Head-to-head reliability
AUDI S3 vs Toyota Camry
How the AUDI S3 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 S3 vs Toyota Camry: The Audi S3 has 33 complaints over 10 years (3.3/yr) with 16 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2143 complaints (214.3/yr) with 31 recalls. The S3's issues center on airbag sensors, while the Camry has more diverse problems including transmission and brakes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI S3 or Toyota Camry 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 low complaint rate but a concerning concentration of airbag-related issues. Owners report problems with the passenger occupant detection system (PODS), which can disable the airbag, and some describe engine overheating and oil consumption that left them stranded. There are also complaints about violent wiper chatter, a sunroof that exploded, and vibrations at highway speeds. While the S3 has few complaints overall, the nature of the airbag and engine issues could be serious for a buyer.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 200 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, including transmission grinding and failures, sudden unintended acceleration, brake failures, and engine problems like a coolant valve bypass. There are also many complaints about air conditioning odors and damage. With 181 crash-related complaints and one death, the Camry's reliability record is more concerning, but its high sales volume means more data points.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI S3 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 33 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.3 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 163 |
| 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 the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) can fail, potentially disabling the passenger airbag. Some say the system malfunctioned after a recall repair, leaving the airbag inoperative.
Complaints include a sunroof that exploded while driving and persistent vibrations at highway speeds, which some owners say is a common issue across model years.
Wiper blades chatter and skip, making visibility difficult in rain. One owner took the car to the dealer over 10 times without a fix.
The PODS recall (69Z4) has caused issues: some owners were charged for the recall repair, and after the repair, the system stopped functioning, rendering the passenger airbag inoperable.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end and transmission failures, with some requiring full replacement. There are recalls for similar issues on some models.
Air conditioning condensers are easily damaged by rocks, and there is a recurring vinegar/mildew odor from the vents that is unpleasant and hard to eliminate.
Some owners report sudden unintended acceleration, leading to crashes. Others have engine maintenance lights related to a coolant valve bypass that may not be covered by recall for their VIN.
Brake failure has been reported, with no response when pressing the pedal, leading to dangerous situations. One owner crashed into a parking block due to brake issues.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder 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 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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
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: 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…
Buyer analysis
AUDI S3 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Audi S3 has far fewer complaints per year (3.3 vs 214.3), but its issues are more safety-critical, especially airbag failures. The Camry's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the nature of its problems—like unintended acceleration and brake failure—is more alarming. In practice, the S3 may offer fewer headaches, but the Camry's issues are more varied and potentially more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Audi S3 has a much lower complaint rate (3.3 per year) compared to the Camry (214.3 per year), but its complaints are heavily focused on airbag system failures.
- The Camry has a significant number of crash-related complaints (181) and one death, while the S3 has none reported.
- Camry owners report a wide range of issues including transmission, engine, brakes, and electrical, whereas S3 owners mainly report airbag, wiper, and sunroof problems.
- The S3's airbag issues are tied to a specific recall (PODS) that has caused post-repair failures, while the Camry's issues are more diverse and not as concentrated.
- Check the passenger airbag system: ensure the PODS recall has been performed and that the airbag light is not on. Ask for proof of repair and test the system if possible.
- Inspect the sunroof for any signs of stress or previous replacement, and test the wipers for chattering or skipping.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including sudden stops, to ensure there is no loss of pressure or failure.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration and check for any service bulletins or recalls related to the transmission.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and previous repairs.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the airbag system for the S3 and the transmission/brakes for the Camry.
- Test drive both vehicles in various conditions, including highway speeds and rainy weather, to check for vibrations, wiper issues, and brake response.
- Ask for service records to see if the S3 has had any engine oil consumption or overheating issues, and if the Camry has had any transmission or brake repairs.
- Check the NHTSA website for the specific VIN to see if any recalls are incomplete.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 119 |
| 2025 | 0 | 153 |
| 2024 | 2 | 48 |
| 2023 | 0 | 62 |
| 2022 | 0 | 59 |
| 2020 | 1 | 270 |
| 2019 | 2 | 393 |
| 2018 | 5 | 736 |
| 2017 | 9 | 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 S3 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI S3 vs Toyota Camry
- AUDI S3 total complaints
- 33
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- AUDI S3 total recalls
- 16
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- AUDI S3 avg complaints/year
- 3.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- AUDI S3
- AUDI S3 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN