Summary
The Audi S3 has 8 recalls spanning 2015 through 2023, with the most serious affecting 2017 models where the airbag control module can misread the position of a front passenger sitting on the seat edge or with the seat reclined, causing the airbag to deploy with excessive force in a crash.
The 2022 model year carries three separate recalls. The front passenger airbag on some 2022 vehicles was not folded correctly at the factory, which can cause it to inflate improperly in a crash. On the same model year, the driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners can fail to tighten the belts during a crash, reducing occupant restraint. There is also a rearview camera issue on 2022 vehicles where the image may not appear when reversing, reducing visibility behind the vehicle. On 2023 models, the safety certification label on the B-pillar is missing weight capacity information, a compliance issue that could lead to unintentional overloading.
Going back to the 2016 model, the passenger occupant detection system can malfunction and switch off the front passenger airbag even with someone seated there. An error message and chime would typically alert the driver. The 2015 model has a related issue where a loose wiring connection in the same passenger detection system can cause the front passenger airbag to deactivate while the seat is occupied, again accompanied by a warning on the instrument panel.
