Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Audi S3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags11
- Seats4
- Unknown or other2
- Seat belts1
- Engine1
- Back over prevention1
- Visibility/wiper1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 Audi S3 failed the safety check 1.59% of the time — 19% less often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 70,675 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
8,286 new Audi S3 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (4,657), Germany (2,460), Italy (305).
- Average mass
- 1,546 kg
- Average power
- 221 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2016 Audi S3 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (221 kW, 296 hp) and 2.0 petrol (228 kW, 306 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 221 kW 296 hp | 114 |
| 2.0 petrol | 228 kW 306 hp | 66 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
189 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 89% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €63,627.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde94
- Band onvoldoende profiel54
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm41
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld32
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage25
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen14
- Band beschadigd12
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse11
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3,953 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 108 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
46 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 138,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
117 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 76% arrived as used imports, 22% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; 1 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Audi S3 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.9 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 9.0 L/100 km (about 26 mpg US), CO₂ 211 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 quattro · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 10.1 | 7.7 | 9.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 Audi S3.
| 2022403 27 Jul 2022 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger-front airbag inflator could rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash. If this happens, the airbag may not inflate … |
| 2021169 22 Mar 2021 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may not work properly. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger… |
| 2019308 19 Jun 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a loose wiring connection for the passenger occupant detection system (PODS). This could cause the airbag system to… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2016 Audi S3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011310 | This TSB provides information when the message "High beam assist and/or traffic sign recognition currently unavailable - camera view restricted due to surroundings". |
| 11011303 | This bulletin provides information when the anti-theft alarm activates for no reason, or when the anti-theft alarm does not activate. |
| 11011296 | This bulletin provides service-info relating to lithium-ion high-voltage batteries; determining energy content. |
| 11011285 | This TSB Provides information when parking assistance provides false warnings. |
| 11011282 | This bulletin provides information when speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is noted. |
| 11011263 | This bulletin provides information regarding cleaning exterior glass. |
| 11011241 | This bulletin provides information when the engine warning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster, and the vehicle has reduced power. DTCs P256300, P056E00, P00AF00. |
| 11011240 | This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool |
| 11009983 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11009941 | This bulletin provides diagnostic information regarding the locking system. |
| 11009928 | This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds. |
| 11009375 | This bulletin provides information pertaining to the GFF test plan required for A/C compressore replacements, regardless of the concern. |
| 11009365 | This bulletin provides information when there is visible corrosion at the joint between the roof and roof side member. |
| 11009362 | This bulletin provides information when there is a prompt to take over steering; hands off detection. |
| 11009361 | This bulletin provides information regarding steering wheel visual damage. |
| 11009356 | This bulletin provides informaion regarding zirconium inserts in the bake piston for vehicle equipped with ceramic brakes. |
| 11009355 | This bulletin provides information when there are rattling/grindingn oises from the front end/brake system. |
| 11009354 | This bulletin provides information on frequency analysis. |
| 11009351 | This bulletin provides information regarding the general approach to brakes rubbing. |
| 11009348 | This bulleitn provides information when there is an implausible signal in the ABS/ESC speed sensor. |
| 11009347 | This bulletin provides information when there are vibrations and rotational steering wheel vibrations. |
| 11009327 | This bulletin provides information when ther is an Engine: start/stop system fault shown and start/stop system not is working; mileage below 50 km/32 miles. |
| 11009318 | This bulletin provides information when the engine warning lamp lights up in the instrument cluster, and the vehicle has reduced power. DTCs P256300, P056E00, P00AF00. |
| 11009313 | This bulletin provides guidance in order to provid informaiton regarding preparatoin when calling the Audi Technical Assistnce Center (TAC). |
| 11009312 | This bulletin provides informationw hen there are car was brush bristles trapped in the seam between the headlight and fender. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation