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2016 Audi A3 Complaints

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

111

Total

3

Crashes

4

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Most Reported Components

AIR BAGS
50
ENGINE
20
FUEL SYSTEM
14
ELECTRICAL
9
OTHER
7

Recent Complaints

ODI #11730283

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/09/2026

Electrical problems and fuel leak

ODI #11714479Crash

SUSPENSION,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE — Filed 11/08/2025

This vehicle was involved in a rear end collision in late 2025. The vehicle was just sold at auction with a clean title even though it has frame damage that is more than 100% of the cost of this vehicle. It is sold with a clean title and I am worried that a used car dealership will try to sell it with no accident history and clean title to an unsuspecting person.

ODI #11690869Fire

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 09/24/2025

FUEL LEAKED ALL MY GARAGE ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE IN MY HOME WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL TANK REPLACED 3 TIMES. AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE IT REPLACED BECAUSE AUDI WOULD NOT REPLACE THE RECALL OF IT SO I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU SO YOU CAN REACH OUT TO AUDI ABOUT NOT STANDING BY THE RECALL PROCEDURE!

ODI #11689751

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 09/12/2025

My 2016 Audi A3 Sportsback E-tron vehicle was parked at my house. When I went to start it the engine did nothing, no power. The message “Driver System Fault” and a red triangle with a red ! in the middle was displayed on the instrument panel. I was unable to start or operate the vehicle. I called AAA and they towed the vehicle to a Recharge Hybrid pump location near my house. I tired to charge the battery and it would just turn off. Then I called AAA again and they towed my car back to my house and checked the small 12 volt battery to see if that was the problem, they determined that the 12 volt battery still had 75% life in it. They were unable to get my vehicle started. The same message is still on the dashboard “Driver System Fault." The failure mileage is approximately 81,567. I want to know before I call the Dealer and get it towed again if this issue is the Hybrid High-Voltage Battery or the housing bonded seam could have lead to corrosion the service recall from a while ago. Service Action Code 93D2

ODI #11686827

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 09/12/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power. During the failure, the message “Driver System Fault” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was unable to restart or operate the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Hybrid battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

ODI #11683973

AIR BAGS — Filed 08/05/2025

Passenger airbag not activated when passenger is seated

ODI #11680876

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/15/2025

Passenger Occupancy Detection System is malfunctioning. Pre-sense system fault

ODI #11674377

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 04/23/2025

The rearview camera is failed. Yes I can have an inspection done. Yes, dealer confirmed that camera is failed but wanted hundreds of dollars to troubleshoot. Has not been inspected by police or insurance. No it just stopped working one day.

ODI #11666478

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 08/01/2024

The rear wiper hose is consistently getting completely clogged so that no fluid comes out when the spray mechanism is engaged. The dealership has replaced it for a fee two or three times. At the last service they told us they cleaned it and did not charge a fee. However, within two months it was clogged again. I have noticed that the issue is more likely to occur after (intentionally or accidentally) using the rear window defroster. I am therefore wondering whether the hose is made of a plastic that is too soft, causing it to change shape as a response to the defroster heat.

ODI #11653834

POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/10/2025

Mechatronics unit failed, stalled on freeway nearly caused an accident behind me.

About This Data

Complaints are filed by vehicle owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They represent individual consumer experiences and do not necessarily indicate a widespread defect.

View on NHTSA.gov