Audi · S3 · 2016
3
Recalls
14
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2016 Audi S3 has 3 recalls and 14 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: air bags (6 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2016 Audi S3 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is air bags with 6 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
10.9% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
Sunroof Exploded while driving
N/A
Received notice for safety recall to have PODs system repaired or replaced free of charge by Audi. Took my vehicle in for the recall. Audi wanted to charge me to complete this safety recall and refused to complete the recall if I didn't pay. This was bluegrass motorsports in Loui...
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1. PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS BEEN OFF FOR 2 WEEKS. 2. oN THE iNFORMATION SCREEN THERE HAS BEEN A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION EVER SINCE. 3. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN FOR REPAIR TO DEALERSHIP FOR 3 TIMES AND THE ISSUE KEEPS COMING BACK.
Where do I start? We have taken this car into the Audi dealership four times due to the engine. Overheating and being almost stranded in the middle of nowhere with it because oil was needing to be added to the engine all the time and after charging us hundreds and hundreds of dol...
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POD WHICH CONTROLS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG
AFTER BRINGING IN MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF A NECESSARY RECALL REPAIR THAT WOULD PREVENT POTENTIAL PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILURE. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR, ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY ISSUES PRIOR. HOWEVER ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE REPAIR, I BEGAN TO RECEIV...
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CAR HAD NO ISSUES PRIOR TO RECALL 69Z4. AFTER AUDI DEALERSHIP PERFORMED WORK TO SATISFY RECALL 69Z4 (NHTSA 19V474), THE AFFECTED SYSTEM (PODS) NOW DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THIS RENDERS THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG INOPERABLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS OCCUPIED. AUDI WILL NOT COVER...
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PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY YET THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED. SEAT WONT DETECT PASSENGER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG WONT DEPLOY BECAUSE OF IT. AUDI SAYS THE WHOLE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IS A WEAR AND TEAR PART, WHICH IT IS NOT! THE NHSTSA MUST...
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VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL FOR THE 2017-2018 AUDI A3, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THE CAR STARTS NORMALLY, SHIFTS INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) ACCELERATES NORMALLY, BEFORE THE ENGINE DIES (RPM GAUGE DROPS TO 0). T...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 14 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2016 Audi models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2016 Audi S3 has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 14 owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Audi S3.
The 2016 Audi S3 received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2016 Audi S3 are air bags (6 reports), air bags,seats (2 reports), air bags,seat belts,seats (1 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2016 Audi S3. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.