What 52 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Audi S3

Fault water pump/thermostat causing overheating and breakdowns. Known issue in other models with the same motor, yet no recall issued for the A3/S3 models with the 2.0 motor

NHTSA ODI 11479581

THE VEHICLE ENGINE LOST IGNITION POWER WHILE DRIVING, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. INVESTIGATION BY THE DEALER REVEALED THAT COOLANT ENTERED THE ENGINE HARNESS VIA ELECTRONIC COOLANT VALVES AND PROGRESSED TO THE GRAY T14 CONNECTOR. COOLANT WAS FOUND AT THE VALVE CONNECTOR SOURCE AND IN THE ENGINE HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE COOLANT CAUSED THE VALVE TERMINAL, AND THE NEIGHBORING TERMINAL WHICH PROVIDES POWER TO ALL COILS TO CORRODE AND BREAK. AUDI RELEASED A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE (2045122) BUT ONLY CONSIDERS THIS AS A INTERMITTENT START PROBLEM. THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE A8 MODELS PROMPTING RECALL NUMBER 16V619000. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO EARLY MODEL AUDI S3S AND MAYBE OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI 11354468

BACKGROUND: BOUGHT IT USED WITH 19,660 MILES. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE DATE. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ARISE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS: 1. COOLANT LEAK DUE TO FAILED WATER PUMP. (NOTE: REPLACED UNDER DEALER'S 4YEAR/ 50K MILES NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY). 2. MULTIPLE FAILED WHEEL BEARING (ONE FAILED AFTER THE OTHER). (NOTE: ONE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER ABOVE MENTIONED WARRANTY BUT OTHER WHEEL BEARING(S) FAILED AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11320903

2015 AUDI S3 WATER PUMP FAILED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 52K MILES REQUIRING $1500 IN REPAIRS. THE WATER PUMP HAD BEEN LEAKING THROUGH THE WEEP HOLE FOR SOME TIME. LEAK WAS DISCOVERED WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN GARAGE. I WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A QUALITY PERSPECTIVE FROM A LUXURY BRAND LIKE AUDI. THE MECHANIC THAT COMPLETED THE REPAIR SPECIALIZED IN AUDI AND VOLKSWAGENS AND TOLD ME HE REPLACES 2-3 WATER PUMPS A WEEK ON AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN CARS WITH THIS SAME ENGINE. LIKE I SAID, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED BETTER QUALITY THAN A PLASTIC WATER PUMP ON A CAR LIKE AUDI.

NHTSA ODI 11186594