2016 Audi S3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
89/100
#2 most-complained of 10 S3 years
The 2016 Audi S3 ranks 2nd worst of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 89 and 14 NHTSA complaints, 79% involving airbags. Three recalls target the front-passenger airbag and PODS sensor, making this year one to avoid relative to other S3 years.
- Complaints
- 14
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 26
- 23 city / 31 hwy
Top 2016 Audi S3 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags11 (79%)
- Structure & Body4 (29%)
- Other2 (14%)
- Engine1 (7%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (7%)
- Fuel System1 (7%)
- Seat Belts1 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (7%)
What owners report
- Front passenger airbag warning light toggles on and off while a passenger is seated in the seat.
- Owners report the issue recurring even after a recall repair was completed on the front airbag system.
- An Audi pre-sense system fault message appears alongside the airbag toggling problem.
- The engine reportedly shuts off completely at slow speeds shortly after starting, forcing the driver to put the car in park before restarting.
- Passenger seat occupant sensors fail to detect a passenger, preventing the airbag from being armed even after sensor replacement under warranty.
2016 Audi S3 recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V543000Jul 27, 2022Airbags1,216 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
- NHTSA 21V198000Mar 22, 2021Airbags153,152 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
- 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.
2016 Audi S3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 31 MPG
- Combined
- 26 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,050
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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 S3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Audi S3 reliable?
- Among the 10 model years with data, the 2016 S3 ranks 2nd worst, with a complaint index of 89 and 14 NHTSA complaints, most tied to airbags.
- Does the 2016 Audi S3 have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2016 S3, all involving airbags, including replacement of the front-passenger air bag module and the PODS sensor mat.
- What is the main problem with the 2016 Audi S3?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 79% of complaints (11 of 14), with a median mileage at failure of 38,000 miles.
- How does the 2016 Audi S3 compare to other years?
- The 2016 model's complaint index of 89 is worse than 2017 (78), 2018 (56), and 2019 (33), but better than 2015, which has the highest index at 100.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Audi S3?
- The EPA rates the 2016 Audi S3 at 26 mpg combined (23 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050.