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2018 Audi S3 problems, recalls and owner complaints

What the 2018 Audi S3 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.

  • 1safety recall
  • 5owner complaints
  • 0crash reports
  • 0fire reports
  • 0injuries reported

5 complaints, against an average of 15 for the other 5 Audi S3 model years.

Every Audi S3 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.

What goes wrong with the 2018 Audi S3?

The components named most often in the 5 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  1. Fuel/Propulsion System2 (40%)
  2. Power Train2 (40%)
  3. Air Bags1 (20%)
  4. Visibility/Wiper1 (20%)

Has the 2018 Audi S3 been recalled?

1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.

Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification: Front Passenger 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. NHTSA campaign 21V198000 · March 22, 2021 · Risk and fix

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.

What do 2018 Audi S3 owners report?

4 of the 5 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.

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?). Audi is not acknowledging any upcoming recall but may try to help through their assistance program.
Fuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11622004 · Oct 25, 2024
The car was put in Drive "D". As I roll out into traffic and start to accelerate, the car "bang" out of gear like it's in neutral, the revs climb, but the car doesn't accelerate and the "D" display disappeared from the instrument panel. The gear selector display on the instrument panel is now blank (instead of "D" if it was in gear or "N" if it was out of gear). I have to pull to the side of the road and stop and the "D" reappeared and then all seems to be fine again. This has happened twice in the last two months. I had a local mechanic scan the vehicle for transmission fault, but found…
Power TrainNHTSA complaint 11468314 · Jun 8, 2022
A) AUDI OF CENTRAL HOUSTON SOLD US 2018 S3 ON AUG13, 2018 WITH: 1) DELAMINATING WINDSHIELD CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD 2) DEFECTIVE WIPER FUNCTION NB: WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACEMENT ON DEC 31, 2019 WHEN WE HAD ACTUALLY REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER BRAND NEW VEHICLE B) AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA (THROUGH ITS DEALER) HAS: 1) SOLD US A BRAND NEW CAR WITH FIRE HAZARD IN ITS FUEL LINES ON AUG 13, 2018 2) FAILED TO NOTIFY US TO DATE (JAN 09, 2019) REGARDING RECALL CODE 20BK DEALING WITH FAULTY FUEL LINES
Unknown Or Other, Fuel/Propulsion System, Visibility/WiperNHTSA complaint 11166151 · Jan 9, 2019
CAR DOESN'T ENGAGE GEAR OR "JUMPS" WHEN REVERSE (R) IS SELECTED.
Power TrainNHTSA complaint 11163696 · Dec 27, 2018

2018 Audi S3: questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Audi S3 reliable?

NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi S3; the most common categories were fuel/propulsion system (2, 40%), power train (2, 40%), air bags (1, 20%). There is 1 safety recall.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi S3?

Across 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are fuel/propulsion system (40% of complaints), power train (40% of complaints), air bags (20% of complaints), visibility/wiper (20% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.

Does the 2018 Audi S3 have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2018 Audi S3; the most recent (campaign 21V198000, 2021-03-22) concerns Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification: Front Passenger. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Check your own S3

Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2018 only.

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