE TO CAR COMPANY CALLED SECOND CHANCE AUTO SALES LOCATED ON 34THST AND VAN BUREN IN PHOENIX ARIZONA AND FROM MY UNDRRSTANDING THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 RECALL ISSUES THAT I WASNT AWARE OF. MY VEHICLE STARTED ACTING WIERD PRIOR TO INCIDENT BUT NO MECHANIC WANTED TO LOOK AT IT AND I REQUESTED HELP FROM THE COMPANY OWN MECHANIC AND HE TOO NEVER HELPED ME OUT. I HAVE ALL INFO AND PHONE NUMBERS WHERE TO REACH COMPANY'S REGSRDS TO THIS SITUATION.
2019-09-03Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11253075
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CAR IS BUCKING AND GEARS ARE SLIPPING WHILE IN MOTION. ISSUE HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. THIS IS MY FIRST AUDI & MIGHT BE MY LAST.
2019-04-25Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11203631
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER CONTACTING MCKENNA AUDI (10850 FIRESTONE BLVD, NORWALK, CA), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2018-11-14Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11151585
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE SCHEDULED WITH MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER TWO TIMES TO HAVE THIS AIRBAG RECALL REPLACEMENT COMPLETED, AND BOTH TIMES, THEY HAVE CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT THEY A) DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, AND B) DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET THEM. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME TODAY, 11/14/2018 WITH ROYAL MOTORS SAN FRANCISCO. ACCORDING TO HTTPS://VINRCL.SAFERCAR.GOV/VIN/VINLOOKUP THESE PARTS WERE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. IT IS NOW MID-NOVEMBER, 7 MONTHS LATE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A SAFETY ITEM SUCH AS THIS. WHY AREN'T THE PARTS AVAILABLE, AND WHY DON'T THEY KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE?? UNTIL THEN, I'LL BE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE.
2018-11-09Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11150252
CrashFireInjuryDeath
"TAKATA RECALL" - I HAVE BEEN GETTING NOTICES FOR A YEAR AND STILL CAN'T GET THIS WORK PERFORMED. I HAVE CONTACTED ([redacted] AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK TO ME. NHSTA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000. FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE NHTSA CAMPAIN NUMBER: 09V37700 NEVER GOT NOTICE ON THIS RECALL TILL I WENT ON YOUR SITE. I NEED TO KNOW IF AUDI WILL EVER GET THESE PARTS/SERVICE CENTERS TO FIX IT. OF COURSE IT COSTS MONEY FOR THEM - SEEMS LIKE ITS JUST LIP SERVICE. CAN'T GET A SERVICE CENTER WILLING TO PERFORM THIS WORK; NO PARTS. FEELS LIKE SERVICE IS BLAMING PARTS AND VISA VERSA. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WHATS THE POINT OF A RECALL IF NOTHING IS EVER GOING TO BE FIXED? SO FAR NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED REQUIRING AS IT RELATES TO THESE RECALLS. DOES THE GOVT./AUDI ONLY WANT TO SEE ADDITIONAL ACCIDENTS BEFORE THEY GET THESE DONE. FROM THE DATE BELOW - CERTAINLY FEELS THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT.
2018-10-22Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11141743
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CALLED THE AUDI DEALER TO GET MY DEFECTIVE AIRBAG REPLACED IN JUNE. I HAVE MADE REPEATED CALLS TO SEE WHEN I CAN HAVE THIS REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY ONLY RECEIVE THE PARTS INTERMITTENTLY AND WILL ADVISE US WHEN WE ARE NEXT ON THE LIST FOR REPLACEMENT. IT IS OCTOBER AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS MY MAIN CAR FOR DAILY USE.
2018-10-19Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11141504
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI SOUTH COAST (1425 AUTO MALL DR, SANTA ANA, CA 92705, ([redacted]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2018-10-16Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11140721
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V082000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI RALEIGH (4000 CAPITAL HILLS DRIVE, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27616, ([redacted]) WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2018-10-16Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11140675
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAKATA RECALL - THIS RECALL IS 2 YEARS OLD. AUDI STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR MY AFFECTED VEHICLE. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE PARTS. WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED? WILL I EVER BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED?

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2007 Audi A3?

Owners named Airbags most often — 30 of 51 reports (59%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2007 Audi A3?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2007 Audi A3?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources