YearToAvoid

2022 Audi S3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

44/100

#6 most-complained of 10 S3 years

The 2022 Audi S3 has a complaint index of 44, ranking 6th worst among 10 model years, with 7 recalls and 2 owner complaints on file. It's not among the worse years for this model, but it carries more recalls than most other S3 years.

Complaints
2
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
23 city / 32 hwy

Top 2022 Audi S3 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags1 (50%)
  2. Electrical System1 (50%)
  3. Engine1 (50%)
  4. Seat Belts1 (50%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain1 (50%)

What owners report

  • Owners report waiting on parts for the seat belt tensioner (22V515000) and front passenger air bag (22V652000) recalls, with the dealer unable to complete repairs within a reasonable time.
  • At around 35,000 miles, one owner reported a gear selector malfunction with a warning that the vehicle could continue driving but would eventually be stranded.
  • After the gear selector was replaced under partial manufacturer goodwill, the same vehicle began throwing gateway module communication fault codes U123100 and U123000.
2022 Audi S3 complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2022Feb 2026
5 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2022 to Feb 2026; peak Feb 2026 (3).

2022 Audi S3 recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V823000Nov 2, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras2,607 vehicles

    Back over prevention:display function

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Golf R A8, Audi S3, RS3 Sedan, Q4 E-Tron SUV, A3 Sedan, and 2022-2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and ID4 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be blank or unresponsive when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear or when the park function is manually activated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners February 14, 2023. Volkswagen owners will receive an owner notification letter once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Volkswagen) 91EK and (Audi) 91EL.

  2. NHTSA 22V806000Oct 26, 2022Other6,076 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:infotainment:video (touch)screen/monitor/unit

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.

  3. NHTSA 22V652000Aug 29, 2022Airbags4,117 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Audi S3, A3, and RS3 vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been folded incorrectly.

    Risk: An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69DZ.

See all 7 recalls for the 2022 Audi S3 →

2022 Audi S3 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2022 compared with other S3 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2020No verdict221125
2021No verdict001—
2022No verdict442727
2023No verdict110126
2024No verdict672026

All Audi S3 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Audi S3 reliable based on NHTSA data?
NHTSA lists only 2 owner complaints for the 2022 Audi S3, giving it a complaint index of 44, which ranks 6th worst out of 10 model years covered. It sits in the middle of the pack, better than the 2015-2017 S3 years but with more recalls than most other years.
What year Audi S3 should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2015 Audi S3 has the highest complaint index at 100 with 53 complaints and 2 recalls, followed by 2016 (89) and 2017 (78), all marked Avoid.
Does the 2022 Audi S3 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2022 Audi S3, covering airbags, seat belts, collision avoidance cameras, and other systems. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
What is the top complaint area for the 2022 Audi S3?
NHTSA data shows airbags as the top problem area for the 2022 Audi S3, tied with electrical system, engine, seat belts, and transmission & powertrain, each accounting for 50% of the 2 complaints on file.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.