← All vehicles

2016 Audi S3: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Ratings

3Safety recalls
14Owner complaints
5★NHTSA overall
Quick answer

The 2016 Audi S3 has 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns and 14 owner complaints on file, with an overall 5-star NHTSA crash-test rating. Check a specific VIN to confirm whether recalls apply, whether repairs were completed, and what to verify before you buy.

2016 Audi S3 safety record graphic showing 3 recalls, 14 owner complaints and 5-star overall NHTSA rating.
Check the exact car

Run a full report for this S3

2016 Audi S3 pages show model-level safety data. A Carchieve VIN report checks the exact car before you buy.

Safety record reviewed June 2026 · sourced from NHTSA

The 2016 Audi S3 has 3 safety recall campaigns and 14 owner complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it earned an overall 5-star NHTSA crash-test rating. Below is the public model-level safety record. To see whether a specific S3 had applicable recalls repaired and what its decoded VIN says, run that car's VIN.

Safety recalls

1

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Campaign 19V474000 · 19/06/2019

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.

RiskA deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
RemedyAudi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
2

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Campaign 21V198000 · 22/03/2021

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.

RiskA deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
RemedyDealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
3

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign 22V543000 · 27/07/2022

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.

RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
RemedyDealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.

What owners complain about

The systems 2016 Audi S3 owners report most often to federal regulators:

Air Bags11
Seats4
Unknown Or Other2
Visibility1
Wiper1
Fuel1

NHTSA crash-test ratings

Frontal crash★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Overall★★★★★

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Audi S3 have any recalls?

Yes. The 2016 Audi S3 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns associated with this model year. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer when the exact VIN is affected. Check your specific VIN to confirm applicability and completion.

What problems do 2016 Audi S3 owners report?

Owners have filed 14 complaints with the NHTSA for the 2016 Audi S3, most often about the air bags, seats, unknown or other.

How do I check a specific S3's history?

Enter the 17-character VIN into Carchieve. You get the recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings shown here for that exact vehicle, plus full decoded specifications and a guided title and odometer check.

Check a specific 2016 Audi S3

This page covers the model. For one exact car, run its 17-character VIN to confirm recalls, decoded specifications and buyer checks.

Get Full Report