The Audi S3 spans 2015–2026 with 19 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 5.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2015, 2016, 2017 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2022, 2023, 2025. It delivers up to 27 mpg combined and 5-star NHTSA safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Audi S3 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2015 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Audi S3 VIN — every digit explained
Every Audi S3 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Audi and the country it was built in (real Audi codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this S3.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- GermanyWA1 · WAU · WU1 · WUA
- HungaryTRU
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your S3, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Audi S3 have?
The Audi S3 has 19 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2015–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2023 Audi S3 recalls 1
Equipment:other:labels
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S3, RS3, and A3 vehicles. The Safety Certification label on the B-pillar is missing weight capacity information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk. Missing weight information may result in unintentional overloading of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Audi dealers will install an overlay label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 50ZZ.
2022 Audi S3 recalls 7
Back Over Prevention:display Function
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf R A8, Audi S3, RS3 Sedan, Q4 E-Tron SUV, A3 Sedan, and 2022-2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and ID4 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be blank or unresponsive when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear or when the park function is manually activated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk. An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners February 14, 2023. Volkswagen owners will receive an owner notification letter once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Volkswagen) 91EK and (Audi) 91EL.
Equipment:electrical:infotainment:video (touch)screen/monitor/unit
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk. An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.
Air Bags:frontal
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Audi S3, A3, and RS3 vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been folded incorrectly.
Risk. An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69DZ.
Seat Belts:pretensioner
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Audi S3 and A3 sedans. The retention force of the seat belt tensioner on the driver and front passenger seats may be inadequate to properly restrain the occupants during a crash.
Risk. Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 68i2.
Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022 A3 Sedan and S3 Sedan vehicles. The child seat anchorage fitting sleeves are incorrectly marked with a different symbol than the one described in the owner's manual. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Risk. An incorrectly marked child restraint anchorage may cause confusion during child seat installation, resulting in a child seat being improperly secured and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace all four fitting sleeves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May24, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72M7.
Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk. An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially displaying when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk. A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
2020 Audi S3 recalls 1
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
2019 Audi S3 recalls 1
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
2018 Audi S3 recalls 1
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
2017 Audi S3 recalls 2
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk. If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q3.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
2016 Audi S3 recalls 3
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Fix. Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Risk. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
2015 Audi S3 recalls 2
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
What's wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Risk. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
Best and worst years for the Audi S3
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 11 tracked years, the worst years are 2015, 2016, 2017 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2022, 2023, 2025.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 S3 | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2016 S3 | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2017 S3 | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2018 S3 | Fuel/propulsion System | Average | |
| 2019 S3 | Air Bags | Average | |
| 2020 S3 | — | Average | |
| 2022 S3 | — | Best | |
| 2023 S3 | — | Best | |
| 2024 S3 | Visibility/wiper | Average | |
| 2025 S3 | — | Best | |
| 2026 S3 | — | Average |
What are the most common Audi S3 problems?
The most-reported Audi S3 problems are Seats (8 reports), Tires (1 reports) and Engine (5 reports) — out of 85 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Audi S3 specifications & dimensions
The 2023 Audi S3 measures 177″ long on a 104″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 3,483 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Audi S3 window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 177″ | 72″ | 56″ | 104″ | 3,483 lb |
| 2017–2020 | 176″ | 71″ | 55″ | 104″ | — |
| 2015 | 176″ | 71″ | 56″ | 104″ | 3,450 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Audi S3 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the S3 holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 87 cu ft of passenger volume and 10 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Audi S3 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Audi S3 get?
The Audi S3 returns up to 27 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $2,850/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2026 Audi S3 (2L 4-cyl) gets 26 mpg combined and costs about $2,950/yr to fuel, emitting 346 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 5/10) — about $3,750 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 S3 | 23 | 31 | $2,950 | 346 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2025 S3 | 23 | 31 | $2,950 | 344 | 4/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2023 S3 | 23 | 32 | $2,950 | 334 | 5/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2022 S3 | 23 | 32 | $2,850 | 331 | 5/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2020 S3 | 22 | 29 | $3,100 | 358 | 3/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2019 S3 | 22 | 29 | $3,100 | 358 | 3/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2018 S3 | 22 | 28 | $3,100 | 359 | 3/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2017 S3 | 21 | 28 | $3,200 | 373 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2016 S3 | 23 | 31 | $2,950 | 340 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2015 S3 | 23 | 31 | $2,950 | 340 | 6/10 | 2L 4-cyl |
The 2024 Audi S3 (2L 4-cyl Hybrid) gets 26 mpg combined and costs about $2,950/yr to fuel, emitting 335 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 5/10, smog 5/10) — about $3,750 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 S3 | 23 | 32 | $2,950 | 335 | 5/10 | 2L 4-cyl Hybrid |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the S3 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this S3's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Audi S3 have? Power & range
The Audi S3 is offered with 2 powertrains — 2L 4-cyl, 2L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S7) | AWD | Premium |
| Hybrid | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S7) | AWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Audi S3 cost to own?
A used Audi S3 sells for a median of about $31,950 for a 2020 — most listed between $31,950 and $35,811, from 23 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 S3 | $31,950–$35,811 | 3 | |
| 2017 S3 | $17,900–$18,999 | 5 | |
| 2016 S3 | $13,995–$24,999 | 7 | |
| 2015 S3 | $9,000–$21,950 | 8 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a S3 is worth today, or browse used-market prices for sedans.
A Audi S3 tends to depreciate faster than average. A typical example keeps roughly 37% of its value after five years — losing about 63% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 75% | $22,500 | −$7,500 |
| Year 2 | 63% | $18,900 | −$11,100 |
| Year 3 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 4 | 44% | $13,200 | −$16,800 |
| Year 5 | 37% | $11,100 | −$18,900 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this S3 loses about 63% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $14,250 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the S3 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Audi S3 to insure?
A Audi S3 costs about $1,360 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 5% below the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (95, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the S3's HLDI loss index. See Audi insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Audi S3 safe?
The Audi S3 earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall safety — real government crash-test data. Ratings by year:
| Year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 S3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2019 S3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2018 S3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2017 S3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2016 S3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2015 S3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested model years.
Want the safest pick? Compare crash-test scores across the safest cars.
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How many miles does a Audi S3 last?
A well-maintained Audi S3 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 5.0/5.
Check your Audi S3’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this S3’s VIN free →All Audi S3 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Audi S3 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 S3 | 0 | — | |
| 2025 S3 | 0 | — | |
| 2024 S3 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2023 S3 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2022 S3 | 7 recalls | — | |
| 2020 S3 | 1 recall | ★★★★★ | |
| 2019 S3 | 1 recall | ★★★★★ | |
| 2018 S3 | 1 recall | ★★★★★ | |
| 2017 S3 | 2 recalls | ★★★★★ | |
| 2016 S3 | 3 recalls | ★★★★★ | |
| 2015 S3 | 2 recalls | ★★★★★ |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the S3?
By owner-complaint volume, 2015, 2016, 2017 drew the most reports. 2022, 2023, 2025 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the S3 have?
19 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2015–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Audi recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the S3 get?
Up to 27 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
Is the S3 safe?
The S3 earns up to 5-star NHTSA overall crash-test safety; ratings vary by model year.
How many miles does a S3 last?
A well-maintained S3 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the S3 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the S3 is 5.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Audi S3 warranty?
New Audi models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 4 years / 50,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Audi dealer.
Where is the Audi S3 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your S3's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Audi may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the S3 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.