2015 Audi S3 problems and recalls

55% of owner complaints on the 2015 Audi S3 related to the Air Bags (29 of 53).

53
Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
2
Injuries
52.9
Severity index

Severity index 52.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 52.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 101 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 29% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 29 complaints (54.7%)29 55%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 9 complaints (17.0%)9 17%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 7 complaints (13.2%)7 13%Power TrainPower Train: 6 complaints (11.3%)6 11%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 5 complaints (9.4%)5 9%EngineEngine: 4 complaints (7.5%)4 8%SeatsSeats: 4 complaints (7.5%)4 8%WheelsWheels: 2 complaints (3.8%)2 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS2954.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM917.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM713.2%
POWER TRAIN611.3%
SEAT BELTS59.4%
ENGINE47.5%
SEATS47.5%
WHEELS23.8%

Complaints filed per year

08152017: 22018: 12019: 72020: 152021: 102022: 82023: 32024: 32026: 4 (partial year)17181920152122232426
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20172
20181
20197
202015
202110
20228
20233
20243
2026 (year to date)4
Filings in 2022 to 2024 ran 0.4x those in 2019 to 2021 (14 against 32).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V47400019/06/2019AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONVolkswagen 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
21V19800022/03/2021AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERVolkswagen 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

Other Audi S3 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 2 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.