2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (13) · Power Train (3) · Fuel/Propulsion System (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A3 Cabriolet model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
24 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2019-06-19 · campaign 19V474000 · 138,896 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2016-09-07 · campaign 16V647000 · 110,042 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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 This recall has been fully superseded by recall 24V-110.
Exterior Lighting 2016-09-06 · campaign 16V642000 · 79,895 vehicles
Defect: 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) num
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.
Service bulletins (536)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-09-22 · TSB_2020552_15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Showing the 6 most recent of 536 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-06-26 · Air Bags · 35,000 mi“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 (12592 broad st., richmond, va 23…”
2024-04-01 · Engine · 100,500 mi“the contact owns a 2016 audi a3. the contact stated while driving at unknown speed the message, "oil level sensor system fault" was displayed. the message was display on several occasions while the contact was driving. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the mechanic stated that several fault codes were displayed. the mechanic i…”
2023-08-30 · Steering · 147,000 mi“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, the steering wheel pulled hard…”
2023-04-17 · Wheels:rim · 63,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 audi a3. the contact stated while driving 25 mph, the vehicle drove over a massive pothole in the roadway. the contact pulled over to assess the vehicle and discovered that the front passenger’s rim had detached the vehicle. additionally, the oil pan was punctured, causing oil to leak from the vehicle. due to the failure, th…”
2023-02-16 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap · 8,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 audi a3. the contact stated while refueling the vehicle, gasoline sprayed out from the fuel filler neck. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of a malfunction with the filler neck. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure but offered no …”
2022-08-19 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 audi a3. the contact stated the front passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. 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 …”
2022-08-12 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 audi a3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v198000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a fai…”
2022-08-12 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:fuel Gauge“2016 audi a3. consumer writes in regard to defective gas gauge. the consumer referenced audi safety recall 20y5. the consumer stated the vehicle exhibted the same failure but, the vin was not included in the recall. the consumer had the vehicle repaired at a local mechanics shop. the consumer requested to be included in and reimbursed for the rec…”
2022-07-08 · Air Bags · 42,000 mi“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 repair. the contact stated that th…”
2022-05-06 · Air Bags“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 unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the contact had not ex…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.