2016 Audi Q3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2016 Audi Q3, and owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2016 Audi Q3
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Turn signal (exterior lighting)
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)…
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…
-
Crash imminent braking (forward collision avoidance) and brake lights (exterior lighting)
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…
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…
-
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…
28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Audi Q3 have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 30,256 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 p”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 23, 2026 · Engine
“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 lawsui”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 18, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 Audi Q3 (Q3 quattro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20 / 28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
Compare Audi Q3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Audi Q3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Audi Q3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 Audi Q3 | 2 | 23 |
| 2016 Audi Q3 | 3 | 28 |
| 2017 Audi Q3 | 3 | 8 |
| 2018 Audi Q3 | 1 | 26 |
| 2019 Audi Q3 | 4 | 10 |
| 2020 Audi Q3 | 3 | 65 |
| 2021 Audi Q3 | 3 | 15 |
| 2022 Audi Q3 | 5 | 33 |
| 2023 Audi Q3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2024 Audi Q3 | 2 | 18 |
| 2025 Audi Q3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2026 Audi Q3 | 1 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2016 Audi Q3
How do I know if my 2016 Audi Q3 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 Q3; 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.