repaired · 2024 Q2
Air bags: on-off switch assembly
Risk. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
2018 Audi RS 3Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 13 owner complaints about the 2018 Audi RS 3, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-198 the manufacturer reports only 67% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 13, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Audi RS 3 has problems
13 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
5Air bags
4Fuel/propulsion system
2Engine
2Lane departure
2Electrical system
1Back over prevention
1Power train
1Seat belts
1Seats
22 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 |
| Back over prevention | 1 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 |
| 2 other systems | 2 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2018 Audi RS 3 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Risk. In the event of a crash, the head restraint may detach and cause injury to the vehicle occupants.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Risk. 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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Audi.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other RS 3 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RS 3 median. How we score
'17'18'19'20'22'23'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Audi RS 3, and the recalls they led to.
- Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)Led to recall 24V-110
In owners' words
What RS 3 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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.
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…
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…
Own a 2018 RS 3?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.