KnownCarProblems2016 Audi A3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A3, most often about the air bags (45% of complaints, typically around 44,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about A3 model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2016 Audi A3 problems
Air bags
37 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the front passengerâs 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…
I went in to get the pods connector recall work done. Before this work was done the passenger airbag would go on and off intermittently, however, now the passenger airbag is always off. They are saying that the connector is a separate problem from the weight sensor. The pods system has been recalled in other Audi…
Fuel system
20 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle hesitated while starting. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure persisted before starting. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it…
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, fuel started leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering while being started. The failure occurred intermittently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact removed the evap hose and…
Electrical
16 complaints · 19%Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
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…
Check engine light cuts on with overheating and eps error when starting car sometimes. When you shut off car it cuts off and returns to normal. It started last year and has continued, I was told it may be a sensor shortage.
Engine
13 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles. Parts named most often: critical fasteners, engine.
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the oil light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and oil was added to the engine. The contact stated that vehicle was still consuming oil. The vehicle had not been repaired. The…
Check engine light cuts on with overheating and eps error when starting car sometimes. When you shut off car it cuts off and returns to normal. It started last year and has continued, I was told it may be a sensor shortage.
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 11%Transmission
6 complaints · 7%
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 recalls
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
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
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (37 complaints, typically around 44,000 miles); fuel system (20 complaints, typically around 74,500 miles); electrical (16 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Audi A3 have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 14, 2024 (fuel system). 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?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about A3 model year since 2000, with 83 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.