2016 Audi S3 problems and recalls

79% of owner complaints on the 2016 Audi S3 related to the Air Bags (11 of 14).

14
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Injuries
53.5
Severity index

Severity index 53.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 11 complaints (78.6%)11 79%SeatsSeats: 4 complaints (28.6%)4 29%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 2 complaints (14.3%)2 14%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 1 complaints (7.1%)1 7%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 1 complaints (7.1%)1 7%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 1 complaints (7.1%)1 7%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 1 complaints (7.1%)1 7%EngineEngine: 1 complaints (7.1%)1 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS1178.6%
SEATS428.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER214.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER17.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM17.1%
BACK OVER PREVENTION17.1%
SEAT BELTS17.1%
ENGINE17.1%

Complaints filed per year

0472019: 12020: 72021: 22023: 12024: 12026: 2 (partial year)1920721232426
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20191
20207
20212
20231
20241
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2021 to 2024 ran 0.5x those in 2019 to 2020 (4 against 8).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V47400019/06/2019AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONVolkswagen 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
21V19800022/03/2021AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERVolkswagen 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
22V54300027/07/2022AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEVolkswagen 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

Other Audi S3 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 2 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.