The 2015 Audi S3's moderate safety profile includes 2 recall campaigns and 53 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

21V1980002021-22-03

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

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.

A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

View at NHTSA

19V4740002019-19-06

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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.

A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2015 Audi S3 has accumulated 53 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with air bags leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Air Bags20

02Fuel/propulsion System7

03Power Train4

04Electrical System3

05Engine3

53 total across 1 model years (2015–2015)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Audi S3 Fuel Economy

26mpg combined

23city

31hwy

$3,150/yr

At 26 MPG combined, the 2015 Audi S3 delivers consistent fuel economy. Budget accordingly.

S3 - Automatic (AM-S6)

26mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

23 city31 hwy~$3,150/yr6/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2015 Audi S3

33States

34%in top 3

If you're near California, you're in luck: 12% of listings are there. But with 33 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

CACalifornia

6412%

FLFlorida

6212%

TXTexas

5611%

COColorado

295%

NYNew York

295%

NJNew Jersey

285%

ILIllinois

245%

GAGeorgia

204%

WAWashington

173%

PAPennsylvania

173%

DEDelaware

163%

AZArizona

163%

UTUtah

122%

CT10

DC10

MIMichigan

102%

MDMaryland

92%

NHNew Hampshire

92%

NC9

MO9

TN8

MA5

MN5

IN5

OK5

VA4

AR4

NV4

WI4

OH4

OR4

LA4

AL3

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2015.

2015 Audi S3 Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 2015 Audi S3 a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 2015 Audi S3. There are 2 recalls to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 2015 Audi S3?

NHTSA shows 2 recall campaigns for the 2015 Audi S3. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 2015 Audi S3?

The 2015 Audi S3 is EPA-rated at 26 MPG combined, consistent regardless of trim. See the fuel economy breakdown for city and highway splits.

What are common problems with the 2015 Audi S3?

AIR BAGS problems top the list with 53 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.