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 DNFB.
Repair: 800–3,500 EUR
vinkodex.Audi S3 8Y common faults.
2020–2024. The fault list covers this generation and the engines in it. If the listing gives the exact version, pick it below.
Alexander Migl / CC BY-SA 4.0
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
expensive3
The 7 speed, wet clutch DSG that replaced the DQ250 in the MQB models (0GC / DQ381) is vulnerable from the mechatronics side.
Applies to the transmission DQ381.
The combined housing of the water pump and the thermostat is plastic, and it is bolted directly to the hot engine block.
Applies to the engine DNFB.
With direct injection the fuel does not wash the intake valves: the petrol goes into the cylinder, not behind the valve.
Applies to the engine DNFB.
cheap repair1
The dash shows "Error: Workshop!
Applies to the transmission DQ381.
Official recall6 recallsShowThe 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: 7 December 2022
22V901000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS7 December 2022 · NHTSA (USA)Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S3, RS3, and A3 vehicles. The Safety Certification label on the B-pillar is missing weight capacity information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk: Missing weight information may result in unintentional overloading of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi dealers will install an overlay label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 50ZZ.
22V823000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONBACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION2 November 2022 · NHTSA (USA)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.
22V652000AIR BAGS:FRONTALAIR BAGS:FRONTAL29 August 2022 · NHTSA (USA)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.
22V515000SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONERSEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER20 July 2022 · NHTSA (USA)Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Audi S3 and A3 sedans. The retention force of the seat belt tensioner on the driver and front passenger seats may be inadequate to properly restrain the occupants during a crash.
Risk: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 68i2.
22V224000CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHORCHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR6 April 2022 · NHTSA (USA)Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022 A3 Sedan and S3 Sedan vehicles. The child seat anchorage fitting sleeves are incorrectly marked with a different symbol than the one described in the owner's manual. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Risk: An incorrectly marked child restraint anchorage may cause confusion during child seat installation, resulting in a child seat being improperly secured and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace all four fitting sleeves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May24, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 72M7.
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.
8Y · 2020–2024
Pick the version.
The fault list opens on the version page.
4 versions
EngineVersionPowerFuel · transmissionBody
2.0 l · 1984 cm³
DNFB · DQ381
quattro
2020–2024 · quattro
310 HPpetrol · automatichatchback2.0 l · 1984 cm³
DNFB · DQ381
quattro
2020–2024 · quattro
310 HPpetrol · automaticsaloon2.0 l · 1984 cm³
DNFB · DQ381
quattro edition one
2020–2024 · quattro edition one
310 HPpetrol · automatichatchback2.0 l · 1984 cm³
DNFB · DQ381
quattro edition one
2020–2024 · quattro edition one
310 HPpetrol · automaticsaloon
Neighbouring generations
8Y · 2020–2024
8Y (2020-2024). If the listing is from the changeover year, look at the neighbour too.
Common questions
About this generation
Which years does this page cover?
2020–2024. 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.