YearToAvoid

2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 15 of 36 complaints (42%) filed on the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet, with a median failure mileage of 38,500. Most reports involve recall campaign 19V474000 and campaign 21V198000, where owners describe parts being unavailable to complete the repair.

Airbags complaints
15
42% of 36
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
38,500 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe passenger occupant detection system (PODS) warning lights staying illuminated, indicating the passenger airbag has been deactivated.
  • Multiple contacts report being notified of the airbag recalls (campaigns 19V474000 and 21V198000) but told by dealers that replacement parts were not available.
  • Several owners say the wait for parts exceeded a reasonable repair timeframe, with some reporting no completed fix months or years after notification.
  • One owner reported the check engine light illuminating alongside an open airbag recall, with the vehicle taken to a dealer that declined repair.
  • A few contacts state they had not experienced an actual airbag failure but flagged ongoing parts unavailability for the open recall.

When 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet airbag complaints were filed

First complaint May 9, 2017, latest Jun 26, 2024.

2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2017Sep 2019Sep 2021Nov 2021Apr 2022Jul 2022Jun 2024
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2017 to Jun 2024; peak Aug 2021 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet

  1. 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.

Airbags complaints by A3 Cabriolet model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201538 (44%)
  2. 201615 (42%)
  3. 201713 (52%)
  4. 20187 (58%)
  5. 20194 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet have?
NHTSA lists 15 airbag complaints for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet, which is 42% of the 36 total complaints filed for the year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Yes. Recall campaign 19V474000, reported June 19, 2019, covers an improper electrical contact affecting the airbag connector, with Audi replacing the connector and rerouting the cable free of charge.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet is 38,500 miles.
Did the airbag issue cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this component and year shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries reported.
How does the 2016 A3 Cabriolet compare to other years for airbag complaints?
Airbag complaints made up 42% of total complaints in 2016, compared to 44% in 2015, 52% in 2017, 58% in 2018, and 100% in 2019, showing airbags remain a dominant complaint category across model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.