2016 Audi A3 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A3. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (51), Electrical System (18), Fuel/Propulsion System (17).
Key takeaways
- 112 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 1 reported injury.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 51 | 46% |
| Electrical System | 18 | 16% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 17 | 15% |
| Engine | 14 | 13% |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 | 10% |
| Power Train | 9 | 8% |
| Fuel System | 5 | 4% |
| Gasoline | 5 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 | 4% |
| Tires | 4 | 4% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | 3% |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Audi A3 C AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2016 Audi A3 C FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2016 Audi A3 C FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2016 Audi A3 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine And Engine Cooling,air Bags - filed 2026-07-21
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. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that PODS had failed and needed t...
Electrical System,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-04-09
Electrical problems and fuel leak
Suspension,exterior Lighting,structure - filed 2026-01-30
This vehicle was involved in a rear end collision in late 2025. The vehicle was just sold at auction with a clean title even though it has frame damage that is more than 100% of the cost of this vehicle. It is sold with a clean title and I am worried that a used car dealership will try to sell it with no accident histo...
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More for the 2016 Audi A3
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.