The Lemon Index
20102012Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 6,561 in the U.S. in 2011 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 13 complaints in its first 3 years.
13 owner complaints, first 3 years 24–32 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2011 BMW 3 Series 672011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 152011 Lexus IS 27
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Only 12 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 19V862000 (airbags), 18V082000 (airbags) and 16V079000 (airbags) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Audi's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 13 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Transmission problems in every Audi A3 year →
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 33K to 61K miles (54K to 98K km) on the car (12 of all 13 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
1) normal driving. 2) fuel pump failure resulting in total fuel system failure. 3) fuel pump and entire fuel delivery system replaced.
2011 Audi A3 owner · NHTSA complaint 10415442
More owner reports
Fuel pump imploded and sent shrapnel throughout the entire fuel system. Everything had to be replaced.
NHTSA complaint 10607406
The vehicle started loosing power and stalling. The engine light came up. I took the car the dealer. They diagnosed the problem as a high-pressure fuel pump that has disintegrated and damaged the entire fuel system.
NHTSA complaint 10641900
Recalls 4
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
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.
- Airbags · recall issued 2018
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Show all 4 recalls
- Fuel system, diesel · recall issued 2011 2.0L diesel only
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 SE…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A3 4 DR AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Audi A3 4 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,950–$3,300 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.
Every Audi A3 year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 3 Audi A3 years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2011 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/audi-a3/?y=2011" title="Audi A3 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/audi-a3/2011/">Lemon Index</a> (2011 Audi A3 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2011 Audi A3 reliable?
We can't score it: only 6,561 were sold in the U.S. in 2011 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 13 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2011 Audi A3 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system, diesel (31%), engine (31%) and fuel system (23%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Audi A3 have?
4 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Audi A3 get?
24 to 32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2011 Audi A3 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Audi A3 cost in fuel a year?
About $2,950 to $3,300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Audi A3 have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Audi A3 year is better than the 2011?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2016 drew the fewest (about half as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works