Generation-specific owner insights from 91+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy a 2013–2020 S3?84
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2013–2020
10
recall campaigns
air bags
most-complained area
Our take, from owner reports
Owners of the 8V S3 generally describe it as a solid, enjoyable performance luxury car that rewards diligent maintenance, with many reporting no major issues when service intervals are respected.
15 problems reported (5 recurrent, 10 isolated) · high confidence
Owners link this to neglected service and note the 2015-2016 model years specifically, with the fluid and clutch packs described as consumables requiring service around every 30-40k miles.
Described as a traditional failure point for the EA888 engine and a common issue on 2015-2016 cars, with owners advising replacement before purchase.
Reported as common across the entire 8V generation and specifically on 2015 and 2016 models, described as annoying with only a temporary fix.
Reported on a 2017 car with under 20k miles across multiple dealer visits, with a software update that did not resolve it; owners suggest swapping ignition coils and spark plugs to isolate the cause and mention fuel injectors and carbon buildup as possible sources.
Owners report rough or low idle as an indicator and describe walnut blasting as the remedy, with decarbon service noted on service records.
Reported on a 2017 car and persisting after the software update.
Reported on a 2017 car and replaced under warranty.
Reported on a 2016 car and resolved by resetting with diagnostic software.
Reported on a 2016 car as the only significant issue over two years of ownership.
Owners recommend a trickle charger or battery tender and advise driving the car at least weekly.
Reported on 2016 cars, with owners using a three-button reset and advising a dealer software reinstall.
Owners report bent rims on benign potholes and tire problems.
Reported as a long wait for parts at the dealership.
Reported on a 2015 car and fixed at the dealership.
Reported on a car at higher mileage and taken to a shop rather than repaired by the owner.
Facelift cars (2017+) are the consensus pick, described as having a more robust and reliable seven-speed transmission, a newer engine, and fewer known issues than pre-facelift cars. Owners specifically say they would not bother with a pre-facelift given how cheap facelift examples have become.
Owners compare it most often with the Golf GTI, Golf R, Genesis G70 3.3t, BMW M235i/M135i and Audi RS3.
Is a 2013–2020 S3 right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
Owners of the 8V S3 generally describe it as a solid, enjoyable performance luxury car that rewards diligent maintenance, with many reporting no major issues when service intervals are respected. The dominant caveat is cost: owners repeatedly stress that maintenance and repairs are expensive, and that the car is only "reliable as you want it to be" if you stay on top of servicing. Early cars (2015-2016) draw more concern over the Haldex unit, water pump, and sunroof rattle, while facelift cars (2017+) are viewed as more robust, with a more reliable transmission and fewer known problems. A minority of owners report persistent misfires and electrical faults, and some say they would sell before the warranty expires rather than pay out of pocket.
Owners position the S3 as a better all-round option than the Golf GTI, citing quattro all-wheel drive versus front-wheel drive and describing the comparison as apples to oranges, while acknowledging the GTI is cheaper to maintain. Against the Golf R, owners treat the two as sharing a platform and drivetrain, with the S3 seen as the more premium expression. The RS3 is regarded as faster but some owners say they prefer the S3 for its electronic seats and daily usability. Against BMW models, owners warn that BMW running costs become ruinous, while the S3 is framed as the more sensible German performance choice. The Genesis G70 is discussed as a close rival on price and performance, with the S3 seen as having comparable or slightly better interior quality. The S4 and S5 are positioned above the S3 on cylinder count and tuning headroom, with some owners disliking that the S3 is a four-cylinder S car.
Owners recommend seeking a facelift (2017+) example with full service history, and prioritizing magnetic ride over the fixed suspension to avoid a harsh ride. Virtual cockpit and super sport seats are called out as desirable options. Owners advise confirming the Haldex has been serviced, the water pump replaced, and DSG fluid changed, and recommend halving Audi's maintenance intervals for oil, DSG, and Haldex. A pre-purchase inspection is strongly advised, and a well-maintained higher-mileage car is preferred over a low-mileage car with no service history.
This generation suits buyers who can comfortably afford ongoing maintenance or who are mechanically inclined and can do work themselves; owners warn that buyers who can only afford the monthly payment should not buy the car. Facelift (2017+) cars are preferred over 2015-2016 cars for reliability. Buyers should verify service records, confirm DSG fluid was changed around the 40-45k mark, confirm Haldex service history, check for water pump replacement, and inspect for sunroof rattle and wheel damage from potholes. Owners recommend a good independent Audi/VW specialist over dealership service departments, citing incompetent dealer work and better solutions from specialists. Extended warranty and prepaid maintenance are suggested as worthwhile for peace of mind, though some owners consider CPO not worth the premium.
Owners consistently note that the S3 shares the MQB platform with many other Audis and VWs, which they see as making replacement parts relatively cheap and easy to find for a German car. Oil changes are described as easy to do at home because the oil filter sits near the top of the engine. Several owners report running APR or other stage 1 tunes with no issues, though one owner suspects their tune may be related to an intermittent misfire. Owners repeatedly emphasize that the car is not cheap to own and that a neglected example will become expensive quickly. Analysis based on approximately 91 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | unknown or other |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | air bags |
| 2018 | 5 | 1 | fuel/propulsion system |
| 2017 | 9 | 2 | air bags |
| 2016 | 14 | 3 | air bags |
| 2015 | 53 | 2 | air bags |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
2020 · air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passengercampaign 21V198000
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.
2019 · air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passengercampaign 21V198000
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.
2018 · air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passengercampaign 21V198000
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.
2017 · air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passengercampaign 21V198000
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.
2017 · air bags:sensor:occupant classificationcampaign 17V196000
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
2016 · air bags:sensor:occupant classificationcampaign 19V474000
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.
2016 · air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passengercampaign 21V198000
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.
2016 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 22V543000
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
2015 · air bags:sensor:occupant classificationcampaign 19V474000
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.
2015 · air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passengercampaign 21V198000
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.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.