37 complaints reported

2016 Audi A3 Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
37
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The air bag warning was illuminated approximately one and a half years later. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who informed the contact that the repair was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a claim was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2023
Aug 2025

Passenger airbag not activated when passenger is seated

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2025
Aug 2025

Passenger Occupancy Detection System is malfunctioning. Pre-sense system fault

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2025
Jun 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer, where it was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, Audi Richmond (12592 Broad St., Richmond, VA 23233), where it was determined that the module connected to the sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2024
Jun 2023

PODS system recall was fixed, but not properly, 3 months after it was "fixed" the passenger airbag is off warning comes on beeping loud and turns off and back on constantly. Super annoying and dealership won't do anything without paying a huge fee.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2023
Dec 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Oct 2022

I've been told by the dealer that a fix for the PODS system recall is still not available. This is after almost a year and a half of the issue being known. My car is now regularly illuminating the airbag light and beeping for the passenger to put the seat belt on even if no one is using the seat. This is becoming very annoying and I'm told there is no way to fix this.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2022
Oct 2022

I have been trying to get this recall fixed since December 2019. This recall are pods needed to be replaced on the passenger seat. As of today, October 21, 2022, my passenger airbag is off at all times and is unable to provide safety for my passenger. This is due to the recall. I have contacted Audi multiple times and they are unable to help. I have documentation proof for everything. This is a safety hazard for my passenger. I am too afraid to drive my car.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2019
Oct 2022

the light on the passenger side airbag is on all the time and a letter explaining my car had a recall to fix the issue was received back in 2020. I've been informed and also researched myself that the passenger side should not be used due to the airbag malfunctioning and being dangerous and possibly fatal. For those reasons I don't have anyone sitting in that sear and actually I don't feels safe having anyone in the back of the car. The dealerships say they do not have the parts

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2020
Aug 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated the front passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Aug 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall repair. The contact stated that the warning message "System Failure - Replace Sensor" would illuminate and the seat belt chime reminder would engage whenever the front passenger’s seat was unoccupied and the seat belt was not buckled. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2022
Aug 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer twice for regular maintenance and was notified both times that parts for the recall were not yet available. The contact also stated that the passenger’s side air bag light had illuminated on the instrument panel. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Jul 2022

It has been over a year that I have tried to get Audi to repair my recall. The dealer Rockville Audi in Maryland will not assist me in when the repair will be completed. My indicator lite is on and the seat belt alarm activates when no one is in the passenger seat. Is there anyone that can help me with this very important issue? My cell number is [XXX] if you want to contact me directly. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2022
Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
May 2022

The passenger airbag sign switch on and off while the passenger was on the seat.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2022
Mar 2022

My car got the recall of PODS a year ago and Audi still doesn't have part availability to fix it. This impacts my driving a lot.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Mar 2022

Audi USA is incapable of repairing this defect in a timely fashion. I was informed today, after being told the parts to remedy "are on their way" for more than a month, that the parts to repair this recall are no longer produced. I want to go on record how disappointed I am with Audi USA now that I have a car that is unsafe to drive with passengers and look for avenues of recourse from a consumer's perspective.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Mar 2022

The contact and his wife own a 2016 Audi A3. The contact had received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The dealer was contacted and informed that the parts remained unavailable despite the letter that stated otherwise. The contact also stated that the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) was inactive and that the passenger air bag warning light had illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Feb 2022

Contacted the place that sold me the car Audi North Houston. Everytime I try to replace it. They say that they’re out of the part and will contact me. It has been months and it still hasn’t been replaced. I’m worried about driving an unsafe vehicle.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2022
Dec 2021

Audi has not responded to this Recall in a prompt manner. I was in the process of selling my Audi A3 but I cannot due to this. I took my car in to have this issue addressed in December 2019 and now I am learning that there is still a problem with the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) and Audi has no solution. They have known about this issue since March 2021.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Oct 2021

I was sold a vehicle with a manufacturer recall that I was ensured was no big deal and would be fixed but there isn't currently a solution for the recall on the vehicle. The recall was issued in March of 2021 and it is now September 2021. I should have not been sold a faulty vehicle especially one with no foreseeable solution to the recall.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Oct 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2021
Sep 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2021
Sep 2021

The passenger air bag keeps going off every time one of my kids is sitting in the front. I can not afford to leave that seat unoccupied since I have four children and the front seat is always occupied. There is no solution to the air bag problem.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2021
Aug 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated, and the State Inspector informed her that the vehicle would fail inspection if the recall repair was not completed. The dealer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2021

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2016 Audi A3 has 37 Air Bags complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.