2015 Audi S3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (20) · Fuel/Propulsion System (7) · Seats (4)
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
20 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger 2021-03-22 · campaign 21V198000 · 153,152 vehicles
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.
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 2019-06-19 · campaign 19V474000 · 138,896 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (689)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-09-22 · TSB_2020552_15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Structure:body 2026-09-08 · TSB_2068999_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
Showing the 6 most recent of 689 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-31 · Fuel/Propulsion System“a non-serviceable, faulty rollover valve inside the gas tank is causing the vehicle to leak fuel (also fails to contain fuel in the event of a rollover - exacerbating fire hazards in the event of an accident). the solution is to tear apart the entire bottom of the car to replace the entire gas tank. a $6,000 repair according to the audi dealershi…”
2026-03-26 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i am reporting a safety remedy denial by audi of america (case #[xxx]) regarding a failed suction jet pump and charcoal canister in my 2015 audi s3. this failure resulted in a fuel leak and strong fuel odor near the exhaust, creating an immediate fire hazard. although audi issued a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty extension ([xxx]) for the 8v chassi…”
2026-03-22 · Fuel/Propulsion System“gas pump shuts off and stops pumping fuel into my car with a loud hissing noise before it shuts down the pump. i can not properly fill my vehicle with gas. this is not a single incident it is an ongoing problem. …”
2026-02-19 · Fuel/Propulsion System“unable to refuel car. gas pump keeps clicking off and fuel backs up spilling out of fuel port. mechanic tested fuel system and reported fuel tank has faulty jet pump seal. mechanic says a recall was effected for certain audi models with this issue due emissions dangers and fire risk. …”
2024-11-20 · Electrical System“tail lights stopped working, the wire harness in the vehicle is known to get sheared due to a pinch point at the trunk hinge, this pinch point over a period of time will result in damage to the wire harness that controls the rear taillights as well as the opening and closing functions of the trunk. this is a known issue, with a tsb having been rele…”
2024-11-20 · Unknown Or Other“gear shift micro switch this is a documented issue recalled for vw and audi vehicles between 2015-2019. vw recalled all and still is fixing the issue in cars from those years, yet audi decided to just offer an extended warranty to those cars for that specific issue. who is responsible vw or audi. if audi is owned by vw and the issue is in both type…”
2024-07-30 · Air Bags“when driving, without and more importantly, with, a passenger in the front passenger seat, the passenger occupant detection system (pods) light goes on and indicates that the passenger air bag has been deactivated. i looked on line and saw that audi has already recalled certain 2015-2019 audi a3 sedans but apparently my car is not part of the in…”
2023-12-22 · Fuel/Propulsion System“while pumping gas, a strong odor is always present. while pumping gas the pump will stop multiple times before being filled in it's entirety, i can't hold depress gas pump handle i have to slowly fill car with gas or risk spilling fuel. …”
2023-06-12 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the evap suction pump stopped working resulting in refueling issues. fuel accumulates in the evap system and spills outside the vehicle…”
2023-01-28 · Air Bags“i have had a passenger airbag recall since 2021, and i have tried to schedule the maintenance for that recall several times, but each of the 5 times that i’ve tried, the audi dealership (in glenwood springs, co) says they don’t have the parts in stock. each time that happens, i’m told i’ve been put on the list for the next parts shipment. i am so t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.