Model year guide

2012 Audi A3

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Audi A3 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 54 on record.

2012 Audi A3 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Audi A3 at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints43
Combined27 mpg
Typical price$17,145

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Audi A3 recalls 4

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V082000 · 30/01/2018

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.

Fix: 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. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This rec…

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V079000 · 10/02/2016

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.

Fix: 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. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Fuel System, Diesel NHTSA Campaign #11V490000 · 03/10/2011

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE…

Fix: VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING …

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V862000 · 04/12/2019

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. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 6…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Audi A3 common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2012 Audi A3 MPG & running costs

Combined27 mpg
City24 mpg
Highway32 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,933

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Audi A3 worth?

Low
$13,000
Typical price
$17,145
High
$20,250

From 52 comparable 2012 Audi A3 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Audi A3 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,665
Depreciation (5 yrs)$9,850
Total$24,515
Per mile$0.33

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($17,145) with the same model 5 model-years older ($7,272), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Audi A3 trims & engines on record

Trims
2.0 TDI Premium · 2.0T PZEV Premium · 2.0T Premium · Premium Plus · Premium
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 140 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 200 hp

2012 Audi A3 vehicles on record

2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM6CA144837 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUKJAFMXCA147251 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM9CA127837 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM9CA065730 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PZEV PremiumWAUPEAFM4CA040710 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM3CA033730 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM9CA146601 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM2CA033539 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PZEV PremiumWAUKEAFM4CA113858 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PremiumWAUKFAFMXCA013101 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PZEV PremiumWAUKEAFM7CA025256 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PremiumWAUKFAFM0CA012474 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJAFM1CA013907 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJAFM7CA079197 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJAFM4CA004165 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM3CA147663 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJAFM4CA144748 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJAFM6CA077876 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PremiumWAUBFAFM7CA002685 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PZEV PremiumWAUBEAFM6CA028343 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PZEV PremiumWAUBEAFM7CA080175 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUKJAFM7CA030761 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0 TDI PremiumWAUBJBFM3CA147873 2012 Audi A3 2012 Audi A3 2.0T PZEV PremiumWAUBEAFM3CA160945

Other Audi A3 model years

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

2012 Audi A3 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Audi A3 have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2012 Audi A3. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Audi A3?

Based on 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, exterior lighting, fuel/propulsion system.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Audi A3 get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Audi A3 at about 27 mpg combined (24 city / 32 highway).

How much is a 2012 Audi A3 worth?

Comparable 2012 Audi A3 listings run roughly $13,000–$20,250, typically around $17,145 (from 52 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.