2018 Audi S3

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails

Component	Reports		Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power Train	2		0	0	0
Fuel/Propulsion System	2		0	0	0
Air Bags	1		0	0	0

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger21V198000

Filed Mar 22, 2021153,152 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.

Risk. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.

What owners reported

Newest filings

Fuel/Propulsion System

Filed Oct 25, 2024FL

Having the same issue as the NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report, 24V-110. And, similar to NHTSA 16V647 associated with the Audi Safety Recall 20Y5 - Suction Pump. Apparently there is no recall for my S3, only the A3. Dealer has determined the suction pump and gas tank are faulty. (Inherit defect by manufacture?). Audi is not acknowledging any upcoming recall but may try to help through their assistance program.

Power Train

Filed Jun 8, 2022CA

The car was put in Drive "D". As I roll out into traffic and start to accelerate, the car "bang" out of gear like it's in neutral, the revs climb, but the car doesn't accelerate and the "D" display disappeared from the instrument panel. The gear selector display on the instrument panel is now blank (instead of "D" if it was in gear or "N" if it was out of gear). I have to pull to the side of the road and stop and the "D" reappeared and then all seems to be fine again. This has happened twice in the last two months. I had a local mechanic scan the vehicle for transmission fault, but found nothing was stored.

Air Bags

Filed Jun 7, 2022CA

Audi will not fix the problem.

Fuel/Propulsion System

Filed Jan 9, 20192,000 milesTX

A) AUDI OF CENTRAL HOUSTON SOLD US 2018 S3 ON AUG13, 2018 WITH: 1) DELAMINATING WINDSHIELD CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD 2) DEFECTIVE WIPER FUNCTION NB: WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACEMENT ON DEC 31, 2019 WHEN WE HAD ACTUALLY REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER BRAND NEW VEHICLE B) AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA (THROUGH ITS DEALER) HAS: 1) SOLD US A BRAND NEW CAR WITH FIRE HAZARD IN ITS FUEL LINES ON AUG 13, 2018 2) FAILED TO NOTIFY US TO DATE (JAN 09, 2019) REGARDING RECALL CODE 20BK DEALING WITH FAULTY FUEL LINES

Power Train

Filed Dec 27, 201810,500 milesCA

CAR DOESN'T ENGAGE GEAR OR "JUMPS" WHEN REVERSE (R) IS SELECTED.

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2015

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Assessment
2024	2	0	Routine
2023	0	1	Routine
2022	2	7	Routine
2021	0	1	Routine
2020	1	1	Routine
2019	2	1	Routine
2018 — this page	5	1	Routine
2017	9	2	Routine
2016	14	3	Routine
2015	53	2	Routine

Compare every S3 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 22, 2021. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.