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2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet, most often about the air bags (42% of complaints, typically around 38,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about A3 Cabriolet model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems
Air bags
15 complaints · 42%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Audi a3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21v198000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall…
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer, where it was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 21v198000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, Audi richmond…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
Twice I have experienced the random loss of power. The first time occurred on a local street, driving approximately 40 MPH, and all of a sudden the vehicle stuttered and lost power. It appeared as if the vehicle was slowing down, not even coasting but slowing down considerably. I was required to pull onto a side road.…
I bought a cpo 2016 a3 1.8t from Audi of palo alto on may 20, 2017 with a little under 19100 miles. Great fast car. Until june 17, 2017 when it had 19878 miles. The car started to stutter/sputter/jerk while on the fwy. I was going about 50-60mph on the fwy, cruising, and then it stuttered. It lost the power to…
Engine
6 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
Driving 50-60 MPH on the fwy when all of a sudden the car started to jerk/stutter and then it lost speed. The jerking is similar to a new driver learning how to drive a manual transmission where you're thrown FWD and back somewhat violently. As I tried to accelerate back to fwy speed, it wouldn't accelerate. It kept…
I bought a cpo 2016 a3 1.8t from Audi of palo alto on may 20, 2017 with a little under 19100 miles. Great fast car. Until june 17, 2017 when it had 19878 miles. The car started to stutter/sputter/jerk while on the fwy. I was going about 50-60mph on the fwy, cruising, and then it stuttered. It lost the power to…
Electrical
4 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: instrument panel, instrument cluster/panel.
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 contact owns a 2016 Audi a3. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds and making a u-turn, the "steering defect; do not drive" message was displayed. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The steering wheel turned in the other direction when the vehicle struck the curb. While making a left turn…
Transmission
3 complaints · 8%The contact owns a 2016 Audi a3. When placing the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle would lunge or roll forward before reversing. The manufacturer and an unknown dealer were contacted, but could not provide a remedy. The failure mileage was 12,000.
Twice I have experienced the random loss of power. The first time occurred on a local street, driving approximately 40 MPH, and all of a sudden the vehicle stuttered and lost power. It appeared as if the vehicle was slowing down, not even coasting but slowing down considerably. I was required to pull onto a side road.…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 8%I was driving on the freeway. All of a sudden I heard a loud sound and the sunroof shattered. It was a sunny day and there was not much traffic on the freeway. The sunroof shade was drawn so it caught glass that could have fallen inside the car. There were no other objects caught in the shade, only glass. I don't…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began september 12, 2019. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69z4.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 audi s3 sedan, 2015-2019 a3 sedan and a3 cabriolet, 2016-2018 a3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 rs3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the passenger occupant detection system (pods) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: As fuel accumulates in the evap system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. The recall began november 2016. Volkswagen owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298, audi owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 20y6 and 20y5. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 24v-110.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 volkswagen golf, golf sportwagen, gti, audi a3 sedan and a3 cabriolet vehicles. Due to a problem with the suction pump inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (evap) system.
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. This recall began november 2016. Owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97cb.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 tt roadster, a3 cabriolet, a3 sedan and a3 e-tron, 2016-2017 tt coupe, 2017 a4 sedan and q7 and 2015-2017 q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel leak due to suction jet pump failure within fuel tank (remedy effectiveness of recall 16v647)
Summary
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 emissions (evap) system. Vwâs recall filing stated the sjp may have been damaged during assembly, which
Questions about the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (15 complaints, typically around 38,500 miles); fuel system (8 complaints, typically around 16,500 miles); engine (6 complaints, typically around 20,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 19, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Audi A3 Cabriolet?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about A3 Cabriolet model year since 2000, with 36 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.