2016 Audi A3
3 recalls and 112 owner complaints on record for this model year.
Check a specific vehicle
This page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VIN3 recalls and 112 owner complaints on record for this model year.
This page describes the model. To see how one particular car is equipped, and whether its identifier is valid, decode its VIN.
Decode a VINAlmost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
The driver airbag inflator may cause uncontrolled inflation and release metal fragments when the airbag is activated, which can cause injury to the occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Matched on brand and model name — Safety Gate publishes no VIN. Check the production dates, and quote the recall code to a dealer.
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.
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!
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 208-377-5400) SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE TOWED WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NO FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE AND SMOKE WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FLETCHERS JONES AUDI CHICAGO, 1111 N. CLARK ST, CHICAGO, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3. *TT CONSUMER HAS STATED THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING AND SMOKING IS GETTING WORSE. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS UNKNOWN HOW THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
On August 30th 2021 around 12:45pm driving to work I experienced something I did not realize was possible. I was in the fast lane going 70-75mph when my steering wheel began to shake profusely, I felt like something was under my car and hitting/whipping the right passenger side of my vehicle. I lost control of my car, almost flipped and thought it was a blowout, while trying to come to a stop on the highway and nowhere to pullover. 18wheelers all around me and I had no choice but to stop on left small shoulder. At this time we realized that my tire had not blown, but ALL the Tread had separated from the tire. It had separated and this caused roughly 6feet of extreme whipping of tread while separating from the tube part of tire was beating my car in multiple areas under the car, damaged and took off half of my bumper, tore up the passenger side back and front door while causing large dents. I called a tow truck while my daughter called my husband to help us. Tow driver stated he hadn’t seen that happen and we were very lucky something catastrophic didn’t happen, Myself and my daughters life was in great risk!! We almost flipped the car due to tire separation, and we could’ve caused a multi car accident! My car had to go to the collision center ( Caliber Collision ) which is a vendor my insurance company works with - they have taken multiple photos of the damage. I have also taken multiple photos of damage. It has not been inspected by authorities etc… yet. No warning lights representing tire pressure, concerns etc….were alerting me of anything to be concerned of. The interior passenger airbag light was stating airbag was off - which caused for more concern ( I am driving a 2016 Audi A3 with a National recall & no fix!! ) with if we would’ve crashed, rolled, wrecked into someone/something that the airbags would’ve potentiality not gone off to protect my daughter or myself!
I have filed multiple complaints with you all regarding my concern for safety and anxiety each time I get behind the wheel of my car. I contacted Audi, National, local dealer and no help with National safety recall. My car has been presenting random electrical concerns. It has shown numerous check engine lights telling me to shut engine down immediately, my AC will shut off, my speed declines at times and becomes almost as if I’m losing control of the car. It has done this at a stop and also on the highway going 75. I have had to pullover many times. I am so scared something is going to happen. I took to Audi after calling numerous times about recall and how the electrical has got to be a part of this National recall and they stated “ yes, that’s cannot be ruled out “ but they would not fix under recall more could they fix anything with the National recall they’ve had for years! They have stopped making all A 3’s and pulled them all off the lots! This is huge and tells me it is VERY serious and something has to be done!!! I recently got my car back from a collision center from driving to see a patient going 75 in the fast lane when we feel the car shaking out of control, I’ve lost control of the vehicle and we are in the far left lane with nowhere to go but into a 18wheeler! We had nowhere safe to go! It happened so fast that I’m screaming snd praying God please take the wheel!! My tire tread completely separated from my right rear side and caused about 6feet of tread whipping the car underneath and along the passenger side doors, windows etc… it was horrific and I’m terrified to drive!! My daughter was in the passenger seat and the air bag was not working when we were able to come to a stop on the shoulder! We had to be towed and tread was everywhere! I didn’t know at that time what happened! I thought it was a blowout, it was the tread came completely off the rubber! We almost flipped! My fear!!! We could’ve died - I cannot wait for next time!!
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 Campaign Number: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
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 car back to my house and checked the small 12 volt battery to see if that was the problem, they determined that the 12 volt battery still had 75% life in it. They were unable to get my vehicle started. The same message is still on the dashboard “Driver System Fault." The failure mileage is approximately 81,567. I want to know before I call the Dealer and get it towed again if this issue is the Hybrid High-Voltage Battery or the housing bonded seam could have lead to corrosion the service recall from a while ago. Service Action Code 93D2
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 repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
Passenger airbag not activated when passenger is seated
Passenger Occupancy Detection System is malfunctioning. Pre-sense system fault
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.
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 is made of a plastic that is too soft, causing it to change shape as a response to the defroster heat.
Mechatronics unit failed, stalled on freeway nearly caused an accident behind me.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.