Head-to-head reliability
AUDI RS 3 vs Toyota Camry
How the AUDI RS 3 and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
AUDI RS 3 averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. AUDI RS 3 has 3 complaints and 6 recalls on record; Toyota Camry has 2,077 complaints and 27 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI RS 3 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 2,077 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 27 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.3 Better | 207.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 161 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
AUDI RS 3
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER1
- 02ENGINE1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
“AUDI WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE DESIGNED TO STOP CLEARING RAIN WHEN THE CAR IS AT A STOPPED POSITION SUCH AS STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THE WIPERS WILL TURN BACK ON WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING. THERE IS A 2 3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE WIPERS TURN BACK ON. THIS CHARACTERIST…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN383
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER331
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
“The contact owned a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH there would be a loud noise emitting from the rear-end of the vehicle that seemed as if the vehicle was running rough. The contact stated that while being idl…”
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
AUDI RS 3 — 6 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and de…
The risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is…
The defect: 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.
The risk: An incorrectly folded air bag can tear, prohibiting it from deploying properly during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.
The fix: 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.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and de…
The risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf and Golf R vehicles, and Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles. The rear seat frame head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame.
The risk: If the guide sleeves are incorrectly welded, in the event of a crash, the rear seat head restraints may have reduced stability, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners, and dealers will inspect the guide sleeves for incorrect welds, replacing the rear seat frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen cu…
Toyota Camry — 27 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is S…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon, and 2017 Camry vehicles manufactured August 3, 2016, to September 12, 2016. The front passenger knee air bag module may have been attached to the lower instrument panel with incorrect fasteners.
The risk: If the air bag was installed with incorrect fasteners, the fasteners may become loose over time, affecting the air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fasteners, and if necessary, replace the instrument panel brace and body bracket and reattach the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2017. Owners may co…
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | AUDI RS 3 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 97 |
| 2025 | 1 | 138 |
| 2024 | 0 | 46 |
| 2023 | 0 | 60 |
| 2022 | 0 | 57 |
| 2020 | 1 | 263 |
| 2019 | 0 | 387 |
| 2018 | 0 | 727 |
| 2017 | 1 | 148 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific AUDI RS 3 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI RS 3 vs Toyota Camry
- AUDI RS 3 total complaints
- 3
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,077
- AUDI RS 3 total recalls
- 6
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 27
- AUDI RS 3 avg complaints/year
- 0.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 207.7
- More reliable overall
- AUDI RS 3
- AUDI RS 3 top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN