2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
75/100
#2 most-complained of 5 A3 Cabriolet years
The 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet ranks 2nd worst of 5 model years, with a Complaint Index of 75 and 36 NHTSA complaints, mostly airbag-related. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other A3 Cabriolet years, with 3 recalls covering airbags, fuel system, and electrical software.
- Complaints
- 36
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 23.5 city / 33.5 hwy
Top 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags15 (42%)
- Fuel System8 (22%)
- Engine6 (17%)
- Electrical System5 (14%)
- Other3 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
- Steering1 (3%)
- Structure & Body1 (3%)
What owners report
- Some owners report the vehicle catching fire while parked, with the car later declared totaled.
- Owners describe the check engine light staying on along with an abnormal clicking noise and smoke coming from the engine.
- Tires reportedly went flat repeatedly after low-speed impacts with potholes, despite the same roads causing no prior damage.
- Owners report fuel pump failure with no clear cause identified at the time of complaint.
- Some describe the vehicle lunging or rolling forward briefly before engaging reverse gear.
- Owners report sudden jerking or stuttering at highway speed with loss of acceleration and no warning light.
2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V474000Jun 19, 2019Airbags138,896 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
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.
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 number for this recall is 69Z4.
- NHTSA 16V647000Sep 7, 2016Fuel System110,042 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 16V642000Sep 6, 2016Electrical System79,895 vehicles
Electrical system:software
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.
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 for this recall is 97CB.
2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23.5 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other A3 Cabriolet years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2016 A3 Cabriolet ranks 2nd worst among 5 model years with a Complaint Index of 75, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other years of the model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
- Airbags account for 42% of complaints (15 of 36), followed by Fuel System at 22% and Engine at 17%. Airbag issues had a median failure mileage of 28,000 miles overall for the year.
- Does the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this year: one for an airbag connector issue, one for a fuel system suction pump, and one for an electrical software update.
- How does the 2016 A3 Cabriolet compare to other years?
- The 2015 model is worse, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 87 complaints. The 2017 (index 50), 2018 (index 25), and 2019 (index 0) model years all show fewer reported problems.