Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Audi A3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have had a recall on my vehicle and have been trying to get it replaced at Audi since 2016, I have sent emails to the general manager and they kept saying "they do not have the airbags in stock". I have tried another auid and gert the same answer.
Takata recall I received recall information for the Takata airbag in my vehicle. - I called Audi stevens creek [phone] as instructed to schedule repair - Audi said they are not doing the repair as no airbags have been provided by Audi America - there is no eta when repair May be done the stevens creek Audi dealership refused to schedule my airbag repair. Audi claims airbags are not available for the Audi A3 vehicles. Audi's inability to repair the airbag as required by the safety recall should be noted in the file in case anything should happen to me or my wife while driving. Audi will be liable for damages for their inability to provide the airbag repair in a timely manor. Thank you, [redacted] VIN: [redacted]
Takata recall. I got a letter from Audi on 4/27/2106. The letter is attached. Please ignore my notes. It stated my car was being recalled due to a defective front airbag made by Takata. Parts are unavailable and no knows when they will be. I called Audi and they said they would not be providing rental cars to their customers. I called 2 dealers in columbus, ohio and they would not provide rental cars as this is a manufacturers defect. Meanwhile I am screwed. I and all the other impacted Audi owners have to drive an unsafe car. This is terrible. I could use your help to get Audi to do the right thing.
air bag came on in dash. even though the air bag was recalled and fixed by dealer
Takata inflators I received a recall letter April 2016 stating my vehicle has a potentially deadly driver side airbag. I have contacted Audi of jacksonville fl who confirmed the letter and stated they can't give me a date when my vehicle will be repaired. They refuse to supply a rental vehicle or to take any further action to remedy my situation. My daughter normally drives this vehicle and I now must watch it depreciate while it sits in my driveway. My other vehicle is a 2011chevy suburban which has also been recalled for the Takata air bag VIN [redacted]. I'm in potential danger and have been severely limited in driving and am losing value on both vehicles. I tried private attorneys who seem to only be handling actual damage and injuries. Please advise me where I can further pursue action.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V079000 (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. The dealer (Audi south burlington, 1325 shelburne rd, south burlington, vt 05403 [phone], was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and were not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact also mentioned that he inquired about a loaner vehicle but was denied via the dealer and the manufacturer. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata recall: I was notified about the Takata airbag recall by letter over one year ago. I have tried to schedule appointments to have the airbag replaced on two different occasions at two different Audi dealerships. Both dealerships stated that they do not have the parts and do not know when the parts will be available. This is an unreasonable amount of time to wait for a repair especially considering that the current airbag in my car is a potential safety risk that when inflated during a crash could shoot metal fragments into vehicle occupants (me!). The lack of response from the manufacturer is unacceptable and irresponsible. I expect an expedient investigation and resolution to this safety hazard.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Audi A3. Upon attempting to register the vehicle with the department of motor vehicles in california, the contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 18V082000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair and was unable to register the vehicle due to an open recall. The contact called an unknown Audi dealer in santa ana, ca and was informed that parts were expected to be available in April of 2018. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 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. The dealer (Audi chandler, 7460 w orchid ln, chandler, az 85226, [phone]) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata recall. Last year I specifically made an appointment with Audi tampa (105 e fowler ave, tampa, fl) for this purpose on August 9 2017. The service manager at the time, even though they knew why I was there said they had run out and not to worry that the recall isn't that bad. I am frustrated that a year later I am reminded that this still hasn't been fixed by Audi. As an active duty service member I don't have the time nor flexibility to chase Audi down. I would expect that Audi would be more concerned about this considering this is an error in their design and impacts the quality and safety of their products.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
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.
Airbag complaints in other A3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Audi A3?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Audi A3, 72% of the model year's 43 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Audi A3 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-862 (inflator module, Dec 4, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-082 (inflator module, Jan 30, 2018); NHTSA recall 16V-079 (inflator module, Feb 10, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Audi A3 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.