2016 Audi A3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
62,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 81 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 14.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 9.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 36 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
Air Bags: 36; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Electrical System: 14; Engine: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Power Train: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 64 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2019: 1; 2020: 11; 2021: 18; 2022: 17; 2023: 8; 2024: 12; 2025: 11; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11288953 · 2019-12-13 (December 13, 2019)
VEHICLE WAS GARAGED AND FUNCTIONING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. APPX. 64000 MILES. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON AND PUT IN REVERSE, THE REARVIEW CAMERA'S VIEW WAS MODERATELY VISIBLE, BUT GARBLED PAST ANY USEFUL VIEW. THIS DID APPEAR TO HAPPEN AFTER THE TRUNK WAS SIMPLY OPENED AND SHUT BEFORE GETTING IN THE CAR, ALTHOUGH THAT SHOULD HARDLY AFFECT THE ABILITY FOR THE CAMERA TO WORK OR NOT. THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR, I DID NOT OPEN THE TRUNK, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE TIME AFTER THAT, I OPENED THE TRUNK AND SHUT IT AND IT WENT AWAY. …
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297295 · 2020-01-06 (January 6, 2020)
I CANT GET GAS , IT GOES OUT OF THE TANK
Owner-reported narrative. 62,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11310883 · 2020-02-23 (February 23, 2020)
I HAD THE SEAT POD RECALL REPAIR MADE ON MY CAR AND THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE INDICATOR GOING OFF AND A NOTICE ON THE DASH OF "AUDI PRE-SENSE: SYSTEM FAULT!" NOTICE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PROBLEM OF A FAULTY AIRBAG CONNECTOR WIRE WAS NOT SOLVED BY A WIRE REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT-OCCUPIED WEIGHT SENSOR WAS PROBABLY BAD - FROM DEALER BUT NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11310883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315320 · 2020-03-02 (March 2, 2020)
2016 AUDI, CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE A REPAIR FOR RECALL 69Z4. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11315320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326383 · 2020-05-28 (May 28, 2020)
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND SEAT BELT LIGHT IS ON. ERROR MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD: SAFETY SYSTEM: SYSTEM FAULT. CAR HAD A RECALL FOR SIMILAR ISSUE ON JANUARY 2020. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WANT TO REPLACE A SENSOR FOR $1300. DEALERSHIP STATED IS NOT THE SAME ISSUE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *TR *BF UPDATE: THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S APRTMENT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11326383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331785 · 2020-06-30 (June 30, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, HE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL IN HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PARKED HIS VEHICLE IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND OPENED THE HOOD WHEN FLUIDS BUBBLING WHERE COMING FROM ONE OF THE COOLANT RESERVOIRS AND THE BURNING ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER AUDI BOISE (8400 W FRANKLIN RD #1, BOISE, ID 83709 [phone removed]) SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE TOWED WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NO FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354193 · 2020-09-10 (September 10, 2020)
AN IMPROPER ELECTRICAL CONTACT MAY CAUSE THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS) TO FALSELY DETECT A MALFUNCTION AND DEACTIVATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE DEALERSHIP WILL SAY THEY FIXED IT BUT SHORTLY AFTER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT SIGN GOES OFF AGAIN BEEPING AND ADVISING YOU THE PASSENGER SEATBELT IS NOT ON. WHEN YOU HAVE NO PASSENGER.THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE. THEY ARE INCOMPETENT AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE DRIVERS. IF IT IS SAYING THE AIRBAG IS OFF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11354193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354758 · 2020-09-13 (September 13, 2020)
I AM EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. AIRBAG IS DISABLE WHEN PASSENGER IS SAT ON THE SEAT. ADDITIONALLY, THE SEATBELT SENSOR CALLS FOR FASTENING WHEN NO ONE IS SAT ON THE SEAT, PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ISSUES ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE MOST RECENT RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11354758 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V198000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly
Reported: 2021-03-22 (March 22, 2021)
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 occupied.
Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V543000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2022-07-27 (July 27, 2022)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V110000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2024-02-14 (February 14, 2024)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.
NHTSA campaign record ↗