MODEL
Audi Rs3
NHTSA safety across every Audi Rs3 model year we cover.
Across the 1 model year of the Audi Rs3 we cover (2019 to 2019), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2019 at 79 on the NHTSA Safety Index. 1 recall have been issued across those years.
The Audi RS3 is a high-performance compact sedan slotting into the competitive sport sedan segment, aimed at enthusiasts who want explosive straight-line performance and premium German engineering in a relatively compact package. The 2019 model year represents the only year in our coverage window, making this a narrow but focused safety snapshot of one of Audi's most driver-focused four-door offerings.
The 2019 Audi RS3 earns a MotorCaliber Safety Index of 79 out of 100, placing it squarely in the Average band. That score is worth examining carefully given the RS3's premium price positioning and performance pedigree. On crash-test results, NHTSA did not assign frontal or side star ratings for this model year, which limits how much structural confidence shoppers can draw from federal testing. The rollover rating of 4 out of 5 stars is the one concrete data point available, and it reflects reasonably solid stability for a low-slung performance sedan. The absence of frontal and side ratings is a genuine gap in the safety picture, and buyers should not assume strong performance simply because those scores are missing rather than poor. On the recall front, the 2019 RS3 carries a single recall across our coverage window, which is a modest figure for any model. Owner complaints are minimal at just 5 total, with zero reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths among those filings. These are unverified allegations, but the low volume suggests owners have not been raising widespread safety alarms. Overall, the RS3 presents an incomplete but not alarming safety profile. The Average band score and thin crash-test data mean safety-focused shoppers should weigh those gaps seriously before purchasing.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally celebrate the RS3 for its turbocharged performance, all-wheel-drive grip, and premium interior quality, treating it as a standout in the compact performance sedan class. Most praise its driving dynamics and refinement, though some note that its focus leans heavily toward performance rather than practicality or everyday comfort.
- NHTSA did not assign frontal or side crash-test star ratings for the 2019 RS3, leaving significant gaps in the federal safety testing picture that shoppers cannot fill with assumptions.
- The 2019 RS3 earned a 4 out of 5 star rollover rating from NHTSA, which is the only direct crash-test data point available for this model year.
- One recall is on record for the 2019 model year. Shoppers should verify whether any open recall work has been completed on a specific vehicle before purchase using NHTSA's VIN lookup tool.
- Owner complaints total just 5 across our coverage window, with no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths among those filings, suggesting the existing owner base has not flagged widespread safety concerns. These complaints are unverified allegations.
Most-recalled year on record: 2019 Audi Rs3 with 1 recalls.