Model year

2018 Audi RS 3

NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 13 complaints for the 2018 Audi RS 3 (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (5), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (4), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA lists crash-test variants for this model year and marks the overall rating Not Rated. EPA rates it 22 mpg combined (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,750, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

21V198000 · Mar 22, 2021

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER; AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

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…

19V474000 · Jun 19, 2019

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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…

19V095000 · Feb 13, 2019

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

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.

18V803000 · Nov 14, 2018

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

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.

Complaints

13 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 0, fire flag on 0, injury field 0, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

AIR BAGS5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ENGINE2
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS1
POWER TRAIN1

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (1). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
RQ23007	Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL…	Dec 12, 2023	Jul 1, 2024

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (1). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
Variant	Overall	Front	Side	Pole	Rollover	Photo
2018 Audi RS3 4 DR AWD	Not rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	4 · possibility 0.109	—

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
RS 3 · 2.5L · Automatic (AM-S7) · All-Wheel Drive	Premium Gasoline	19	28	22	—	—	$3,750

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2018 Audi RS 3 at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.