2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet: 5 recalls, 12 owner complaints and up to 28 mpg combined.

Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #17V508000 · 2017 · 8,383 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2017.
Seats Vehicle recall #18V803000 · 2018 · 169 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the guide sleeves are incorrectly welded, in the event of a crash, the rear seat head restraints May have reduced stability, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners, and dealers will inspect the guide sleeves for incorrect welds, replacing the rear seat frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #18V863000 · 2018 · 1,104 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the engine compartment can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the fuel line connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V095000 · 2019 · 3,326 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the head restraint May detach and cause injury to the vehicle occupants.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the head restraints, replacing any that are missing pins, free of charge. The recall began on March 7, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V474000 · 2019 · 138,896 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (7): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Exterior lights (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Wheels (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Tires (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet has 12 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 5 A3 Cabriolet model years for complaints (well below the 33 average). Complaints peaked in 2019 (4 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 2 years old, at a median of 34,050 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (25 complaints, 3 recalls), 2019 (4 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 33 | 28 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems?
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (7), exterior lights (1), wheels (1).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet get?
EPA ratings run up to 28 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (AM-S7)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.