Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2017 Audi S3 with NHTSA between 2018 and 2024.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 14
Against the median year of the Audi S3. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
67% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2017 Audi S3
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
550.0%
Median failure at 35,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
Median failure at 44,000 miles
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
110.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
110.0%
Median failure at 18,000 miles
Body & Structure
110.0%
Median failure at 6,703 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
116.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
233.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
350.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Apr 2018peak 2Jun 2024
NHTSA investigations into the 2017 Audi S3
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
RQ23007Opened 12 Dec 2023Closed 1 Jul 2024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced SJP Version 1.0 with an improved version, Version 1.1. The SJP is designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emiss...
Recalls on the 2017 Audi S3
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202116918,204 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may not work properly. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a person is seated in the front passenger seat. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also display "passenger airbag off". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off when it should be turned on could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: Audi will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development. To reduce the safety risk, Audi recommends that if the PODS in your vehicle is not working properly, you should contact an Audi dealer for assistance right away and not transport a person in the front-passenger seat until the PODS has been repaired.
Recall 20171651,332 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, the airbag control module may not properly classify an out of position front passenger seat occupant. In the event of a crash, the airbag could deploy the front passenger airbag with more force than required, increasing the risk of injury to the front seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will update the airbag control module software.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Henderson, NV
POWER TRAIN
transmission failed after going over a small pothole at 20mph, after which engine revved up than slammed into high gear and jerked the car forward, car has been towed to dealership for inspection, transmission light came on
NHTSA complaint #11594028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
transmission failed after going over a small pothole at 20mph, after which engine revved up than slammed into high gear and jerked the car forward, car has been towed to dealership for inspection, transmission light came on
NHTSA complaint #11594028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vienna, VA
AIR BAGS
I have contacted Audi dealerships in my area with regard to Manufacturer Recall Number 69BY NHTSA Recall Number 21V198. But they say they do not have the parts to fix the recall and have no idea when they can fix it
NHTSA complaint #11484281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orinda, CA
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2017 Audi S3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and the contact was notified that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11465743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,500 milesDraper, UT
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2017 Audi S3. The front passenger seat air bag warning light failed to illuminate whether there was a passenger seated in the seat or not. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that the part was not available. Several months later an appointment was scheduled; however, later the contact was informed that the part was not available. The contact stated that he rescheduled the appointment for 5/11/2022 and before going to the dealer he called to confirm however, he was informed that parts were not in stock and that the recall was closed due to parts not being available. The dealer stated that there was no time frame for parts availability. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. The case was closed due to an appointment being made. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 49,500.
NHTSA complaint #11463893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesSouth San Francisco, CA
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
The contact owns a 2017 Audi S3. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The owner contacted a local dealer to set up a recall appointment. The contact set the appointment and was told by the dealer that the parts would be ordered and that the dealer would contact the owner. The owner waited over one month and had to re-contact the dealer and was told that they no longer preorder parts and the recall was now first-come-first-serve. The contact was advised by the dealer that the appointment was canceled and the vehicle was still pending repair. The contact advised that the passenger airbag sensor light stays illuminated and the instructions in the recall letter advise not to allow a passenger in the front passenger seat. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #11452610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,718 milesTracy, CA
AIR BAGS
SEATPOD SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG FAULT MESSAGES. HAD THIS REPAIRED DONE 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED NEW. I DON'T FEEL SAVE DRIVING IN THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP. BBB CANT HELP ME.
NHTSA complaint #11320434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesAlbaby, OR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-75, THE CAR VIBRATES. I ATTEMPTED TO REACH OUT TO OTHER DRIVES AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUES ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. NOT LOCAL AND NOT SELECT YEAR. UNDER FURTHER HOMEWORK, MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ONLINE. MANY OTHERS SHOW THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS ISSUE, WITH OUT BEING SUCCESSFUL. WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, WHEELS BALANCED, CHECK FOR WHEEL DAMAGE AND EVEN DRIVE SHAFTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED. THE CARS STILL HAVE VIBRATION AROUND 65-75 MPH. MY CAR IS AROUND 44K MILES BUT MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #11270922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 milesMuskogee, OK
VISIBILITY/WIPER
AFTER PURCHASING A 2017 AUDI S3 I IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED HORRIBLE CHATTERING OF THE WIPER BLADES IN MY VERY FIRST DRIVE IN THE RAIN. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN MY CAR TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE 10+ OCCASIONS. THIS CHATTERING AND SKIPPING OF THE WIPER BLADES IS SO BAD THAT I AND MANY OTHER A3 / S3 OWNERS NO LONGER USE OUR WIPERS IN THE RAIN AS THEY CAUSE MORE OF A DISTRACTION THAN GOOD. MOST OF US ARE NOW USING RAINX OR SOME OTHER REPELLENT TO EVACUATE THE WATER. I SENT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP VIDEO IN 2017 AND SO FAR THEY HAVE : POLISHED THE WINDOW, REPLACED THE BLADES TWICE, REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM, AND NOW BACK TO POLISHING THE WINDOW AGAIN. I DECIDED TO ESCALATE TO AUDI USA AND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING RESPONSE: WE UNDERSTAND WHEN PURCHASING A LUXURY VEHICLE YOU DON'T EXPECT CONCERNS TO ARISE. HOWEVER, OUR RESOURCES SHOW THE CHATTERING YOU'RE EXPERIENCING HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY MULTIPLE RESOURCES AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. WE REGRET TO LEARN THIS HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED YOUR AUDI EXPERIENCE AND WILL ENSURE THIS INFORMATION IS DOCUMENTED FOR OUR RECORDS. WHILE WE ARE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THIS CONCERN, SHOULD ANY NEW INFORMATION BECOME AVAILABLE, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH BACK OUT TO US. THE REASON I AM BRINGING THIS TO NHTSA IS I BELIEVE THE LACK OF VISIBILITY, AND THE UTTER COMMOTION THIS CAUSES DURING RAIN IS DANGEROUS. I ALSO BELIEVE A3 / S3 OWNERS NOT USING THEIR WIPERS DURING THE RAIN IS ALSO DANGEROUS. I MUST EMPHASIZE, THE BLADES WORK FINE FOR ABOUT 5 - 10 MINUTES THEN THEY START CLATTERING AND JUMPING ALL OVER THE WINDOW. THIS CAN HAPPEN SITTING STILL BUT ESPECIALLY WHILE MOVING. LIGHT RAIN OR HARD RAIN DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ALTHOUGH I CHECKED 35MPH AND 18000 MILES THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MILE ONE AND ALL SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #11258174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,703 milesLake Oswego, OR
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN HAD GONE OFF IN MY CAR. I SPOKE WITH MY INSURANCE AGENT AND HE TOLD ME TO CALL AUDI BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. AUDI DID FIX THE CAR WHICH WAS HAD A TON OF DAMAGE BECAUSE THE GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED HOWEVER I WAS TOLD BY A GROUP OF ENGINEERS THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT THEY FELT THAT IT WAS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I DID NOT WANT THE CAR AT THAT POINT. I SPOKE WITH AUDI OF AMERICA AND THEY RESPONDED THEY WERE DOING ME A FAVOR BY FIXING THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD NOT BUY IT BACK FROM ME BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM IT IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE YET.... THIS IS A DANGEROUS CAR - IF I HAD WRECKED ON THE FREEWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #11088634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.