Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Audi A3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags24
- Power train13
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Electrical system1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Suspension1
- Structure1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Tires1
- Unknown or other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Audi A3 failed the safety check 1.62% of the time — 35% less often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 129,002 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2008 Audi A3 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp), 1.8 petrol (118 kW, 158 hp) and 1.6 petrol (75 kW, 101 hp), out of 8 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 703 |
| 1.8 petrol | 118 kW 158 hp | 544 |
| 1.6 petrol | 75 kW 101 hp | 467 |
| 1.9 diesel | 77 kW 103 hp | 144 |
| 2.0 petrol | 147 kW 197 hp | 112 |
| 2.0 diesel | 103 kW 138 hp | 96 |
| 1.6 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 29 |
| 2.0 diesel | 125 kW 168 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
2,141 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 30% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €31,911.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,081
- Band onvoldoende profiel972
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen657
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm594
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld563
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af556
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd472
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt462
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
13,848 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2,615 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 21,313 of these cars first registered in 2008 took their annual MOT test. 59% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2008 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 17.8% | 17.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 16.6% | 19.8% |
| Brakes | 10.4% | 11.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.1% | 7.3% |
| Tyres | 8.6% | 7.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.4% | 6.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
937 of these cars first registered in 2008 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 255,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
835 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 78% arrived as used imports, 20% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 9.6–11.3 L/100 km (about 21–25 mpg US), CO₂ 221–260 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3 · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 10.6 | 8.2 | 9.6 |
| A3 · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 11.5 | 8.1 | 10.0 |
| A3 quattro · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 12.8 | 9.5 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2008 Audi A3.
| 2018059 30 Jan 2018 | Airbag On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propella… |
| 2016065 9 Feb 2016 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2009278 29 Sept 2009 | Fuel System On certain Audi A3 Quattro, TT Quattro and TT Quattro roadster, the closing force of an internal spring of the fuel tank ventilation valve is not adequate enoug… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
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.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AUDI A3, TT, AND TT ROADSTER PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 AND AUGUST 26, 2009. THE CLOSING FORCE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING OF THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VALVE CLOSED UNDER EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2008 Audi A3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10251038 | Brakes squeel |
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10251025 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10251023 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10251018 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10251006 | Light cracking or rubbing noises from suspension strut when steering |
| 10251004 | Loud cracking or rubbing noises when steering (cars without Audi magnetic ride suspension) |
| 10250999 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250982 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250971 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250966 | Brake pulsation diagnostic guidelines |
| 10250963 | Loud cracking or rubbing noises when steering (vehicles without Audi magnetic ride suspension) |
| 10250959 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250949 | Steering wheel leather damage, all vehicles |
| 10250944 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration, and/or oscillation |
| 10250673 | Loud cracking or rubbing noises when steering (vehicles without Audi magnetic ride suspension) |
| 10250670 | Light cracking or rubbing noises from suspension strut when steering |
| 10250668 | Loud cracking or rubbing noises when steering (cars without Audi magnetic ride suspension) |
| 10250665 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250658 | Shock absorber leaks: assessment aid |
| 10250475 | Steering wheel shimmy, vibration and/or oscillation |
| 10250469 | noises from front lower control arm mounting |
| 10250430 | Oil consumption measurement - Repair Authorization (CA) |
| 10250424 | MIL on (P1545, P0121, P0123, P0221 or P0222 stored in ECM) |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)