Audi VIN Number Check

Audi vehicles manufactured in Germany carry VINs beginning with WAU, WA1, or WUA depending on the model type. Sedans and coupes such as the A4, A6, and A8 typically use WAU prefixes. Q-Series SUVs use WA1 prefixes. The Audi R8 supercar uses WUA as its VIN prefix. Audi Q5 models built at the company's San José Chiapa plant in Mexico also carry the WA1 prefix, and TT models built in Győr, Hungary use TRU. Because the W prefix identifies Audi rather than the country of assembly, check the 11th character (plant code) and the full VIN decode to see where an Audi was built.

The free decoder reads the VIN in NHTSA's vPIC database and returns the model, model year, body, engine, drive type and assembly plant. Audi VINs in vPIC start with prefixes such as WAU, WA1, WUA and TRU. The same lookup lists NHTSA safety recalls for that make, model and model year. Each of our 12 Audi model pages adds what NHTSA and the EPA have published: owner complaints, technical service bulletins, defect investigations, fuel economy and, where NHTSA has tested the car, NCAP crash ratings. It is not a vehicle history report: it doesn't show accidents, title brands, odometer readings or theft records.

Audi places the VIN on a plate at the driver side base of the windshield, readable from outside. A matching sticker is inside the driver door jamb. On Audi Q-Series SUVs, the VIN is also stamped on the firewall near the front strut tower. A-Series sedans have an additional VIN stamp accessible from under the hood. Audi, like other Volkswagen Group vehicles, uses a consistent VIN structure across brands, so a vehicle that was formerly a Volkswagen or Porsche will have a structurally similar but brand-distinct VIN format.

In NHTSA's recall data since the 2001 model year, the A6 has the most Audi campaigns, followed by the Q5, Q7, A4 and A3, all long-running, high-volume lines. The A6, A4, A3 and Q5 were all affected by Takata airbag recall campaigns. The Audi Q7 has received recalls related to brake booster and side airbag components. TT models have historical campaigns covering the fuel tank and fuel lines (2008–2010, 2016–2019) and older driver air bag inflators (2000–2001). Audi vehicles equipped with turbocharged direct-injection engines across multiple generations share a number of oil and emissions-related service campaigns.

If it is a 2010–2013 or 2015 A3 TDI (2.0L) or a 3.0L V6 TDI (2009–2016 Q7, 2014–2016 A6, A7, A8, A8L and Q5), yes. 2.0L owners could choose a buyback or an approved emissions modification; 3.0L vehicles get an approved emissions modification under the December 2016 settlement. Look for the emissions modification label under the hood and ask for the dealer record. NHTSA's recall lookup won't show these repairs, because they are EPA and CARB settlement actions, not safety recalls.

NHTSA files these Audi campaigns under its Takata investigation: driver inflator recalls 16V-078, 16V-079 and 18V-082 (2005–2013 A3, 2006–2009 A4 Cabriolet, 2009–2012 Q5, 2010–2012 A5 and S5 Cabriolet) and 19V-014 (2016–2017 TT, 2017 R8), and passenger inflator recalls 16V-382, 17V-032, 18V-004 and 18V-427 (2004–2009 A4 and S4, 2005–2011 A6 and S6), phased by state. Recall 19V-862 covers 2011–2013 A3 diesels repaired earlier with a replacement inflator. Check the VIN in NHTSA's lookup.

NHTSA lists a do-not-drive advisory on 18V-369 (2018 Q5 and SQ5 brake calipers). Fire-risk campaigns include the 2.0L turbo coolant pump recalls 17V-002 and 18V-229 (2012–2017 A4, A5, A6 and Q5), auxiliary heater wiring 17V-622, Q5 and Q7 fuel pump flange recalls 16V-660 and 17V-298, fuel rail recall 19V-035, e-tron battery recall 23V-867 and plug-in hybrid battery recall 25V-080. Confirm them on the VIN before you buy.

No. WA1 is AUDI AG's prefix for SUVs wherever they are built: NHTSA's vPIC decodes a 2018 Q5 to San José Chiapa, Mexico, a 2017 Q7 to Bratislava, Slovakia, a 2019 Q3 to Győr, Hungary and a 2019 e-tron to Brussels, Belgium. Cars use WAU, RS models and the R8 use WUA (Audi Sport GmbH) and Győr-built TTs use TRU. The 11th character and the full decode show the plant.