Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Audi S3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Passenger Air Bag May Deactivate
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (1)
1 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 1 | 100% |
How 2020 compares with other S3 years
Best and worst S3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 53 | 2 |
| 2016 | 14 | 3 |
| 2017 | 9 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Audi S3 4 dr awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 358 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 25 | $3,300 | 358 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 S3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Audi S3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Audi S3 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 21V198000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Audi S3 problems?
Owners filed 1 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Audi S3 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic version at 22 city, 29 highway and 25 combined mpg.
What safety rating did the 2020 Audi S3 get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Audi S3 4 dr awd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 S3 compare with other years?
Among the 2015–2020 Audi S3 model years at least five years old, the 2020 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2015 the most (53). The 2020 drew 1. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.