2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
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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Inflator module (air bags)
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.
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…
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Air bags: front passenger and on-off switch assembly (air bags)
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.
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…
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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…
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 6,250 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Audi etron sunroof exploded while driving. While futzing with the windows trying to stop the "woop woop woop" air pressure thing that happens when the windows are partially open, the sunroof exploded”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 26, 2017 · Visibility/wiper
“Continental procontact 225/45r17 91h DOT af7rwbrd4615 right front tire sidewall blew out after going over small driveway curb at very low speed vehicle 2016 audi a3 etron”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 13, 2017 · Tires
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 Sportback e-tron model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A3 Sportback e-tron model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron | 3 | 2 |
| 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
How do I know if my 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 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 Sportback e-tron; 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 19V474000).
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.