NHTSA vehicle safety data

2020 Audi S3 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2020 Audi S3 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2020 Audi S3, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2020 Audi S3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2020 Audi S3, describing incidents dated June 22, 2021.

Most-cited components

Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11422012 · Filed June 23, 2021
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 the collision shop has pictures 2) Fortunate I didn't freak out and was able to process the…

Read the full complaint

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2020 Audi S3 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.

2020 Audi S3 4 DR AWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

11% rollover risk

Safety Technology

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

1 investigation

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Audi S3.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11422012

Incident: June 22, 2021 · Filed: June 23, 2021

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 the collision shop has pictures 2) Fortunate I didn't freak out and was able to process the situation and not get into a collision. 3) not sure 4) The collision shop is inspecting the sun roof, but probably just to figure out what needs to be fixed. 5) Nope, just an explosion. Luckily I had the Sun curtain closed so none of the glass rained down on me.

Other Audi S3 model years

Check your 2020 Audi S3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi S3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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