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2020 Audi S3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2020 Audi S3, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
1
owner complaint to NHTSA
25
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 2020 Audi S3

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Air bags: front passenger and on-off switch assembly (air bags)

    NHTSA 21V198000 Reported 153,152 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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.

    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…

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2020 Audi S3 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“1) Sunroof exploded while merging onto highway from a rest stop (I believe I was still on the on ramp at the time) - Vehicle in the process of being fixed so probably not available for inspection but”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 23, 2021 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2020 Audi S3. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25 mpg
City / Highway22 / 29
FuelPremium
EPA classSubcompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7)

Compare Audi S3 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Audi S3 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2015 Audi S3253
2016 Audi S3314
2017 Audi S329
2018 Audi S315
2019 Audi S312
2020 Audi S311
2021 Audi S310
2022 Audi S372
2023 Audi S310
2024 Audi S302

Checking a specific 2020 Audi S3

How do I know if my 2020 Audi S3 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2020 Audi S3; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V198000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Audi models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.