Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2015. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 A3 Cabriolet | 4 | 1 |
| 2018 A3 Cabriolet | 12 | 5 |
| 2017 A3 Cabriolet | 25 | 3 |
| 2016 A3 Cabriolet | 36 | 3 |
| 2015 A3 CabrioletMost complaints | 87 | 5 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Air bags77
- Engine20
- Fuel/propulsion system16
- Electrical system14
- Fuel system, gasoline12
- Power train11
- Unknown or other8
- Exterior lighting7
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 Audi A3 Cabriolet C AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 6 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 8.9–9.5 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | A3 Cabriolet quattro · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.8 | 8.0 | 9.5 |
| 2019 | A3 Cabriolet quattro · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.7 | 7.9 | 9.5 |
| 2018 | A3 Cabriolet quattro · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.8 | 8.0 | 9.5 |
| 2017 | A3 Cabriolet quattro · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.8 | 8.0 | 9.5 |
| 2016 | A3 Cabriolet quattro · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 10.1 | 7.5 | 8.9 |
| 2015 | A3 Cabriolet quattro · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 10.1 | 7.5 | 8.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In the Netherlands
4,188 A3 Cabriolet cars are on Dutch roads; 57% arrived later as imports, and 33 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 175 | €50,508 |
| 2019 | 227 | €50,909 |
| 2018 | 238 | €50,119 |
| 2017 | 310 | €50,195 |
| 2016 | 368 | €48,105 |
| 2015 | 437 | €48,810 |
| 2014 | 499 | €48,075 |
| 2013 | 154 | €33,609 |
| 2012 | 240 | €38,318 |
| 2011 | 390 | €38,063 |
| 2010 | 391 | €39,547 |
| 2009 | 324 | €44,018 |
| 2008 | 435 | €50,808 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
62 A3 Cabriolet cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 87% petrol, 13% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 | 73,000 km |
| 2016 | 5 | 117,000 km |
| 2015 | 13 | 99,000 km |
| 2014 | 10 | 96,000 km |
| 2010 | 5 | 170,000 km |
| 2008 | 22 | 176,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
New registrations in Europe
60,692 new Audi A3 Cabriolet cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 114 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 187 | 159 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 3,588 | 159 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 4,609 | 158 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 5,257 | 155 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 6,014 | 122 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 6,296 | — |
| 2015 | 7,354 | — |
| 2014 | 7,479 | — |
| 2013 | 2,053 | — |
| 2012 | 4,527 | — |
| 2011 | 6,546 | — |
| 2010 | 6,781 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the A3 Cabriolet in 1 alert. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of mo…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
11 campaigns cover the A3 Cabriolet.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A3 sedan and RS3 vehicles. The latching pins for the center rear seat head restraint may be missing.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply line in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf and Golf R vehicles, and Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles. The rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and A3 Sedan vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may misinterpret the flywheel rotation on engine start-up as a "knocking" condition, and the adjusted air/fuel mixture may result in an engine stall.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Audi A3 1.8T FWD S tronic and 2.0T Quattro S tronic vehicles. The safety certification label has an incorrect vehicle production date. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf, Golf SportWagen, GTI, Audi A3 sedan and A3 Cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 TT roadster, A3 cabriolet, A3 sedan and A3 e-tron, 2016-2017 TT coupe, 2017 A4 sedan and Q7 and 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Volkswagen Group of America, LLC (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet vehicles manufactured June 5, 2014, to April 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driver or front passenger seat whose cover may be incorrectly stitched, preventing the side air bag from properly deploying in the event of a crash.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Golf, and GTI manufactured on February 17, 2014, to May 22, 2014, and Audi A3 manufactured on February 16, 2013, to April 23, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
NHTSA recalls