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What 14 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Audi S3

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (14)Airbags (11)Seats (4)Backup camera & sensors (1)Engine (1)Fuel system (1)Seat belts (1)Visibility & wipers (1)

4 of 14 complaints match · Seats · clear filters

Apr 13, 2024AirbagsSeats

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 Louisville ky. They also damaged my vehicles door trim and stole money from my glove box(my fault for leaving money inside). Filed a complaint on the dealers website and was never reached out to. This is why safety recall remains open on my vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11582791

Jan 14, 2021AirbagsSeat beltsSeats

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 THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR TO THE SYSTEM THAT WAS PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THEIR RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AFFECTING SIMILAR A3/S3 MODEL YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11388170

Aug 11, 2020AirbagsSeats

DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING AIR BAG IS OFF EVEN WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. UNDER WARRANTY SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AND FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE $1400 DESPITE SAFETY RECALL AND INADEQUATE EFFORT MADE TO REPAIR VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. AUDI OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS APPEAR TO BE CROOKS.

NHTSA ODI 11348678

Dec 5, 2019AirbagsSeats

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AND ON WHEN WHILE DRIVING AND WITH A PASSENGER SITTING ON THE SEAT. CAR WAS REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT THE ISSUE KEEPS SHOWING AGAIN. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED RECENTLY FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11287183

Working with the data? Download all 14 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Audi S3 verdict →