NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 Audi RS 3 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2018 Audi RS 3 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Audi RS 3, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2018 Audi RS 3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi RS 3, describing incidents dated June 5, 2025 to October 29, 2025.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11743909 · Filed June 13, 2026
Fuel tank may fail or charcoal canister within. Causing you not to be able to fill up the car and if it overflows it’ll spill. Coolant will also miraculously evaporate, even while car is sitting due to [XXX] water pump. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C…
ODI #11697603 · Filed November 5, 2025
I attempted to add gas to a 3/4 full fuel tank (given that I had a long drive that day and needed a full tank). Fuel would not enter the tank, no matter how slow I seemed to pump the gas. I had filled up a few days prior and driven the car about 100 miles since. After calling the dealer and taking…

Read all 2 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 Audi RS 3 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ23-007: Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
Closed July 1, 2024
- Recall 24V-110

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Passenger Air Bag May Deactivate

NHTSA #21V198000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger · NHTSA notice

Reported March 22, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 153,152 vehicles

Repair completion: 74.77% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 69BY · Owners notified December 23, 2021

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Air Bag May Deactivate

NHTSA #19V474000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification · NHTSA notice

Reported June 19, 2019 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 138,896 vehicles

Repair completion: 82.12% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 69Z4 · Owners notified September 12, 2019 · Vehicles built March 28, 2017 – July 13, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Rear Center Headrests may Detach in a Crash

NHTSA #19V095000 · Seats — Mid/Rear Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported February 13, 2019 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 3,326 vehicles

Repair completion: 92.45% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 72I8 · Owners notified March 7, 2019 · Vehicles built April 12, 2018 – July 2, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, the head restraint may detach and cause injury to the vehicle occupants.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Incorrectly Welded Rear Seat Guide Sleeves

NHTSA #18V803000 · Seats — Mid/Rear Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported November 14, 2018 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 169 vehicles

Repair completion: 86.98% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign VW 72H8 / Audi 72H9 · Owners notified December 28, 2018 · Vehicles built June 9, 2018 – July 2, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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).

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2018 Audi RS3 4 DR AWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

11% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning (Optional) Lane Departure Warning (Optional)

1 investigation

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Audi RS 3.

Unknown or Other; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11743909

Incident: June 5, 2025 · Filed: June 13, 2026

Fuel tank may fail or charcoal canister within. Causing you not to be able to fill up the car and if it overflows it’ll spill. Coolant will also miraculously evaporate, even while car is sitting due to [XXX] water pump. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11697603

Incident: October 29, 2025 · Filed: November 5, 2025

I attempted to add gas to a 3/4 full fuel tank (given that I had a long drive that day and needed a full tank). Fuel would not enter the tank, no matter how slow I seemed to pump the gas. I had filled up a few days prior and driven the car about 100 miles since. After calling the dealer and taking the car in for service the next day, the dealer noted that the car needed a new fuel tank because components in the fuel system had failed. The service advisor stated that there was a recall on a different model, but same platform of Audi, but that recall did not apply to my car. I have since read that there is an investigation on fuel issues on my model by the NHTSA. I have also seen recall information about VW and Audi vehicles and models similar to my car. This appears to be a major and frequent safety issue. If not quickly remedied, fuel can leak and/or evaporate out of the tank or into the charcoal canister and fill an area with gas fumes. In addition, not being able to add fuel to a car is a major problem which can leave a driver stranded or incapable of using their vehicle. There were no warning lights or fault codes.

Other Audi RS 3 model years

Check your 2018 Audi RS 3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi RS 3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check an Audi VIN