2016 Audi A3 Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I CONTACTED AUDI TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL ON MY CAR, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE FIX AND ASKS ME TO DRIVE IT. I DO BUSINESS ON THE CAR AND HAVE FACED LOSS OF INCOME DUE TO THE RECALL.
I have received this recall infirmation multiple times with no remedy listed. The warning lights are constantly going on and off which is unnerving not knowing whether my passenger is protected. I drive for a living. It’s affecting my livlihood.
Takata recall. 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 called the local dealer who stated the parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware if the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
THERE IS AN OPEN SAFETY RECALL ON MY CAR, THE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T HAVE THE FIX AVAILABLE. I USE MY CAR TO DRIVE FOR LYFT/UBER AND IF THE SAFETY RECALL IS NOT FIXED I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE, HENCE RISK OF LOSING MY INCOME AND WILL BE OUT OF WORK, HOWEVER, I CONTACTED AUDI TO FIX MY CAR, THEY SAID THERE IS NO FIX AVAILABLE AND I CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR, LYFT/UBER ISSUED ME A WARNING THAT EFFECTIVE MAY 1, I WILL BE UNLISTED IF THE SAFETY RECALL IS NOT FIXED.
I was recently made aware of a nationwide safety recall for all Audi A3’s 2016 to present. I received a mailer with safety concern and warning for this recall. Audi has not been able to identify the root cause and believe it is more than just the initial air bags/PODS system in the vehicle. This has been in place for some time after I researched the site checking for updates to repair. I am very concerned for my safety along with my families safety when driving my car. My car is the primary vehicle. I use my car for work daily and do not feel comfortable. I am not 100% sure on initial date Audi identified this problem, but it appears earlier this year and it was the second recall for the same issue. They have no fix at this time. I did run my VIN to determine mine being affected and it is. The campaign number on site for this is: NHTSA’s campaign number: 19V474
I WENT IN TO GET THE PODS CONNECTOR RECALL WORK DONE. BEFORE THIS WORK WAS DONE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, HOWEVER, NOW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ALWAYS OFF. THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE CONNECTOR IS A SEPARATE PROBLEM FROM THE WEIGHT SENSOR. THE PODS SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER AUDI MODELS FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM.
WHEN A PERSON OR ITEM IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THERE WILL BE AN INTERMITTENT ERROR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WILL DISABLE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT AS TIME GOES ON IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN.. I'VE CONTACTED 'AUDI CHATTANOOGA' ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAY A RECALL TO FIX SAID PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, IT BEEPS A WARNING, THE MESSAGE 'AUDI PRE SENSE SYSTEM FAULT' AND THE 'PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF' LIGHT IS ON WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. THIS IS INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER HAS STATED THAT THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE WARNINGS ARE VISIBLE WHILE PARKED (STATIONARY) AND WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION) AND ALSO THE SAME WITH THE WARNING BEEPS; WHILE PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING.
I HAD THE SEAT POD RECALL REPAIR MADE ON MY CAR AND THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE INDICATOR GOING OFF AND A NOTICE ON THE DASH OF "AUDI PRE-SENSE: SYSTEM FAULT!" NOTICE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PROBLEM OF A FAULTY AIRBAG CONNECTOR WIRE WAS NOT SOLVED BY A WIRE REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT-OCCUPIED WEIGHT SENSOR WAS PROBABLY BAD - FROM DEALER BUT NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.
2016 AUDI, CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE A REPAIR FOR RECALL 69Z4. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS
VW BOUGHT BACK MY 2016 A3 TWO YEARS AGO BUT I'M STILL RECEIVING THE RECALL INFORMATION.
I HAVE A 2016 AUDI A3 THAT HAS A CURRENT RECALL ON THE (PODS) SYSTEM AND THE DEALER AND AUDI USA TELLS ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE! I DRIVE AND PICK UP MY 15 YEAR OLD GRANDSON TO SCHOOL EACH DAY AND I AM FEAR-FULL AUDI MUST BE MADE TO COME UP WITH THE PARTS. WHAT GOOD IS A RECALL BY NHTSA IF NOTHING GETS COMPLETED??
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2016 Audi A3 has 37 Air Bags complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.