2016 Audi A3 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A3, most often about airbags. There are 3 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
80
Recalls
3
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Median mileage
54,650 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Airbags is the most-reported problem area, named in 36 of 80 complaints (45%).
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion (20) and electrical system (14) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 54,650 mi.
  • Owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury.
  • The 2016 Audi A3 has 3 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It has the most serious complaint record of all 18 Audi A3 model years we track.
  • That is 14% fewer complaints than the 2015 model year (93).

2016 Audi A3 problems by category

  • Airbags
    36 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    20 complaints
  • Electrical System
    14 complaints
  • Engine · 1 crash
    13 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    8 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    6 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    3 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    3 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires · 1 crash
    2 complaints
  • Body & Structure · 1 crash
    2 complaints
  • Suspension · 1 crash
    2 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    2 complaints
  • Lighting · 1 crash
    1 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Air bags36
Fuel/propulsion system16
Electrical system13
Engine9
Unknown or other8
Power train6
Fuel system, gasoline4
Engine and engine cooling2

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k110k–30k730k–60k860k–100k100k–150k150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 Audi A3 complaints that list mileage.

2016 Audi A3 recalls (3)

  • Recall 24V110000Feb 14, 2024261,257 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  • Recall 22V543000Jul 27, 20221,216 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  • Recall 21V198000Mar 22, 2021153,152 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

    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.

    Risk: 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 defect investigations

  • RQ23007Opened Dec 12, 2023Closed Jul 1, 2024led to recall 24V110

    Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)

    On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced SJP Version 1.0 with an improved version, Version 1.1. The SJP is designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emiss…

Recent 2016 Audi A3 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Jul 21, 202644,000 miFLAirbagsEngine
    The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side air bag occupant sensor failed to identify a passenger seat in the seat. A dealer was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that PODS had failed and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with…
    NHTSA complaint #11751789 · source
  2. Filed Jan 30, 2026AZCrash1 injuredTowedBody & StructureLightingSuspension
    This vehicle was involved in a rear end collision in late 2025. The vehicle was just sold at auction with a clean title even though it has frame damage that is more than 100% of the cost of this vehicle. It is sold with a clean title and I am worried that a used car dealership will try to sell it with no accident history and clean title to an unsuspecting person.
    NHTSA complaint #11714479 · source
  3. Filed Oct 1, 2025ALFireFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    Fuel leaked all my garage almost causing a fire in my home while i was sleeping. I have had the fuel tank replaced 3 times. And i had to pay out of pocket to have it replaced because audi would not replace the recall of it so i am reaching out to you so you can reach out to audi about not standing by the recall procedure!
    NHTSA complaint #11690869 · source
  4. Filed Sep 25, 2025FLElectrical System
    My 2016 Audi A3 Sportsback E-tron vehicle was parked at my house. When I went to start it the engine did nothing, no power. The message “Driver System Fault” and a red triangle with a red ! in the middle was displayed on the instrument panel. I was unable to start or operate the vehicle. I called AAA and they towed the vehicle to a Recharge Hybrid pump location near my house. I tired to charge the battery and it would just turn off. Then I called AAA again and they towed my…
    NHTSA complaint #11689751 · source
  5. Filed Sep 12, 202583,000 miLATowedElectrical System
    The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power. During the failure, the message “Driver System Fault” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was unable to restart or operate the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Hybrid battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
    NHTSA complaint #11686827 · source
  6. Filed Jul 17, 2025MDOther / Unknown
    The rearview camera is failed. Yes I can have an inspection done. Yes, dealer confirmed that camera is failed but wanted hundreds of dollars to troubleshoot. Has not been inspected by police or insurance. No it just stopped working one day.
    NHTSA complaint #11674377 · source
  7. Filed Jun 12, 2025CAVisibility & Wipers
    The rear wiper hose is consistently getting completely clogged so that no fluid comes out when the spray mechanism is engaged. The dealership has replaced it for a fee two or three times. At the last service they told us they cleaned it and did not charge a fee. However, within two months it was clogged again. I have noticed that the issue is more likely to occur after (intentionally or accidentally) using the rear window defroster. I am therefore wondering whether the hose…
    NHTSA complaint #11666478 · source
  8. Filed Mar 12, 202567,000 miCAAirbags
    The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The air bag warning was illuminated approximately one and a half years later. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who informed the contact that the repair was no…
    NHTSA complaint #11647871 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology