Audi RS3 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Audi RS3? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Audi RS3 — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Best | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2025 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2024 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2023 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2022 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2021 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2020 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2019 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2018 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2017Worst | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
10 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Recent Safety Recalls — Audi RS3 (2022–2026)
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."
Remedy: 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.
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."
Remedy: 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.
Showing 2 recalls from 2022–2026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.
RS3 Years to Avoid
No strongly problematic years identified.
Ranked by combined complaints, recalls, crashes, injuries, and deaths.
Best RS3 Years to Buy
Audi RS3 Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Audi RS3 Reliability
What year RS3 has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 Audi RS3 had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 0 complaints and 0 safety recalls. See the full 2017 report for specific defects.
Is the Audi RS3 reliable?
The Audi RS3 has accumulated 0 owner-filed complaints and 0 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used RS3.
What are the most common RS3 problems?
Common issues include engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
How do I check if my RS3 has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Audi RS3 VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Audi RS3 VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily