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AUDI · vehicle model

AUDI S3

119 NHTSA complaints and 11 safety recalls across model years 2015–2024.

Complaints
119
Recalls
11
Model years
8

The AUDIS3 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 119 consumer safety complaints and 11 recall campaigns across 8 model years (2015–2024). That averages roughly 15 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 9 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20244
20225
20201
20192
20187
201710
201621
201569

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 76 in 2017-2021 to 43 in 2022-2026, a fall of 43.4%. That is the 45th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

2
’17
5
’18
19
’19
34
’20
16
’21
18
’22
6
’23
14
’24
5
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare AUDIS3 to Similar Vehicles

AUDIS3 vs MASERATIGHIBLI → AUDIS3 vs MINICOOPER S CLUBMAN → AUDIS3 vs VOLVOVOLVO → AUDIS3 vs FORDF-550 →

NHTSA Investigations

EA22001Engineering AnalysisClosed2022-04-04

Engine Stall - Turbo Failure

PE21009Preliminary EvaluationClosed2021-03-29

Engine Stall - Turbo Failure

EA04017Engineering AnalysisClosed2004-06-30

STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE

PE04023Preliminary EvaluationClosed2004-03-05

STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE

EA03025Engineering AnalysisClosed2003-11-25

DRIVERS SIDE DASH FIRE

PE03035Preliminary EvaluationClosed2003-07-25

DRIVERS SIDE DASHBOARD FIRE

DP87007Defect PetitionClosed1986-12-16

1980 AUDI 5000 SUDDEN ACCELERATION

DP87002Defect PetitionClosed1986-10-30

1979-86 AUDI 4000 SUDDEN ACCELERATION

EA85037Engineering AnalysisClosed1985-07-31

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the AUDI S3?▼
The AUDI S3 has received 119 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2015 to 2024, with 11 recalls. That averages about 15 complaints per model year.
What years of AUDI S3 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the AUDI S3 from 2015 to 2024 (8 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the AUDI S3 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many AUDI S3 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common AUDI S3 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the AUDI S3 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my AUDI S3 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. AUDI S3 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.