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Audi S3 8V common faults.

2012–2020. The fault list covers this generation and the engines in it. If the listing gives the exact version, pick it below.

Audi S3 8V

Charles from Port Chester, New York / CC BY 2.0

What to watch for

What can go wrong on this car?

The list covers the generation, the engines and the transmissions. Once you pick the version, only the faults that apply to it stay.

critical1

2.0 TSI (EA888 gen3): too little oil pressure at idle

critical

In these engines the oil pump is adjustable, and the factory setting deliberately keeps the oil pressure low at low revs to reduce the drag of driving it.

Applies to the engine DNUE.

Repair: 800–3,500 EUR

expensive5

cheap repair2

1 more faults belong to this generation. On the version page, only the ones that apply stay.

Official recall1 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done. The list covers the whole generation. We did not filter it by model year. Some apply only to a narrower production window.

Most recent: 22 March 2021

21V198000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERAIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER22 March 2021 · NHTSA (USA)

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.

Risk: 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.

The authority's notice

Engines and transmissions in this generation

A fault is often tied to the engine, not to the whole generation. You find the engine code in the registration document.

8V · 2012–2020

Pick the version.

The fault list opens on the version page.

21 versions

Neighbouring generations

8V · 2012–2020

8V (2012-2020). If the listing is from the changeover year, look at the neighbour too.

Previous generation

8P · 2003–2012

This generation

8V · 2012–2020

Next generation

8Y · 2020–2024

Common questions

About this generation

Which years does this page cover?

2012–2020. The changeover year can fall in two generations. If the listing is from that year, look at the neighbour too.

Does the fault apply to every car like this?

No. It depends on the engine and the transmission too.

Is it free?

The fault list is.

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms