2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet, and owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Occupant classification (air bags)
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.
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…
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Fuel system, gasoline and emission control (engine and engine cooling)
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.
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…
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Software (electrical system) and exterior lighting
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…
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…
36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 37,793 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 8 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 26, 2024 · Air bags
“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 co”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 1, 2024 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 Audi A3 (A3 Cabriolet, A3 Cabriolet quattro, A3 e-tron, A3 e-tron ultra, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 26–39 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 23–37 / 32–41 |
| Fuel | Premium and Electricity, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.4/1.8/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM-S6) |
Compare Audi A3 Cabriolet model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A3 Cabriolet model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet | 5 | 87 |
| 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet | 3 | 36 |
| 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet | 3 | 25 |
| 2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet | 5 | 12 |
| 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet | 1 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet
How do I know if my 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 16V642000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Audi models
- A42,895 complaints
- A61,658 complaints
- Q51,342 complaints
- Q71,047 complaints
- A3731 complaints
- S4588 complaints
- A5325 complaints
- TT319 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.