Used Audi A3 Saloon 2013-2020 reliability
Category: Executive car
The Audi A3 Saloon is a superb used compact executive car. It’s great to drive, with low running costs
What should I look for in a used Audi A3 saloon?
Check the bodywork for scuffs caused by car parking in tight spaces and look at the alloy wheels for any kerb damage.
There have been a number of issues relating to the A3’s long-term use, most notably a problem relating to rattles from the 1.4 TFSI engine, traced to vibration of the wastegate actuator rod. Diesel particulate filter warning lights have been known to come on, although driving the car on an open road for a few minutes is usually enough to turn it off again. There have also been issues with clutch failure, so check its operation carefully.
What are the most common problems with a used Audi A3 saloon?
Some owners have reported issues with rattling from the centre console area, mainly from the trim surrounding the gearlever, and from the boot locking mechanism. Also, there have been reported problems with the sat-nav screen, which rises out of the dashboard and can creak in use. The A3 also rated worse than average for headlight bulb failure.
There have been a couple of recalls for the A3. They only apply to a small number of vehicles, but it’s still worth checking to see if your car is affected. The first applies to A3s built between 1 July 2014 and 15 November 2014 for the passenger airbag, which might not deploy in an accident. The second relates to rear wheel bearing housings that might not have been manufactured correctly on cars built between 1 August 2017 and 31 August 2017. Check with your local Audi dealer if you are in any doubt.
Rear hub carrier
On certain A3s produced between 1 August 2017 and 31 August 2017, there was an issue with the rear hub carrier not being manufactured to the correct standard, so in extreme circumstances, the car could lose a rear wheel. A recall was issued to replace the carriers on affected cars.
Passenger airbag
Vehicles produced between 30 June 2014 and 15 November 2014 had to have their passenger-side airbag module replaced because of a faulty weld on the gas generator inside. In extreme circumstances, internal components could break off, enter the interior and cause injury.
Rear head restraint
Poor welds attaching the rear headrest to the rear backrest of some A3s manufactured between 20 May 2018 and 2 September 2018 posed a safety issue. Affected cars had to have the whole backrest replaced, so check with your dealer that this has been done.
DPF
All diesel models will come equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that’s designed to trap soot from the exhaust and then burn it off later. If the DPF light comes on, you must take the vehicle on a longer drive at a higher speed to clear the filter.
Is a used Audi A3 saloon reliable?
In last year's What Car? Reliability Survey, the A3 finished in 16th place out of 28 cars in the family car class.
Audi as a brand finished 18th in our most recent Reliability Survey, out of 30 manufacturers.
However, the A3 has been around for a while and its tried-and-tested major components are shared with many other Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda models, so it should be easy to source the parts and, if you seek out a trusted independent dealer, is not unduly expensive to repair.
If you would like to see the full reliability list for family cars, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
