Representative 2015 model. Photo: Kickaffe (Mario von Berg), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 Audi Q3 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: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 28
Latest campaign: May 23, 2019

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Exterior lighting	2	May 23, 2019	19V385000 17V400000
Electrical system	1	Sep 6, 2016	16V642000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

May 23, 2019Latest campaign


May 23, 201919V385000	Exterior lighting: turn signal Without an indicator informing the driver of an inoperable turn signal, the driver may turn or change lanes without a signal, increasing the risk of crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V385000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Audi Q3 vehicles equipped with LED headlights. An inoperable front turn signal may not illuminate an indicator, failing to alert the driver to the issue. 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 Without an indicator informing the driver of an inoperable turn signal, the driver may turn or change lanes without a signal, increasing the risk of crash. Remedy Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module (BCM), free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97DK. Campaign NHTSA 19V385000 · May 23, 2019
Jun 26, 201717V400000	Exterior lighting: brake lights A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V400000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Audi Q3 vehicles. If the parking brake is used during emergency braking, the brake lights on the vehicle will not activate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Risk A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6. Campaign NHTSA 17V400000 · Jun 26, 2017
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. Campaign NHTSA 16V642000 · Sep 6, 2016

May 23, 201919V385000

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Without an indicator informing the driver of an inoperable turn signal, the driver may turn or change lanes without a signal, increasing the risk of crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V385000

What's wrong: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Audi Q3 vehicles equipped with LED headlights. An inoperable front turn signal may not illuminate an indicator, failing to alert the driver to the issue. 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: Without an indicator informing the driver of an inoperable turn signal, the driver may turn or change lanes without a signal, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module (BCM), free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97DK.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V385000 · May 23, 2019

Jun 26, 201717V400000

Exterior lighting: brake lights

A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 17V400000

What's wrong: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Audi Q3 vehicles. If the parking brake is used during emergency braking, the brake lights on the vehicle will not activate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6.
Campaign: NHTSA 17V400000 · Jun 26, 2017

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.
Campaign: NHTSA 16V642000 · Sep 6, 2016

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).

Owner complaints by component28

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

28Complaints filed

1Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

0Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires
Electrical system	10	36	1	1
Engine	7	25	0	0
Unknown or other	3	11	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	3	11	0	0
Air bags	3	11	0	0
Steering	2	7	0	0
Exterior lighting	2	7	0	0
Structure	1	4	0	0
Suspension	1	4	0	0
Visibility	1	4	0	0
Tires	1	4	0	0
Seat belts	1	4	0	0
Wheels	1	4	0	0
Seats	1	4	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	4	0	0

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

Engine
“The engine oil consumption rate is alarming going thru quarts or entire oil change in a week or two of driving depending how much it was driven. Audi has admitted the pistons are at fault along with piston rings.”
Filed 06/23/2026 · ODI 11745833
Unknown or other
“To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this communication to you per an attorney referral. I have an Audi that was included in the Turbo Class Action Lawsuit. See [XXX] My VIN was included in the lawsuit.”
Filed 02/18/2026 · ODI 11718686
Fuel/propulsion system
“The vehicle emits a smell of fuel into the cabin of the car, and if the windows are up, this makes the driver sleepy and could cause a crash. It does not read fuel levels properly.”
Filed 12/08/2025 · ODI 11703719

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2016 Audi Q3 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Audi Q3 have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Audi Q3. The most recent, 19V385000 (reported May 23, 2019), concerns exterior lighting. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2016 Audi Q3 recalls for?

The largest group is exterior lighting, with 2 campaigns. Others: 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 Q3?

Electrical system is the most-reported component, named in 10 complaints out of 28 filed with NHTSA (36%). Across all complaints, owners reported 1 crash and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 Audi Q3?

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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