Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi RS 3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Engine2
- Electrical system2
- Unknown or other2
- Lane departure2
- Power train1
- Seat belts1
- Back over prevention1
- Vehicle speed control1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2018 Audi RS 3 failed the safety check 0.41% of the time — 75% less often than the average 2018 passenger car (1.65%). Median odometer at inspection: 39,713 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2018
2,942 new Audi RS 3 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2018; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (1,314), Italy (495), France (457).
- Average mass
- 1,584 kg
- Average CO₂
- 190 g/km (NEDC)
- Average power
- 294 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
231 first registered in 2018 are on Dutch roads; 93% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €94,328.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde47
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld27
- Band onvoldoende profiel23
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm19
- Band beschadigd5
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen5
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage5
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
35 of these cars first registered in 2018 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 93,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 10.5 L/100 km (about 22 mpg US), CO₂ 248 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| RS 3 · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 12.4 | 8.3 | 10.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2018 Audi RS 3.
| 2021169 22 Mar 2021 | 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… |
| 2020499 20 Oct 2020 | Lights And Instruments Issue: On certain vehicles, when switching the distance display setting from kilometers to miles, the speedometer displays the vehicle speed in miles per hour… |
| 2019308 19 Jun 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a loose wiring connection for the passenger occupant detection system (PODS). This could cause the airbag system to… |
| 2019068 13 Feb 2019 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the center-rear seat head restraint may detach in a crash. Safety Risk: If the head restraint detaches in a crash, it could … |
| 2018626 14 Nov 2018 | Structure On certain vehicles, the rear seat head restraint guides may not have been properly welded to the seat frame. In a crash, the rear seat head restraints may not … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A3 sedan and RS3 vehicles. The latching pins for the center rear seat head restraint may be missing.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf and Golf R vehicles, and Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles. The rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2018 Audi RS 3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011310 | This TSB provides information when the message "High beam assist and/or traffic sign recognition currently unavailable - camera view restricted due to surroundings". |
| 11011303 | This bulletin provides information when the anti-theft alarm activates for no reason, or when the anti-theft alarm does not activate. |
| 11011296 | This bulletin provides service-info relating to lithium-ion high-voltage batteries; determining energy content. |
| 11011285 | This TSB Provides information when parking assistance provides false warnings. |
| 11011282 | This bulletin provides information when speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is noted. |
| 11011263 | This bulletin provides information regarding cleaning exterior glass. |
| 11011241 | This bulletin provides information when the engine warning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster, and the vehicle has reduced power. DTCs P256300, P056E00, P00AF00. |
| 11011240 | This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool |
| 11009983 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11009941 | This bulletin provides diagnostic information regarding the locking system. |
| 11009939 | This bulletin provides information when a cracking noise is heard fron the front or rear end of the vehicle when changing direction. |
| 11009928 | This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds. |
| 11009375 | This bulletin provides information pertaining to the GFF test plan required for A/C compressore replacements, regardless of the concern. |
| 11009372 | This bulletin provides informaiton when the exterior black optic trim is discolored. |
| 11009365 | This bulletin provides information when there is visible corrosion at the joint between the roof and roof side member. |
| 11009362 | This bulletin provides information when there is a prompt to take over steering; hands off detection. |
| 11009361 | This bulletin provides information regarding steering wheel visual damage. |
| 11009356 | This bulletin provides informaion regarding zirconium inserts in the bake piston for vehicle equipped with ceramic brakes. |
| 11009355 | This bulletin provides information when there are rattling/grindingn oises from the front end/brake system. |
| 11009354 | This bulletin provides information on frequency analysis. |
| 11009351 | This bulletin provides information regarding the general approach to brakes rubbing. |
| 11009348 | This bulleitn provides information when there is an implausible signal in the ABS/ESC speed sensor. |
| 11009347 | This bulletin provides information when there are vibrations and rotational steering wheel vibrations. |
| 11009333 | This bulletin provides information when there is a cracking noise from the front end when changing direction. |
| 11009327 | This bulletin provides information when ther is an Engine: start/stop system fault shown and start/stop system not is working; mileage below 50 km/32 miles. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation