Representative 2017 model. Photo: Peulle, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 Audi A3 recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2016 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 6
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 114
Latest campaign: Feb 14, 2024

Recall summary by component6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	3	Jul 27, 2022	22V543000 21V198000 19V474000
Fuel system, gasoline	2	Feb 14, 2024	24V110000 16V647000
Electrical system	1	Sep 6, 2016	16V642000

Safety recalls6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Feb 14, 2024Latest campaign


Feb 14, 202424V110000	Fuel system, gasoline A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 24V110000 What's wrong 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. Filed under A3 Campaign NHTSA 24V110000 · Feb 14, 2024
Jul 27, 202222V543000	Air bags: frontal passenger side An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. DetailsHide details for campaign 22V543000 What's wrong 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. Filed under A3, A3 Sportback E-Tron Campaign NHTSA 22V543000 · Jul 27, 2022
Mar 22, 202121V198000	Air bags: sensor occupant classification A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V198000 What's wrong 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. Filed under A3 Campaign NHTSA 21V198000 · Mar 22, 2021
Jun 19, 201919V474000	Air bags: sensor occupant classification A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V474000 What's wrong 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. Risk A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash. Remedy 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. Filed under A3 Cabriolet, A3 Sportback E-Tron Campaign NHTSA 19V474000 · Jun 19, 2019
Sep 7, 201616V647000	Fuel system, gasoline As fuel accumulates in the EVAP system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V647000 What's wrong 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. 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. Remedy 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. Filed under A3 Cabriolet Campaign NHTSA 16V647000 · Sep 7, 2016
Sep 6, 201616V642000	Electrical system: software If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V642000 What's wrong 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." Risk If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy 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. Filed under A3 Cabriolet Campaign NHTSA 16V642000 · Sep 6, 2016

Merged from NHTSA model names: A3, A3 Sportback E-Tron, A3 Cabriolet. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Audi recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2016 Audi A3? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component114

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

114Complaints filed

3Involving a crash

4Involving a fire

1Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Air bags	52	46	0	0	0
Electrical system	19	17	0	1	0
Fuel/propulsion system	17	15	0	1	0
Engine	14	12	1	2	0
Unknown or other	12	11	0	0	0
Power train	9	8	0	0	0
Fuel system	5	4	0	0	0
Gasoline	5	4	0	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	4	4	0	1	0
Tires	4	4	1	0	0
Visibility/wiper	3	3	0	0	0
Seats	2	2	0	0	0
Suspension	2	2	1	0	1
Exterior lighting	2	2	1	0	1
Structure	2	2	1	0	1

8 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Electrical system
“My 2016 Audi A3 (VIN [XXX]) underwent Safety Recall 69BY on XXX, to correct a defect in the front passenger occupant detection system (PODS), including replacement of the occupant detection sensor.”
Filed 10/14/2026 · ODI 11771178
Unknown or other
“I was driving my vehicle on the [XXX] like normal and suddenly my car stopped accelerating at 70 MPH and displayed a message stating to stop vehicle, transmission malfunction.”
Filed 10/12/2026 · ODI 11770604
Engine and engine cooling
“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.”
Filed 07/21/2026 · ODI 11751789

Other Audi A3 model years

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2016 Audi A3 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Audi A3 have?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Audi A3. The most recent, 24V110000 (reported February 14, 2024), concerns fuel system, gasoline. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2016 Audi A3 recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 3 campaigns. Others: fuel system, gasoline (2), electrical system (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Audi A3?

Air bags is the most-reported component, named in 52 complaints out of 114 filed with NHTSA (46%). Across all complaints, owners reported 3 crashs and 4 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 Audi A3?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Audi recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Audi dealer.

Check a specific Audi by VIN

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