- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2015 Audi S3 Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2015 Audi S3 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in March 2021 for the front passenger.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical S3 year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2015 Audi S3 recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
Be the first S3 owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 2015 Audi S3 yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Audi S3: every year compared
All S3 years2015 Audi S3 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Audi S3 | 0 | 2 | C | |
| 2015 Audi A3 | 180 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 2015 Audi Q5 | 100 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2015 Audi Q5 Hev | 88 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2015 Audi Q7 | 46 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 2015 Audi A4 | 44 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 2015 Audi A8 | 32 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2015 Audi A8L | 30 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2015 Audi Allroad | 29 | 1 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2015 Audi S3
Does the 2015 Audi S3 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Audi S3: front passenger (March 2021); occupant classification (June 2019). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2015 Audi S3 had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2015 Audi S3 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Audi S3 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2015 Audi S3 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data