2016 Audi A3 airbag problems
51 of the 119 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi A3 name the airbags (NHTSA’s “Air Bags” heading — airbags, their sensors and warning lights). Filed under the same heading: 3 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the airbags
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 51 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 17 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 1
Half of the 15 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the airbag problem between 32,000 and 55,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
119 complaints in all about the 2016 Audi A3, 1 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Air Bags” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Audi A3 airbag problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the airbags. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
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 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 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 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 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.
What is on file about the airbags
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 22V543000 CriticalJul 27, 2022 · 1,216 vehicles
- 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.
- 21V198000 HighMar 22, 2021 · 153,152 vehicles
- 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.
- 19V474000 HighJun 19, 2019 · 138,896 vehicles
- 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.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre airbag problems common on the 2016 Audi A3?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the airbags on this model year (43% of everything owners filed about it), and 3 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the airbags on the 2016 Audi A3?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 22V543000, 21V198000, 19V474000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do airbag problems show up on the 2016 Audi A3?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 42,000 miles; half of them between 32,000 and 55,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Air Bags" heading cover?
Airbags, their sensors and warning lights. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.