Audi A3 8V (2012-2020): known problems and buying guide

Built: 2012–2016
Median price: €10,999
Listings: 2,191
Running cost per month: €378–€528
Power: 105–300 PS (77–221 kW)
Reliability: 4/5
DIY: 2/5

Check oil use on 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI, the quattro coupling pump and S tronic judder before you buy.

Updated 24 October 2026

All versions

Variant	Running cost per month	Median price	Listings	Fuel	Engine codes	Gearbox	Production years
2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€405	€10,000	325	Diesel	DCY, DFG	Manual (6)	2012–2016
2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive Research	€419	€10,000	325	Diesel	DCY	Manual (6)	2012–2016
1.6 TDI, 110 PS, 6-speed manual	€383	€9,400	181	Diesel	DBK	Manual (6)	2013–2016
2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 6-speed dual-clutch Research	€421	€11,490	176	Diesel	DCY, DFG	Automatic (dual-clutch) (6)	2012–2016
1.4 TFSI, 125 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€401	€10,790	130	Petrol	CZC	Manual (6)	2013–2016
1.4 TFSI, 122 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€395	€8,999	128	Petrol	CXS	Manual (6)	2012–2014
2.0 TDI, 184 PS, 6-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research	€442	€13,300	112	Diesel	DGC, DJG	Automatic (dual-clutch) (6)	2013–2016
1.8 TFSI, 180 PS, 6-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research	€464	€11,800	105	Petrol	CJS	Automatic (dual-clutch) (6)	2012–2016
1.8 TFSI, 180 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch Research	€419	€11,800	105	Petrol	CJS	Automatic (dual-clutch) (7)	2012–2015
1.6 TDI, 110 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch Research	€385	€11,490	101	Diesel	DBK	Automatic (dual-clutch) (7)	2014–2016
1.4 TFSI, 150 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€386	€10,990	86	Petrol	CZE	Manual (6)	2014–2016
1.6 TDI, 105 PS, 6-speed manual	€378	€7,500	78	Diesel	CLH	Manual (6)	2012–2014
1.2 TFSI, 110 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€394	€10,500	60	Petrol	CYV	Manual (6)	2014–2016
S3, 300 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive Research	€528	€19,900	53	Petrol (98)	CJX, DNU	Automatic (dual-clutch) (7)	2013–2016

Show all 14 variants

At a glance

Years: built 2012 to 2020. Facelift in April 2016.
Biggest risks: oil use on 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols, and the pump in the quattro all-wheel-drive coupling (Haldex).
Reliability: 4/5. Engines and gearboxes are rated very reliable, and the German inspection finds fewer defects than average. Oil use and coupling faults are known.
DIY: 2/5. Engine and coupling work needs a workshop.
Prefer: a car with records of coupling oil changes and timing chain or belt work. Avoid: a 1.2 or 1.4 TFSI that uses more than 1 litre of oil per 1,000 km.

Engines and gearboxes

Petrol, before the facelift (2012-2016): 77, 81, 85, 90, 92, 103, 110 and 132 kW. S3 221 kW (Super Plus). RS3 270 kW from 2015.
Petrol, facelift (2016-2020): 85, 110, 140 and 150 kW. S3 228 kW. RS3 294 kW.
EA211 TFSI (1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 TFSI): oil use on the 1.2 and 1.4 is a known issue. See the EA211 engine guide and the 1.5 TSI evo guide.
EA888 TFSI (1.8 and 2.0 TFSI): timing chain wear and water pump housing leaks.
EA855 Evo (RS3, five-cylinder): no common fault confirmed.
Diesel, EA288 (1.6 and 2.0 TDI): 77, 81, 85, 110 and 135 kW before the facelift; 85, 110 and 135 kW after it. No common fault confirmed.
g-tron (natural gas): 81 kW before the facelift, 96 kW after it. No common fault confirmed.
e-tron (plug-in hybrid): no common fault confirmed.
Manual: fitted to nearly all cars. No common fault confirmed.
7-speed dry S tronic (DQ200): smaller engines. Judder and clutch wear. See the DQ200 guide.
6-speed and 7-speed wet S tronic (DQ250, DQ381): stronger engines and the RS3. Quattro cars use the 6-speed. Oil change every 50,000 to 60,000 km.
Haldex all-wheel drive: quattro cars. See Haldex coupling pump clogs.

Known issues

Issue	Affects	Typical km	Repair cost
Oil use on 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols	1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols	100,000-200,000 km	No confirmed price
Haldex coupling pump clogs	Quattro cars with Haldex coupling	About 60,000 km	No confirmed price
Timing chain wear on 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI	1.8 and 2.0 TFSI petrols	120,000-150,000 km	No confirmed price
Water pump and thermostat housing leaks	Petrol engines; plastic housing on 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI	About 60,000 km	No confirmed price
Dry S tronic judder and clutch wear	7-speed dry S tronic (DQ200)	About 60,000 km	No confirmed price
Turbo boost and wastegate faults	1.2, 1.4 and 1.8 TFSI petrols	100,000-120,000 km	No confirmed price
Rear brakes worn or rusted	All	Not stated	Not stated
Infotainment MMI faults	Early cars	Not stated	Not stated

Before you buy

Check the oil level after a test drive. Ask for oil change records. Oil use over 1 litre per 1,000 km means engine work on the pistons.
On a quattro, ask for proof of coupling oil changes. Bad result: no records, or the front wheels spin and the rear wheels do not drive.
Ask for the timing chain service record on a 1.8 or 2.0 TFSI. Bad result: no record of chain or tensioner work after about 120,000 km.
Check the coolant level and look for leaks at the water pump and thermostat housing. Bad result: low coolant or a leak.
On a 7-speed dry S tronic, test pull-away from a stop and in traffic. Bad result: judder or jerks. Ask for clutch history.
On a test drive, check for lost boost or a whine under load. Bad result: sluggish boost.
Look at the rear discs and backing plates for rust, and ask about brake wear at the last inspection. Bad result: heavy rust or worn brakes.
Test the infotainment system on the test drive and ask whether the software update was done. Bad result: faults that return after the update.
Check by VIN that the front seat belt recall was done. Bad result: the campaign is still open.

Running costs

Operational	€157
Workshop	€107
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)	€141
Total per month	€405
New-car depreciation (not included)	€78

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Market

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings: 2,191
25th percentile: €8,990
Median price: €10,999
75th percentile: €13,500
Median mileage: 157,080 km
Median first registration: 2014
Dealer share: 55.1%
Price at 100,000 km: €14,253

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

Oil use on 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols

At higher mileage, worn or carbon-stuck piston rings, worn valve guides or a blocked crankcase vent let the engine burn oil. Oil use can reach a litre in a couple of thousand kilometres. Over 1 litre per 1,000 km means major engine work with new pistons. The fix has no confirmed price.

Sources: EuroAutoPro, auto.ru, what breaks in the A3 8V, Motor-Talk, 1.4 TFSI oil use

Haldex coupling pump clogs

The Haldex coupling is the all-wheel-drive coupling that sends drive to the rear wheels. Wear from its clutch plates dirties the oil and clogs the pump. The rear drive then stops. The front wheels spin, often with no warning light. The pump is replaced as one unit. The fix has no confirmed price. Change the coupling oil every 3 years or 30,000 to 40,000 km.

Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, auto.ru, what breaks in the A3 8V, auto.ru, 8 problems of the used A3, Motor-Talk, Haldex collection thread

Timing chain wear on 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI

The timing chain on these engines lasts about 120,000 to 150,000 km. A weak chain tensioner can let the chain jump, which bends the valves and wrecks the engine. The fix has no confirmed price.

Sources: auto.ru, 8 problems of the used A3, auto.ru, reliability of the A3, Kolesa.ru, EA888 engine faults

Water pump and thermostat housing leaks

The water pump and thermostat housing often leak on the 1.0 to 1.4 TFSI petrols. On the 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI the pump and thermostat module is mostly plastic. Its seals swell and crack the housing. Thermostat leaks on the 1.8 TFSI often start from about 60,000 km, and the thermostat is often replaced with the pump. A coolant leak can cause serious engine damage. The fix has no confirmed price.

Sources: EuroAutoPro, Motor-Talk, known weak spots, Kolesa.ru, EA888 engine faults, auto.ru, reliability of the A3

Dry S tronic judder and clutch wear

The 7-speed dry S tronic (DQ200) can judder when pulling away. Clutches wear faster in heavy city traffic or when towing. Jerks and slipping are reported from about 60,000 km. Clutch life varies widely. The fix is a clutch and then a software adaptation. The fix has no confirmed price. See the DQ200 guide.

Sources: AUTO BILD, Gebrauchtwagenberater, auto.ru, what breaks in the A3 8V

Turbo boost and wastegate faults

Loss of boost, or a whistle or whine from the turbo, appears from about 100,000 to 120,000 km. On the 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI the vacuum actuator, the part that opens the turbo's bypass flap (wastegate), often fails. On the 1.8 TFSI the bypass valve is the usual fault. A stiff wastegate linkage can make boost sluggish after idling. Oiling the linkage often fixes it. The fix has no confirmed price.

Sources: EuroAutoPro, auto.ru, what breaks in the A3 8V, auto.ru, 8 problems of the used A3

Rear brakes worn or rusted

At the German inspection the A3 more often showed advanced brake wear. Owners report that the rear discs and backing plates rust badly. No repair cost is confirmed.

Sources: AutoScout24, Motor-Talk, known weak spots

Infotainment MMI faults

Early cars had faults in the multimedia system (MMI). Software updates fix them. No repair cost is confirmed.

Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, AUTO BILD

Recalls

Country	Code	Years	What is done
Germany	KBA 012007; Audi code 68I2	2018-2020 (8V cars)	Front seat belts replaced. Covers cars with a switchable front belt, where the belt reel may not hold in a crash. Owners are contacted by chassis number. The car may be driven until the repair.

Maintenance

Engine oil: change every 7,000 to 15,000 km. Oil use is the top risk on 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols.
Coupling oil: change every 3 years or 30,000 to 40,000 km on quattro cars.
Wet S tronic gearbox oil (6- and 7-speed): change every 50,000 to 60,000 km.
Timing belt: fitted to the other petrols and the diesels; the 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI and the RS3 have a chain. The belt interval is 120,000 to 200,000 km depending on engine; follow the service book and keep the invoices.

Sources: auto.ru, what breaks in the A3 8V, Kolesa.ru, EA888 engine faults, Motor-Talk, Haldex collection thread, Gebrauchtwagenberater, AutoScout24