AudiRS32026Overview/audi/rs3/2026/base/

2026 Audi RS3

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 RS3.

Transmission Automatic (AM-S7)

Equipped with an Automatic (AM-S7) transmission and EPA fuel economy estimates of 20/29/23 mpg, the 2026 Audi RS3 presents a reliability profile defined by one recall and a single total owner complaint. This low incidence of issues suggests a stable model year, though the exclusive complaint area involves Forward Collision Avoidance and Lane Departure systems. Researchers should therefore note that while overall defects are minimal, scrutiny remains specific to these reported systems.

Model year202620252024202320222020

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy20/29/23 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 29 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume87 cu ft
Cargo volume8 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the RS3 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.2–3.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.20 sec — 2025 RS 3 Quattro Sedan (Dynamic Plus)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2025RS 3 Quattro Sedan (Dynamic Plus) 2.5L Turbo I-53.20 sec11.70 sec401 hpAWD
2025RS 3 Quattro Sedan (Dynamic Plus) 2.5L Turbo I-53.40 sec12.00 sec401 hpAWD
2025RS 3 Quattro Sedan (Dynamic Plus) 2.5L Turbo I-53.50 sec12.10 sec401 hpAWD
2022RS 3 Quattro Sedan 2.5L Turbo I-53.30 sec11.80 sec401 hpAWD
2022RS 3 Quattro Sedan 2.5L Turbo I-53.50 sec12.00 sec401 hpAWD
2022RS 3 Quattro Sedan 2.5L Turbo I-53.60 sec12.10 sec401 hpAWD
2022RS 3 Quattro Sedan 2.5L Turbo I-53.70 sec12.30 sec401 hpAWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record provided covers only model years 2018 and 2019, so any commentary on the 2026 RS3 must be read in that limited context: complaints dropped sharply from 13 to 5 and recalls fell from 4 to 2 year-over-year, while TSB volume actually edged up from 522 to 559, suggesting Audi was still issuing service communications at a heavy clip even as hard complaints receded. The target 2026 model year itself shows a very thin footprint in the data—just one complaint filed in the Forward Collision Avoidance / Lane Departure area, with zero crash and zero fire complaints reported. With no later years supplied, the "arc" of this generation cannot actually be traced through the record, and the single 2026 data point is too small to confirm a continuation of the 2018-to-2019 downward trend rather than a nascent one. What can be said is that the lone complaint touches a driver-assist feature rather than a core powertrain or safety-critical system, and the absence of any fire or crash-flagged complaints is a positive signal within the limited sample. **Bottom line:** based strictly on the federal record supplied, the 2026 RS3 looks clean, but the dataset is too sparse to declare it a definitively strong used buy—prospective buyers should supplement this with Audi's own recall lookups and a pre-purchase inspection of the driver-assist calibration.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
38
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Forward Collision Avoidance,Lane Departure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

26V209000Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof AssemblyReported 01/04/2026

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2026 Q3 vehicles. Incorrect software may allow remote sunroof closing from a distance that prevents the operator from clearly seeing the sunroof. As such… Remedy: Dealers will update the sunroof control module software and the owner's manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2026. Owners may contact Audi…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 38 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2082553_12026-06-29Electrical SystemThis bulletin gives informaiton when noises area heard from around the panoramic display.
TSB_2082554_12026-06-29Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin provides information when brake pad mode is cancelled or acnanot be…
TSB_2082144_22026-06-24Electrical SystemThis bulletin provide sinfomraion when the Panoramic MMI dsiplay shows vertical lines.
TSB_2082445_12026-06-22Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there is a partial failure of the panoramic…
TSB_2082388_12026-06-12Electrical SystemThis TSB provides informaiton when the start/stop button is sticking or stiff.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RS3. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 RS3 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RS3 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined mpg.