2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A3 Cabriolet years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet. That ranks 2nd out of 5 A3 Cabriolet model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (15 complaints, 42%), typically at around 38,500 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 36owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 15 | 42% | 38,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 6 | 17% | 20,039 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 17% | 16,358 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 11% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 8% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 8% | 20,608 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 6% | 36,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% | 3 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 147,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | 675 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | 20,200 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | 63,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: 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.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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 number for this recall is 69Z4.
Fuel system, gasoline; engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control
Problem: 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.
Risk: As fuel accumulates in the EVAP system, it may leak out through the charcoal canister filter element. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 20Y6 and 20Y5. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 24V-110.
Exterior lighting; electrical system:software
Problem: 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 conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 for this recall is 97CB.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) (RQ23007) — opened Dec 12, 2023, closed Jul 1, 2024, led to recall 24V110.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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 repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the local…
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 contact was driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the mechanic stated that…
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds and making a U-turn, the "Steering Defect; Do Not Drive" message was displayed. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The steering wheel turned in the other direction when the vehicle struck the curb. While…
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle drove over a massive pothole in the roadway. The contact pulled over to assess the vehicle and discovered that the front passengerâs rim had detached the vehicle. Additionally, the oil pan was punctured, causing…
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while refueling the vehicle, gasoline sprayed out from the fuel filler neck. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of a malfunction with the filler neck. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
Other Audi A3 Cabriolet years
← 2015 A3 Cabriolet · 2017 A3 Cabriolet →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 A3 Cabriolet | 4 | 1 |
| 2018 A3 Cabriolet | 12 | 5 |
| 2017 A3 Cabriolet | 25 | 3 |
| 2016 | 36 | 3 |
| 2015 A3 Cabriolet | 87 | 5 |
See all Audi A3 Cabriolet problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Owners most often report air bags, engine, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 15 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A3 Cabriolet model years, the 2016 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.