Used Audi S3 2013-2020 reliability review

What should I look for in a used Audi S3?

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

Any S3 will have been used enthusiastically, so make sure there are no dents and dings in the bodywork and check the underside of the car for any off-road activity. Check the alloy wheels for kerb damage and make sure all the electrical items on the car work as they should.

Some owners have reported issues with rattling from the centre console area, mainly from the trim surrounding the gearlever, and from the boot locking mechanism. Also, there have been reported problems with the sat-nav screen, which rises out of the dashboard and can creak in use. Water pumps have also been reported to leak, and the S3 has been rated poorly for headlight bulb failure. Issues with the fuel pump cam follower wearing have also been reported, and the oil breather valve can stick. Listen for rattling from the manual gearbox, and make sure oil and filters have been changed every 40,000 miles on the S Tronic automatic versions. Check the condition of the brake pads and discs, as these can erode with heavy use.

The S3 has been around for a while and its tried-and-tested major components are shared with many other Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda models, so it should be easy to source the parts and, if you seek out a trusted independent dealer, not unduly expensive to repair.

Is a used Audi S3 reliable?

Our data suggests the Audi S3 is a reliable car. The S3 (albeit represented by the regular A3) finished 15th out of 29 cars in the family car class of our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. It's reliability score was a confidence-inspiring 91.4%.

Sat-nav and infotainment issues caused the most complaints and 15.8% of owners saw problems in that area. What's more, a number of owners – 5.3% of them – cited bodywork as a troubled area they experienced.

Nonetheless, the 2013-2020 A3 (and subsequently S3) is generally more reliable than the rival 2018-present Mercedes A-Class, but not as reliable as the 2011-2019 BMW 1 Series.

As a car brand, Audi ranked 26th out of 32 a manufacturers, which is poor.