Head-to-head reliability
AUDI S3 vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI S3 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
AUDI S3 vs FORD F 150: The Audi S3 has 33 complaints over 10 years (3.3/yr) with 16 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131.1/yr) with 145 recalls. The S3's issues center on airbag systems, while the F-150's transmission and electrical failures are more frequent and severe. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI S3 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI S3
The Audi S3 is a compact performance sedan that, in ownership terms, shows a relatively low complaint rate but a concerning concentration of issues around airbag systems and occupant detection. Owners report repeated dealer visits for engine overheating and oil consumption, as well as a common vibration at highway speeds and a sunroof that can explode. The airbag-related complaints often stem from recall repairs that leave the passenger airbag inoperative, which is a serious safety concern.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year, indicating widespread issues. The dominant problems are with the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as hard shifting, jerking, and occasionally losing power. Electrical system failures, such as camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions, are also common, along with exterior lighting and engine problems. The high number of crash-related complaints and injuries underscores the safety impact of these failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI S3 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 33 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 287 |
| 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 S3
- 01AIR BAGS19
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER4
- 04SEATS4
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
Owners report that after recall repairs for the occupant classification system (PODS), the passenger airbag may become inoperative, and some dealers have attempted to charge for recall work. This directly affects the safety of the front passenger.
A common issue is a vibration at highway speeds (65-75 mph) that many owners experience, and one owner reported a sunroof exploding while merging onto a highway, which is a startling and dangerous event.
Wiper blades chatter and skip on the windshield, especially in rain, making visibility difficult and increasing crash risk. One owner visited the dealer over 10 times without a fix.
The seat-mounted side airbag system (PODS) can fail after recall repair, leaving the passenger airbag inoperative regardless of occupancy, which is a critical safety defect.
“Where do I start? We have taken this car into the Audi dealership four times due to the engine. Overheating and being almost stranded in the middle of nowhere with it because oil was needing to be added to the engine all the time and after charging us hundred…”
“AFTER BRINGING IN MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF A NECESSARY RECALL REPAIR THAT WOULD PREVENT POTENTIAL PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILURE. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR, ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY ISSUES PRIOR. HOWEVER ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE REPA…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerking, clunking between gears, and even sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues include warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which disable safety features. Some owners also report loud bangs from the transmission and rear suspension, possibly related to electrical or drivetrain issues.
Headlight problems are common, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample, but they can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
Engine-related complaints are frequent, but the sample text does not provide specific symptoms; however, they contribute to the overall reliability concerns.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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 S3 — 16 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is oc…
The risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is oc…
The risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is oc…
The risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
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…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
AUDI S3 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi S3 has far fewer complaints per year (3.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the S3's airbag-related problems are serious safety concerns, while the F-150's transmission and electrical failures are more frequent and can lead to loss of power. In practice, the S3 may offer fewer headaches, but both have significant issues to consider.
Key differences
- The Audi S3 has a much lower complaint rate (3.3/yr) than the Ford F-150 (1,131.1/yr), but its complaints are heavily focused on airbag systems that can fail after recall repairs.
- The Ford F-150's transmission problems are widespread and can cause sudden loss of power, while the Audi S3's issues are more about vibrations, wipers, and sunroof explosions.
- The Audi S3 has no crash-related complaints, while the Ford F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, indicating a higher safety impact from failures.
- The Audi S3's recalls are all about airbag occupant classification, whereas the Ford F-150 has a broader range of recalls including headlights, battery cables, engine, and seats.
- Check the passenger airbag status light and have a technician verify the occupant classification system works after any recall repair.
- Test the wipers in rain and listen for chattering or skipping, and inspect the sunroof for any signs of stress or previous replacement.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Check for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, and have the electrical system inspected for potential issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full recall history for both vehicles and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially the airbag PODS recall on the Audi S3.
- For the Audi S3, ask for service records related to engine overheating and oil consumption, and have a mechanic inspect the sunroof and wiper system.
- For the Ford F-150, request transmission service records and consider a diagnostic scan for transmission and electrical codes.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive at highway speeds to feel for vibrations (Audi) and transmission shift quality (Ford).
- Check the NHTSA website for any open investigations or additional complaints for the specific model years you are considering.
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 S3 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 2 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 2 | 36 |
| 2018 | 5 | 56 |
| 2017 | 9 | 43 |
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 S3 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI S3 vs FORD F 150
- AUDI S3 total complaints
- 33
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- AUDI S3 total recalls
- 16
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- AUDI S3 avg complaints/year
- 3.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- AUDI S3
- AUDI S3 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN