2016 Audi A3 CABRIOLET
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Audi A3 CABRIOLET has 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: we received two safety recalls from audi: nhtsa recall #16v647 and #16v642. we were informed by audi that the service would have to be completed by an authorized audi dealer. the closest audi dealer is in honolulu, which would require us to ship our car from maui. given this was an audi recall, it. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
46
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
15 complaints- • WE RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALLS FROM AUDI: NHTSA RECALL #16V647 AND #16V642. WE WERE INFORMED BY AUDI THAT THE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER. THE CLOSEST AUDI DEALER IS IN HONOLULU, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO SHIP OUR CAR FROM MAUI. GIVEN THIS WAS AN AUDI RECALL, IT
- • VW BOUGHT BACK MY 2016 A3 TWO YEARS AGO BUT I'M STILL RECEIVING THE RECALL INFORMATION.
- • I HAVE A 2016 AUDI A3 THAT HAS A CURRENT RECALL ON THE (PODS) SYSTEM AND THE DEALER AND AUDI USA TELLS ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE! I DRIVE AND PICK UP MY 15 YEAR OLD GRANDSON TO SCHOOL EACH DAY AND I AM FEAR-FULL AUDI MUST BE MADE TO COME UP WITH THE P
“WE RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALLS FROM AUDI: NHTSA RECALL #16V647 AND #16V642. WE WERE INFORMED BY AUDI THAT THE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER. THE CLOSEST AUDI DEALER IS IN HONOLULU, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO SHIP OUR CAR FROM MAUI. GIVEN THIS WAS AN AUDI RECALL, IT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
8 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN....UPDATED 12/14/16 *BF UPDATED 08/10/2017*JS
- • WE RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALLS FROM AUDI: NHTSA RECALL #16V647 AND #16V642. WE WERE INFORMED BY AUDI THAT THE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER. THE CLOSEST AUDI DEALER IS IN HONOLULU, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO SHIP OUR CAR FROM MAUI. GIVEN THIS WAS AN AUDI RECALL, IT
- • I BOUGHT A CPO 2016 A3 1.8T FROM AUDI OF PALO ALTO ON MAY 20, 2017 WITH A LITTLE UNDER 19100 MILES. GREAT FAST CAR. UNTIL JUNE 17, 2017 WHEN IT HAD 19878 MILES. THE CAR STARTED TO STUTTER/SPUTTER/JERK WHILE ON THE FWY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50-60MPH ON THE FWY, CRUISING, AND THEN IT STUTTERED. IT LOST T
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN....UPDATED 12/14/16 *BF UPDATED 08/10/2017*JS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
7 complaints- • DRIVING 50-60 MPH ON THE FWY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK/STUTTER AND THEN IT LOST SPEED. THE JERKING IS SIMILAR TO A NEW DRIVER LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHERE YOU'RE THROWN FWD AND BACK SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY. AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BACK TO FWY SPEED, IT WOULDN'T A
- • I BOUGHT A CPO 2016 A3 1.8T FROM AUDI OF PALO ALTO ON MAY 20, 2017 WITH A LITTLE UNDER 19100 MILES. GREAT FAST CAR. UNTIL JUNE 17, 2017 WHEN IT HAD 19878 MILES. THE CAR STARTED TO STUTTER/SPUTTER/JERK WHILE ON THE FWY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50-60MPH ON THE FWY, CRUISING, AND THEN IT STUTTERED. IT LOST T
- • TWICE I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE RANDOM LOSS OF POWER. THE FIRST TIME OCCURRED ON A LOCAL STREET, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND LOST POWER. IT APPEARED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, NOT EVEN COASTING BUT SLOWING DOWN CONSIDERABLY. I WAS REQUIRED TO
“DRIVING 50-60 MPH ON THE FWY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK/STUTTER AND THEN IT LOST SPEED. THE JERKING IS SIMILAR TO A NEW DRIVER LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHERE YOU'RE THROWN FWD AND BACK SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY. AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BACK TO FWY SPEED, IT WOULDN'T A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
4 complaints- • THERE IS NO WARNING, AND NO IGNITION LOCKOUT, WHEN THE ETRON POWER PORT DOOR AND COVER IS LEFT OPEN AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. (THE POWER PORT IS HOW TO RECHARGE THE BATTERIES IN THE CAR). THIS ALLOWS WATER TO BE FORCED INTO THE HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WHICH COULD TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS UNKNOWN HOW THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE
- • 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 REQU
“THERE IS NO WARNING, AND NO IGNITION LOCKOUT, WHEN THE ETRON POWER PORT DOOR AND COVER IS LEFT OPEN AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. (THE POWER PORT IS HOW TO RECHARGE THE BATTERIES IN THE CAR). THIS ALLOWS WATER TO BE FORCED INTO THE HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WHICH COULD TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
3 complaints- • THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE A3 E-TRON. THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN STARTING THE CAR AND THE CAR BEING ENGAGING THE POWERTRAIN AND BEING "READY" TO DRIVE. DURING THAT DELAY, ONE IS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR BEFORE THE ENGINE IS 'READY'. THIS CREATES SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR ON A H
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE OR ROLL FORWARD BEFORE REVERSING. THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN DEALER WERE CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
- • TWICE I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE RANDOM LOSS OF POWER. THE FIRST TIME OCCURRED ON A LOCAL STREET, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND LOST POWER. IT APPEARED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, NOT EVEN COASTING BUT SLOWING DOWN CONSIDERABLY. I WAS REQUIRED TO
“THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE A3 E-TRON. THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN STARTING THE CAR AND THE CAR BEING ENGAGING THE POWERTRAIN AND BEING "READY" TO DRIVE. DURING THAT DELAY, ONE IS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR BEFORE THE ENGINE IS 'READY'. THIS CREATES SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR ON A H”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 46 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: WE RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALLS FROM AUDI: NHTSA RECALL #16V647 AND #16V642. WE WERE INFORMED BY AUDI THAT THE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER. THE CLOSEST AUDI DEALER IS IN HONOLULU, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO SHIP OUR CAR FROM MAUI. GIVEN THIS WAS AN AUDI RECALL, IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN....UPDATED 12/14/16 *BF UPDATED 08/10/2017*JS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: DRIVING 50-60 MPH ON THE FWY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK/STUTTER AND THEN IT LOST SPEED. THE JERKING IS SIMILAR TO A NEW DRIVER LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHERE YOU'RE THROWN FWD AND BACK SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY. AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BACK TO FWY SPEED, IT WOULDN'T A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THERE IS NO WARNING, AND NO IGNITION LOCKOUT, WHEN THE ETRON POWER PORT DOOR AND COVER IS LEFT OPEN AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR. (THE POWER PORT IS HOW TO RECHARGE THE BATTERIES IN THE CAR). THIS ALLOWS WATER TO BE FORCED INTO THE HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WHICH COULD TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Audi A3 CABRIOLET — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 46
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Audi A3 CABRIOLET