MYRModel Year Report

2009 Audi A3

● Typical for this model
2009 Audi A3
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:38:59.392Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
47
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2009

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

47% of complaints

Complaints per year

2001: 1 complaint 2001 2003: 2 complaints 2004: 6 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 123 complaints 2007: 52 complaints 2008: 43 complaints 2009: 47 complaints 2009 47 2010: 50 complaints 2011: 43 complaints 2012: 43 complaints 2013: 20 complaints 2015: 92 complaints 2015 2016: 83 complaints 2017: 44 complaints 2018: 33 complaints 2018 2019: 10 complaints 2020: 16 complaints 2022: 9 complaints 2022 2023: 7 complaints 2024: 2 complaints 2025: 5 complaints 2025 2026: 2 complaints
2001: 1 complaint 2001 2003: 2 complaints 2004: 6 complaints 2004 2005: 0 complaints 2006: 123 complaints 2006 2007: 52 complaints 2008: 43 complaints 2009: 47 complaints 2009 47 2010: 50 complaints 2011: 43 complaints 2012: 43 complaints 2012 2013: 20 complaints 2015: 92 complaints 2015 2016: 83 complaints 2017: 44 complaints 2017 2018: 33 complaints 2019: 10 complaints 2019 2020: 16 complaints 2022: 9 complaints 2022 2023: 7 complaints 2024: 2 complaints 2024 2025: 5 complaints 2026: 2 complaints 2026
2001: 1 complaint 2001 2003: 2 complaints 2003 2004: 6 complaints 2004 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 123 complaints 2006 2007: 52 complaints 2007 2008: 43 complaints 2008 2009: 47 complaints 2009 47 2010: 50 complaints 2010 2011: 43 complaints 2011 2012: 43 complaints 2012 2013: 20 complaints 2013 2015: 92 complaints 2015 2016: 83 complaints 2016 2017: 44 complaints 2017 2018: 33 complaints 2018 2019: 10 complaints 2019 2020: 16 complaints 2020 2022: 9 complaints 2022 2023: 7 complaints 2023 2024: 2 complaints 2024 2025: 5 complaints 2025 2026: 2 complaints 2026

2009: 47 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
20011
20032
20046
20050
2006123
200752
200843
200947
201050
201143
201243
201320
201592
201683
201744
201833
201910
202016
20229
20237
20242
20255
20262

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

47% · 22 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Audi A3. While driving on a hill, the vehicle could not be stopped due to black ice. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a front end collision with a telephone pole. The air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-21

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the ABS and the ESC warning lights flickered. As a result, the brake pedal and accelerator pedal failed to engage and caused the contact to crash into a tree.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-02-01

Power train

32% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

vehicle switched into neutral and accelerated Unable to control or stop Crashed into bush 2014 AUDI checked said no issuue Vehicle switches gear unexpectedly on highway and slows and drags Audi checked Said normal 9/3 2022 foot on break to a...

NHTSA ODI report, 2022-09-06

Also filed under Engine

Driving into a small lot to park. Foot on brake and moving at at low speed came to stop and auto suddenly started to speed and sounded like the car was in neutral. Auto jumped a small curb and went into some bushes.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-08-07

Also filed under Structure

Brand new 2009 Audi A3 with 200 miles completely failed in the highway in las vegas, nv. I purchased the vehicle brand new approximately one week prior to this incident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2009-08-26

Also filed under Engine and engine cooling

Service brakes

19% · 9 reports

Most commonly citing air.

CRASHINJURY

Engine

11% · 5 reports
CRASH

Electrical system

11% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing instrument cluster/panel.

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    2009-07-17Preliminary evaluationClosed 2009-11-19 Vehicle stall/loss motive power
  2. R
    2009-10-20Power train09V333000 Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 passenger cars manufactured between September 2008 and August 2009. The wiring harness of a temperature sensor in the direct shift gearbox…

    Remedy: Volkswagen will reprogram the transmission control module with updated software free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2009. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2009-11-16Fuel system, gasoline09V377000 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…

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and Audi dealers will replace the fuel tank ventilation valve with an improved valve free of charge. The safety recall began on November 16, 2009. Owners may contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2011-08-02Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-12-02 Diesel Fuel Injector Line Leakage
  5. R
    2017-02-14Electronic stability control (esc), service brakes, hydraulic16V913000 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2017-03-10Air bags16V079000 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.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2018-02-23Air bags18V082000 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2009 Audi A3 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 22 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 15 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 9 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 09V333000 · Power train
  • Recall 09V377000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 16V913000 · Electronic stability control (esc), service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 16V079000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V082000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years1 year

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2009 Audi A3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2009 Audi A3 is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Audi A3?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 47% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2009 Audi A3 have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.