Avoid: 2018 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2020 (few owner reports)
4 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 4 model years, the Audi RS3 has 20 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and air bags. 2018 drew the most complaints (13), 2020 the fewest (1).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for Audi RS3 vehicles (US, public record).
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
Highest: 2018 (13 complaints). Lowest: 2020 (1).
The sentiment is strongly positive, centered on the vehicle's unique and highly praised 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine (codenamed DAZA).
Described as an Audi trait, with the RS3 still exhibiting understeer despite the torque-vectoring rear differential.
Hard plastics present, door card pockets unlined, some parts feel cheap for the segment, interior recognized as based on the lower-tier A3.
Lacks communication and feedback compared to rivals, described as "pretty vague.".
Cited as typical for German performance vehicles; example given of front brake pads costing approximately $5,000 USD.
One owner report of a serious engine failure in an RS3 DNWA, involving misfires, metal shavings in oil, and internal damage.
Owner insights cover all generations of the RS3. Individual model years are broken down above.
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