2013 Audi A3

Car · 2010–2026

Which year to buy

Best betNo standoutNo year is clearly better than the rest Newest we'd buy2025The latest year rated a good buy Avoid2015–2016Far more serious problems than usual Be careful2010–2012, 2017–2018More problems; check the recalls were done

Too new to judge: 2026. Give a new year a year or two of owner reports.

usual

’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.

2013GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual Extended coverage

18 serious complaints of 20, the most about air bags (10) and engine (3); 0.6× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2013 vehicles. 3 recalls.

What owners report

“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 audi a3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Apr 2017

“The contact owns a 2013 audi a3. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shifted into first gear without warning. The vehicle was taken to audi temecula (40955 temecula center dr, temecula, ca 92591, (951) 200-8100) where it was diagnosed that the dps filter needed to be replaced; however, the parts to do the repair were not available.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Dec 2019

Fixes and extended coverage

Extended coverage This Document informs dealers on the new Takata warranty extension for 2005-2017 A3, A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, S4 Sedan, S4, Avant, A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, S5 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan, Q5, R8 Coupe, R8 Spyder, RS4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S6 Sedan, S6 Sedan, TT Coupe, and TT Roadster… (AWA 22, Apr 2022)
Extended coverage This communication asks dealers to contact Audi Warranty if they have any questions about the extended warranty coverage for 2.0L and 3.0L TDI vehicles. (AWC-18, Mar 2018)
Extended coverage The communication contains the details of the water pump extended warranty. (AWA 19, Dec 2019)
Extended coverage Reminders - TDI Approved Emissions Modifications, Emissions Compliant Repairs, corrections and extended warranty / warranty policy and loaner vehicle overview (EmailAUTDI2L-3L, Sep 2020)
Extended coverage This Document informs dealers on the new intake manifold warranty extension for 2013 A3 vehicles (AWA 21, Aug 2021)

From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.

20 owner complaints · 3 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 24–32 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2013 trims and features

Every A3 year's verdict →

Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.

Trims and features

2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo; 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel · Drive: AWD, FWD

2013 A3 trims

	Premium	Premium Plus	Progressiv	quattro Premium	quattro Premium Plus

base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Audi reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Audi aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.

Year by year

Year	Engines	Drive	Fuel economy	Crash rating	Recalls	Owner complaints	Most-reported problem	CarPlay
2026	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 201–328 hp	AWD	28 mpg	Not rated	0	2	Electrical system (1)	—
2025	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 201–328 hp	AWD	28 mpg	Not rated	0	7	Service brakes (3)	Yes
2024	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 201–306 hp	4WD, FWD	30–32 mpg	Not rated	0	4	Electrical system (3)	Yes
2023	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 201–306 hp	AWD, FWD	30–32 mpg	Not rated	2	7	Electrical system (4)	Yes
2022	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 201–306 hp	AWD, FWD	31–32 mpg	Not rated	7	11	Electrical system (5)	Yes
2020	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 184–288 hp	AWD, FWD	25–30 mpg	5 of 5	3	18	Air bags (9)	Yes
2019	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 184–288 hp	AWD, FWD	25–29 mpg	5 of 5	3	19	Air bags (10)	Yes
2018	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 186–292 hp	AWD, FWD	25–29 mpg	5 of 5	2	62	Air bags (30)	Yes
2017	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 186–292 hp	AWD, FWD	25–29 mpg	5 of 5	4	46	Air bags (20)	Yes
2016	1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 170 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 150–292 hp	AWD, FWD	26–28 mpg	5 of 5	4	126	Air bags (62)	No
2015	1.8L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 220 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel, 220 hp	AWD, FWD	26–35 mpg	5 of 5	3	233	Air bags (112)	No
2013	2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available	AWD, FWD	24–32 mpg	Not rated	3	20	Air bags (10)	No
2012	2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available	AWD, FWD	24–32 mpg	Not rated	4	43	Air bags (31)	No
2011	2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available	AWD, FWD	24–32 mpg	Not rated	4	42	Air bags (20)	No
2010	2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available	AWD, FWD	24–32 mpg	Not rated	5	50	Air bags (13)	No

Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.

Which years have…

Lane centering Blind-spot monitoring

Apple lists CarPlay for: A3 2017–2025 (Apple).

Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2026	AUDI A3 4 DR N/A AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	1
2026	AUDI A3 4 DR N/A FWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	1
2026	AUDI RS 3 4 DR N/A AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	1
2026	AUDI S3 4 DR N/A AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	0
2025	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	1
2025	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	6
2025	Audi RS 3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	1
2025	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	0
2024	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	2
2024	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	2
2024	Audi RS 3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	0
2024	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	0	2
2023	Audi Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	2	7
2023	Audi Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	2	7
2023	Audi Audi RS 3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	1	0
2023	Audi Audi S3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Standard	1	0
2022	Audi Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	No	6	9
2022	Audi Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	Standard	No	6	9
2022	Audi Audi RS 3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	No	2	0
2022	Audi Audi S3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	No	7	2
2020	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	5	Standard	Optional	3	16
2020	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	5	Standard	Optional	3	16
2020	Audi A3 Cabriolet C AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Optional	3	16
2020	Audi A3 Cabriolet C FWD	Not Rated	Standard	Optional	3	16
2020	Audi RS 3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Optional	1	1
2020	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	5	Standard	Optional	1	1
2019	Audi A3 C FWD	Not Rated	No	Optional	4	12
2019	Audi A3 C AWD	Not Rated	No	Optional	4	12
2019	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	5	No	Optional	4	12
2019	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	5	No	Optional	4	12
2019	Audi A3 Sportback e-tron FWD	Not Rated	No	No	0	0
2019	Audi A3 Sportback e-tron FWD	Not Rated	No	No	0	0
2019	Audi RS3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	Optional	2	5
2019	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	5	No	Optional	1	2
2018	Audi A3 C AWD	Not Rated	Standard	Optional	7	44
2018	Audi A3 C FWD	Not Rated	Standard	Optional	7	44
2018	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	5	Standard	Optional	7	44
2018	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	5	Standard	Optional	7	44
2018	Audi RS3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	Optional	Optional	4	13
2018	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	5	Standard	Optional	1	5
2017	Audi A3 C FWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi A3 C FWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi A3 C AWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi A3 C AWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	36
2017	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	2	9
2016	Audi A3 C AWD	Not Rated	Optional	Optional	6	112
2016	Audi A3 C FWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	65
2016	Audi A3 C FWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	65
2016	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	6	112
2016	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	6	112
2016	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	14
2015	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	7	180
2015	Audi A3 C FWD	Not Rated	Optional	Optional	7	180
2015	Audi A3 C AWD	Not Rated	Optional	Optional	7	180
2015	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	7	180
2015	Audi S3 4 DR AWD	5	No	Optional	2	53
2013	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	20
2013	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	20
2012	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	No	4	43
2012	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	4	43
2011	Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	No	4	42
2011	Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	4	42
2010	Audi A3 4-DR. w/SAB	Not Rated	No	No	5	50

Source: NHTSA.

Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2026	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	28
2025	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	28
2024	A3	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	32
2024	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	30
2023	A3	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	32
2023	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	30
2022	A3	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	32
2022	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	31
2020	A3	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	30
2020	A3 Cabriolet quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25
2020	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25
2019	A3	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	29
2019	A3 Cabriolet	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	29
2019	A3 Cabriolet quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25
2019	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25
2018	A3	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	29
2018	A3 Cabriolet	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	28
2018	A3 Cabriolet quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25
2018	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	27
2017	A3	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	29
2017	A3 Cabriolet	Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	28
2017	A3 Cabriolet quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25
2017	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	27
2016	A3	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo	27
2016	A3 Cabriolet	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo	28
2016	A3 Cabriolet quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	26
2016	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	27
2015	A3	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo	27–35
2015	A3 Cabriolet	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo	28
2015	A3 Cabriolet quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	26
2015	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	27
2013	A3	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24–32
2013	A3 quattro	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24
2012	A3	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24–32
2012	A3 quattro	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24
2011	A3	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24–32
2011	A3 quattro	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24
2010	A3	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24–32
2010	A3 quattro	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	24

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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