AI DamageAudi S3: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Audi S3 across 12 model years: 33 owner complaints and 1,270 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 58% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 12% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 12% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 6 Backover prevention 6% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 3% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 3% of all complaints
- Air bags: 19 complaints (58% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 91.
- Visibility: 4 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 288.
- Seats: 4 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 187.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 73.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2015–2027
- 2 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl 2024
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speed 2015–2017
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed 2018–2027
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 33 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 19 | 0 | 91 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 288 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 | 17 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 187 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 73 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 32 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 1,656 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 503 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 339 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 207 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 29 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 1,078 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 336 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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?).
A local dealer was contacted; however, the contact was advised that the failure was a part of the normal operation of the wiper blades. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
transmission failed after going over a small pothole at 20mph, after which engine revved up than slammed into high gear and jerked the car forward, car has been towed to dealership for inspection, transmission light came on
Random Errors for front and rear sensors, ABS light for brake booster error and SOS failure.
Overheating and being almost stranded in the middle of nowhere with it because oil was needing to be added to the engine all the time and after charging us hundreds and hundreds of dollars to do to plug in Their service computer system they finally realized that the car third high-pressure fuel pump leaking was…
I have [dealer] my area with regard to Manufacturer Recall Number 69BY NHTSA Recall Number 21V198. But they say they do not have the parts to fix the recall and have no idea when they can fix it
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has…
- This bulletin provides information regarding driver assist systems
- This bulletin provides information when the front assist intervenes
- This bulletin provides information regarding fault finding and repair information for electric tailgate
- This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel
- This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations
- This bulletin provides information when there are stails/marks on the sill panel trim
- This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases
- This bulletin provides information when the rear parking sensor sometimes does not work, rear parking…
- This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer
- This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the…
- This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.