Audi RS 3: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
The Audi RS 3 has 6 model year(s) in the federal index and no scored complaint record yet, so this page carries the catalogue entry and the years we hold rather than a verdict.
Audi RS 3: which years to avoid
Across 5 scored model years the Audi RS 3 ranges from 88/100 in 2018 to 91/100 in 2017 — a 3-point spread, so which year you buy matters.
Safest years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2025 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 91 | BUY | $3,849 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,970 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 90 | BUY | $4,250 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 90 | BUY | $4,820 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 88 | BUY | $4,960 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | 91 | BUY | $5,102 | 1 | 1 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the RS 3, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Audi RS 3
Across every RS 3 model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Visibility/Wiper1 complaints across all RS 3 years · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement$490–$1,200
- Service Brakes1 complaints across all RS 3 years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Forward Collision Avoidance1 complaints across all RS 3 years · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration$780–$2,160
- Electrical System1 complaints across all RS 3 years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Audi RS 3 years to buy?
2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2025 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2017 at 91/100, on 1 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
What is the most common Audi RS 3 problem?
1 of the complaints filed against the RS 3 across all its model years sit in the Visibility/Wiper group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04