2018 Audi RS 3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
13,338 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 13 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 30.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
Air Bags: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11044149 · 2017-11-07 (November 7, 2017)
I HAVE A 5YR OLD DAUGHTER WHO SITS IN THE BACKSEAT ON A BOOSTER. THE BOOSTER MEETS ALL SAFETY STANDARDS, AND IS ONE WITHOUT A BACK OR HEAD SUPPORT. THE TYPICAL BOOSTER SEAT THAT MANY PARENTS HAVE FOR THIS HEIGHT AND WEIGHT OF THEIR CHILD. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIAGRAM, THERE IS NO LOCKING POSITION AT THE NORMAL POSITION OF THE HEADREST. MANY OTHER MANUFACTURES LIKE SUBARU, PORSCHE, ETC HAVE A LOCKING POSITION IN THE NORMAL POSITION FOR THE HEADREST. JUST WITH NORMAL SITTING AND BEING A KID, THE HEADREST POPS UP INTO THE FIRST LOCKING POSITIO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11044149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054885 · 2017-12-15 (December 15, 2017)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM 800 FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL TO OVER 5000 FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL, THIS DRIVE IS ABOUT 40 MINS ON A 30% INCLINE. THE CAR JERKED AND THERE WAS ALSO A POWER LOSS. AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE CAR SMELLED HOT BECAUSE THE CAR IS UNDER A LOT OF LOAD PULLING IT UP THE HILL FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, CHANGE IN WEATHER, PRESSURE ETC ETC. THIS CAR IS TURBO CHARGED AND HAS A WASTEGATE TO REGULATE THE AMOUNT OF BOOST (POWER). THE PLASTIC TUBE THAT SUPPLIES VACUUM PRESSURE DOES NOT HAVE ANY HEAT PROTECTION. IT GOT PLIABLE, AND THE VA…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11373622 · 2020-11-07 (November 7, 2020)
IN MAY OF 2018 THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE PODS RECALL, ONLY PROMPTING SAFETY SYSTEM AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS TO HAPPEN WITH INCREASED OCCURRENCE. FROM MAY OF 2019 TO APRIL OF 2020 THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN SOMETHING LIKE FOUR TIMES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AGAIN ONLY MAKING THE ISSUE WORSE. OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST ALWAYS HAS "SAFETY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" "PRE SENSE: CURRENTLY RESTRICTED" AND AN AIRBAG DASH LIGHT WHENEVER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE CARS AIRBAGS AND OTHER SAFETY SYST…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,338 miles reported. Look up ODI 11373622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421367 · 2021-06-18 (June 18, 2021)
The Passenger Occupant Detection System does not work correctly, and it fails to activate when detecting a passenger in the passenger front seat. This problem has been on going through Audi since 2018, and they have yet to remedy it. No fixes or remedies have been available and this round of recalls was issued March 22, 2021 but no remedy has been made which is a failure on the manufacturer.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11437552 · 2021-10-20 (October 20, 2021)
The vehicle has frequent intermittent failure of the airbag systems, safety systems, and blind spot monitoring systems. I receive frequent "Safety system: malfunction! See owner's manual." as-well as "Audi pre sense: currently restricted. See owner's manual." messages appear on my dashboard. I have contacted Audi Service departments numerous times and have been told that they wont take a look at the issue and while knowing it exists, have said they cant do anything to help. I have been advised that my airbags do not work and as such I should no…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11437552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455233 · 2022-03-04 (March 4, 2022)
Audi pre sence kicked in on an empty street at 30mph. It was daylight on a straight road. The seat belts tightened up with no warning and the car applied hard breaks. Luckily there was no one behind me at the time or I would have definitely been rear ended.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11482415 · 2022-09-01 (September 1, 2022)
The contact owns a 2018 Audi RS3. The contact stated that the passenger air bag off warning light had remained illuminated with an occupant seated in the passenger’s side seat. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact then received another notification that stating that the recall was placed on hold due to a shortage of parts. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that th…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11482415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11490118 · 2022-10-20 (October 20, 2022)
Unknown if passenger airbag actually works. Airbag warning light on, passenger seat belt warning on. "Passenger airbag off" illuminated constantly. Causes every electrical system to occasionally report failure.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11490118 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V803000 · Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly
Reported: 2018-11-14 (November 14, 2018)
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.
Consequence: If the guide sleeves are incorrectly welded, in the event of a crash, the rear seat head restraints may have reduced stability, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners, and dealers will inspect the guide sleeves for incorrect welds, replacing the rear seat frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72H8 (VW) and 72H9(Audi).
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V095000 · Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly
Reported: 2019-02-13 (February 13, 2019)
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.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the head restraint may detach and cause injury to the vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the head restraints, replacing any that are missing pins, free of charge. The recall began on March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72I8.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V474000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2019-06-19 (June 19, 2019)
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.
Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V198000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly
Reported: 2021-03-22 (March 22, 2021)
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.
Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗