2019 Audi S3 problems
The Audi S3 is a hot hatch version of the Audi A3 small family car, produced by German automaker Audi since 1999. S3 variants of both the first- and second-generation Audi A3 have been produced.
Like all Audi S models, it is only available with quattro four-wheel drive system.
First generation (Typ 8L, 1999-2003)
Overview
The first generation S3 is built on the same A platform of the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf Mk4, Audi TT, SEAT León and Škoda Octavia.
The straight-4 20v 1.8 L turbocharged petrol engine comes in two versions of power output: 210 PS (154 kW; 207 hp) and 225 PS (165 kW; 222 hp). Early models (1999–2001) had 210 PS (154 kW; 207 hp) which is said to be a de-tuned Audi TT engine, and was said to be reduced to lessen brand competition with the more powerful TT. Later models (2001–2003) had variable valve timing and 225 PS (165 kW; 222 hp). The engine provides a maximum 280 N⋅m (210 ft⋅lbf) of torque, most of which is available from 2200 through to 5500 rpm. This is the first time a small five-valve engine has been used in an Audi S-series car..
Although dubbed "quattro", the S3 uses a different "on-demand" four-wheel drive system. The Haldex Traction coupling adjusts the bias of torque distribution from the front to rear axle as grip requirements change - most of the time it operates as a front-wheel drive.
The S3 was sold in the United Kingdom, Europe, Mexico, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, but was not officially marketed in the United States.
The S3 was facelifted in 2000, where it was given one-piece headlights/indicator units, different front wings, rear lights clusters, and some minor upgrades to interior trim. There had been minor changes to the design previous to this, including digital clock on the dash.
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Common 2019 Audi S3 problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the 2019 Audi S3, several common problems have been reported:
- Engine Failure in Enthusiastic Driving: Driving the Audi S3 enthusiastically can accelerate the wear and tear of components, leading to potential engine failure. It is crucial to avoid aggressive driving to prevent costly engine damage.
- Fuel Cuts and Power Loss: Some owners have reported sudden loss of power due to a worn-out fuel pump cam follower. Failure to replace this component can result in damage to the camshaft, emphasizing the importance of prompt action to address this issue.
- Misfiring Engine: The oil breather valve on the front of the cam cover is prone to sticking, causing the engine to misfire. Regular replacement of this valve every 10,000 miles can help prevent misfiring issues.
- Window Malfunction: Plastic clips on the window regulator of the S3 can break easily, leading to window malfunction. Replacing these clips with metal ones can solve the window problem.
- Steering Wheel Vibration: Excessive steering wheel vibration accompanied by knocking or banging noises while turning may indicate a worn-out top strut bearing. Replacing this component can eliminate the vibration issue.
- Coolant Temperature Sensor Failure: Older models of the S3 may experience a black coolant temperature sensor failure, leading to engine power loss. Replacing this sensor with an upgraded green version can help maintain engine performance.
These common problems with the 2019 Audi S3 highlight the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to issues to ensure the optimal performance and longevity of the vehicle.
What is the common engine problem in the Audi S3?
Engine-Related Issues
Oil Consumption: Some owners have reported higher than normal oil consumption, which can lead to more frequent top-ups and potential long-term engine damage if not monitored.
Is it worth it to buy an Audi S3?
Conclusion: it's a great starter performance car. On the road, where your surroundings don't sap speed quite like they do on track, it feels livelier. My other half, Sophie, took the wheel a fair few times and she always remarked on how much she liked driving it.
How many miles can an Audi S3 last?
Any reason why the S3 should not do well over 200k miles? Any modern mass-produced car should be good for 200k with the correct, regular servicing.
Is an Audi S3 a good daily?
The Audi S3 managed to come with all the luxury and performance you need. However, the S3 Sedan also includes enough practicality to seamlessly use the car as your daily driver. This makes it the perfect daily driver for gearheads that are looking for the best of both worlds.
What is the common engine problem in the Audi S3?
Engine-Related Issues
Oil Consumption: Some owners have reported higher than normal oil consumption, which can lead to more frequent top-ups and potential long-term engine damage if not monitored.
Is it worth it to buy an Audi S3?
Conclusion: it's a great starter performance car. On the road, where your surroundings don't sap speed quite like they do on track, it feels livelier. My other half, Sophie, took the wheel a fair few times and she always remarked on how much she liked driving it.
Is an Audi S3 a good daily?
The Audi S3 managed to come with all the luxury and performance you need. However, the S3 Sedan also includes enough practicality to seamlessly use the car as your daily driver. This makes it the perfect daily driver for gearheads that are looking for the best of both worlds.
Is an Audi S3 expensive to run?
Running costs are reasonable, but what makes the Audi S3 really attractive financially is its reputation for slow depreciation. Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
2019 Audi S3 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Audi S3 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2019 Audi S3 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2019 Audi S3 complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2019 Audi S3.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-03-04
- VIN: WAUB1GFF4KA
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2019 Audi S3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the repair would take two days. The contact took the vehicle back to his residence as the dealer declined to provide him with a rental. The contact later contacted the dealer who informed him that the next service availability date was 03/23/3022. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-09-12
- VIN: WAUB1GFF4KA
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 AUDI S3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AUDI ARLINGTON (3200 COLUMBIA PIKE, ARLINGTON, VA 22204, (703) 739-7460) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2019 Audi S3 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2019 Audi S3.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
- 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.
Negative 2019 Audi S3 car reviews
Positive 2019 Audi S3 car reviews
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Update: 3/14/20. Although there's nothing particularly 'wrong' with my car, I feel it's time for a refresher. As a regular Audi renter via Silvercar when I travel, I've noticed how outdated my S3's displays and controls are. I'm also envious of the emergency braking and lane-hold tech that are now standard on even run-of-the-mill Hondas. The fully redesigned A3 was recently introduced at the Geneva auto show, and although I haven't seen the sedan version yet (only the fastback was shown), I may just wait for the new S3 to make it to the U.S. If I had to buy a new car today, I'd probably suggest the new-ish A5 or S5 sedan: it's a great-looking car priced much lower than its A7 counterpart. Updated review: 3/12/17. I'm still extremely happy with my car! It's better than the CLA 45 despite being $15K cheaper, and BMW's smallest sedan is a size up from the A3/S3 (comparable to an A4). Yes, it has most of the same underpinnings as the VW Golf R (minus the magnetic suspension, which is absolutely a must-have item), but VW still has the lingering question of how badly Dieselgate will ultimately impact resale values. I also wanted to comment on remarks made in a few reviews posted since I wrote my original one. I've had some curious issues with its Bluetooth system and my phone, but they're different from the ones mentioned by 'Barmoley'. Rather than streaming music getting automatically muted, I've found that the car's Bluetooth system automatically activates the last music app I used, even if I DON'T want to listen to music. Finally, I wanted to correct one error in Jim Glass's otherwise-excellent review: the S3 does include HomeLink, and I'm pretty sure it's standard equipment.The location of the programmable buttons is slightly odd, to the right of the driver-side visor, facing the left window. However, they are definitely there and easy to use. As a longtime BMW aficionado, I had some doubts at first about switching my allegiance over to Audi, but after owning my S3 for a while, I have ZERO regrets. The S3 is a pocket rocket in the truest sense of the term, with razor-sharp handling and incredibly quick acceleration for a four-cylinder vehicle. Audi has upped its game with its S-series of cars, while BMW seems to have lost its way in recent years. The Benz CLA 45 is the S3's only direct competition, but I found it to be subpar in nearly every way, most of all in terms of price. The S3 is the only one of the bunch that offers a measure of practicality to go with its sportiness. It has a surprisingly commodious trunk, with seats that fold down far more easily than those in any BMW I've ever owned. Rear leg room isn't great, but it's certainly better than that in a BMW 2-series (and only slightly less than that in a 3-series).
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I purchased a '15 Sepang Blue Premium Plus S3 at the end of June 2015. Since this was my personal car for commuting to and from work, I didn't go overboard with the options, choosing just a few: the performance package (primarily for the shocks and stylish wheels), the driver comfort package (with Homelink being the standout feature), and the Driver Assistance package (including a camera and back-up sensors). First and foremost, the car is an absolute joy to drive. Setting the exhaust to dynamic mode maximizes the engine's potential and gives it a considerably sportier sound. The engine is responsive and powerful. Although I suspect that my car may be an underachiever in terms of horsepower, as I'm not getting close to sub-5 second sprints to 60, this could also be due to my engine only having 3K on it. The car handles extremely well and feels as well-planted as anything I've ever owned, including my e92 335i coupe. The biggest disappointment for me is the gearbox. I find that there's a half-second of lag between input and response, which isn't turbo lag per se, but rather the gearbox being slow to respond to the input. This happens across the rev range, even in launch control mode. Audi really needs to look at the software and possibly tweak it. I know that other aftermarket parts suppliers have also noticed this and addressed it through add-ons. I also think that Audi should give this thing more than 6 forward speeds. I think that a 7 or 8 speed DSG would further help with performance and also improve highway mileage. As for the interior, the cabin is stylish and I particularly like the two-tone seats in mine. I went for the black/grey leather combination, as I find the black/red a little too garish for my taste. Overall, I'm very pleased with my car and look forward to driving it.I hope they can address the minor items I've called out above, especially the transmission lag.
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I didn't intend to purchase an Audi, and I'm not particularly interested in owning a 'prestige brand.' In fact, I'd prefer not to. However, we needed a car that had all-wheel drive, was fast (around 300 horsepower), had high quality, cargo space, was fun to drive, looked cool, and had a DSG type automatic transmission. Audi is the only manufacturer that builds such a car, and it's the S3. We considered the S4, but the MPG was too low. The Golf R had too little cargo space, but it was a nice car. The S3 combines amazing refinement, a quiet ride, a taut but comfortable European sedan ride, a throaty exhaust when punched, great looks, good MPG, driver assistance that can be shut off, and much more. The 2015 S3 is a dual personality car, and you can decide which one you want: a rip-roaring sports car or an easy-driving luxurious touring sedan. It's amazing. Update 11/2017: I still love this car and will never sell it. It draws many compliments, and I never seem to see that many S3s running around. I like the 2015 styling better than the 'update.' The update has more of a 'check mark' style of headlights, which I do not prefer. I ran the S3 at the track, and it was 100ºF that day. With Nitto NT05 tires, it performed well, but it wasn't scary fast. It cornered very well, however. For me, though, it's not a track car but a perfect street car. 298 horsepower is adequate (and I'd like more), but the S-Tronic transmission is the win in the S3: it uses the power very efficiently, and you'll be able to beat a lot of cars that should be faster (I know because I've done it). The interior is still amazing, very comfortable and upscale, showing very little wear with the high-class materials. No reliability problems whatsoever have cropped up, although my car has fairly low miles. The MPG is around 25, which is amazing for an AWD sports car with this power. When the warranty wears out, I will put a Stage 2 APR chip in it to easily and safely unlock more power. Guys who've bought the RS3 say the cars run about the same until you hammer the RS3, which on public roads is ill-advised. Anyway, I'd buy this car all over again, and I don't think there's anything out there that I like better.If I had the chance, I would definitely buy it. Update as of November 2018: I am still the proud owner of this car and have no intentions of selling it. So far, I have not encountered any reliability issues, although it still has relatively low mileage. It continues to provide me with an impressive 25 mpg overall. I have noticed that the 2015 S3 version is quite rare on the road, as I hardly ever see any. Personally, I prefer the styling of this model over the newer headlights that resemble check marks. I receive numerous compliments on the car and it appears to be quite popular.
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The Audi 3 series cars have become a favorite of my wife and me due to their compact size and excellent maneuverability. I am very pleased with the performance of my car, which accelerates better than most of the highly vaunted muscle cars of the 1960s, while providing outstanding mileage and comfort. Although my car has a seven-speed DCT, contrary to what the Edmunds review states, I wish it had fewer electronic doodads. The Virtual Cockpit can be confusing at times and offers nothing useful to make it superior to the analog display that my A3 had. However, I do like the magnetic ride option, which gives a smoother, quieter ride than a standard suspension. Overall, I am happy with my purchase and would recommend the Audi 3 series to anyone looking for a reliable and fun car to drive.
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I'm really enjoying this car! I didn't expect to like it as much as I do, especially coming from driving a 2012 E93 BMW M3 convertible, which was an excellent car in its own right. I expected to enjoy the S3 after test driving it, but I never imagined that I would like driving it more than the M3. The M3 felt powerful and fast, while the S3 feels quick and nimble. It's difficult to explain, but for me, driving the S3 is more relaxing and controlled at the same time. The S3's steering and brakes are excellent, and I like the power delivery better than the M3's. In S mode, there's no turbo/transmission lag, and D mode is perfect for everyday driving. The Magnetic/Active damping makes the car more comfortable, and it's stiff, but not nearly as harsh as the M3 was. One thing I'm having a slight trouble with is the Bluetooth connection. I'm using it with my Nexus 6P, and streaming music gets muted very shortly after the car starts and Bluetooth gets connected. The music is still streamed, but sound is not coming through the car or the phone. I need to turn off Bluetooth on my phone and turn it back on to fix it. After that, all is well. Also, if I use Waze and Audible through Bluetooth, Waze interrupts the audiobook, but there is no sound coming from Waze, so I know that it was trying to tell me something, but not what it was trying to say.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2019 Audi S3 problems:
THE AUDI S3 (8V) BUYERS GUIDE | AVOID Buying until watching ...
Jan 31, 2022 ... Audi S3 8v common problems explained to make sure you get the best car possible with your hard earned money! Considering Subscribing?
2019 Audi s3 reliability? : r/Audi
Oct 14, 2022 ... An Audi can be as reliable as you want it to be. So long as you stay on top of regular maintenance, an S3 can run 80k+ without much issue.
Audi S3 Long Term Review & Issues - 30K Mile Update - YouTube
May 3, 2019 ... Be sure to check out my favorite detailing & tech products that I use on my Audi S3 and YouTube Channel.
8V Audi S3 reliability and common issues? : r/Audi
Nov 29, 2018 ... ... 2019. I personally like the G70 more on paper, especially because of the 3.3t engine and the fact that people have been getting them to ...
S3 8V common faults? | Audi-Sport.net
Jun 14, 2017 ... I'm looking at getting an 8V S3, more than likely a 5 door. Just wondering if there's any common problems / problems with certain options ...
Other years of Audi S3
Are you having problems with your 2019 Audi S3?
Jeromy Beahan 2025-06-19
Over the course of 6 months and 7100 miles, I have had a low coolant warning appear twice. However, the problem has not reoccurred and the car is performing well. As I approach 40k, I am happy to report that the car has been solid and still a joy to drive. The B&O sound system makes my commute so much better too. While I did experience an issue with the water pump housing being cracked, the dealer was able to fix it for $1600. Overall, my experience with Audi has had its ups and downs, but I still enjoy driving the car. However, I have found that the maintenance can be a bit costly and the dealers are often behind schedule. Looking back, I may have reconsidered my purchase, but I still appreciate the fun and peppy ride that the S3 provides.
Alek Thiel 2024-04-16
I waited for the motor to be fully broken in before I measured its performance. After 18 months of ownership, I can honestly say that this S3 looks very nice, but it didn't have the acceleration or reliability I was hoping for. Additionally, the magnetic ride is a farce, and I get a banging noise on the rear passenger side strut, which bothers my passengers as well as me. The dealership says they don't hear anything, and this noise is normal, but other forum posters say it's not normal, as they are in the same predicament. Looks like I should have accepted the legal route after all. I think I'm going to have to look at a Lexus for my next purchase. Well, I've had the car for four years now, and after Audi fixed the rear shocks, the noise subsided. I'm happy to say that there have been no further problems. The mileage is about 27Mpg at 75MPH. It would be greater if it had an extra gear (which the 2018s and above have), but I didn't buy it for mileage. Still, it's a fast and fun car, and I can get another 75hp out of the motor with minimum modifications.