Audi S3

Engine power and kerb weight are registration-weighted averages of the Audi S3 registered in the EU/EEA in 2025 (5,436 cars), engine power from 23 countries, kerb weight from 24 countries. Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0).

Engine power is the type-approved engine power (EEA field Ep). For hybrids and plug-in hybrids it is the power of the combustion engine, not the system power, and for electric cars it can differ from the peak power the manufacturer advertises.

New registrations in Norway

Number of Audi S3 registered for the first time in Norway per year.

Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0).

New registrations by country (2025)

Number of Audi S3 cars registered for the first time across 25 European countries in 2025.

Source: EEA CO₂ monitoring (CC BY 4.0), 2025 data.

Engine variants

European engine versions of the Audi S3 by displacement, from the Dutch register (RDW). 5 variants.

Source: RDW (NL). European engine variants.

Other Audi models

Common problems & reliability

US owners have filed 19 complaints for the Audi S3, most often about air bags, power train, unknown or other, visibility/wiper. These are owner-reported issues, useful for spotting recurring weaknesses before you buy. In the UK, 81% of Audi S3s pass their MOT test first time, based on 3,502 inspections in 2023. (2023 is the most recent annual release published by the DfT.)

Based on real owner complaints and inspection data, not an editorial rating. Sources: NHTSA (US, public domain), DVSA MOT (UK, Open Government Licence).

Recalls & safety

4 in the US-market NHTSA database, which may not apply to European versions for the Audi S3. Recalls can flag known weaknesses of the model.

• AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERUS · NHTSAModel years 2015–2020

  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.

  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.

  NHTSA campaign 21V198000 · reported 22/03/2021

• AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONUS · NHTSAModel year 2017

  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."

  Remedy: 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.

  NHTSA campaign 17V196000 · reported 22/03/2017

• AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONUS · NHTSAModel years 2015–2016

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

  NHTSA campaign 19V474000 · reported 19/06/2019

• AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEUS · NHTSAModel year 2016

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

  NHTSA campaign 22V543000 · reported 27/07/2022

Sources: EU Safety Gate (European market) and NHTSA (US market). See all Audi recalls.