Audi A3 2016 — Problemas relatados

My 2016 Audi A3 (VIN [XXX]) underwent Safety Recall 69BY on XXX, to correct a defect in the front passenger occupant detection system (PODS), including replacement of the occupant detection sensor. Less than two years later, the same safety-system malfunction returned. The vehicle intermittently displays "Safety system: system fault," "Audi pre sense: system fault," and "Passenger airbag off." These warnings appear unpredictably and sometimes clear temporarily before returning. This malfunction creates a serious safety risk because the vehicle may fail to recognize a front-seat passenger and disable the passenger airbag during a collision. We cannot safely use the front passenger seat. On XXX, at 74,151 miles, Audi Marin diagnosed the malfunction and documented fault codes B102202, B102229, and B12251B. The dealership confirmed that diagnostic testing continued to indicate a faulty passenger occupant sensor (G128) and recommended replacement. Audi Marin's service manager informed us that Audi has redesigned the replacement component, but the updated part is on an extended backorder from [XXX]. The dealership cannot currently complete the repair. Audi of America acknowledged the prior recall repair but referred repair coverage decisions to the dealership, citing the expired warranty. The vehicle remains unrepaired and is available for inspection. I request that NHTSA investigate whether the remedy installed under Safety Recall 69BY is failing prematurely, allowing the original passenger airbag safety defect to recur. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving my vehicle on the [XXX] like normal and suddenly my car stopped accelerating at 70 MPH and displayed a message stating to stop vehicle, transmission malfunction. There were 2 cars that almost hit me while I was trying to get over to the side of the road due to the car barely having any power. The car also displayed a checked engine light and an eps warning. This all happened within one minute. I towed It to Rocco European garage in [XXX] where It was concluded that solenoid shift for the transmission has failed and is stuck. I was told that now the car isn’t technically drivable any longer distance and should have It towed again until it’s fixed to prevent further damage. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side air bag occupant sensor failed to identify a passenger seat in the seat. A dealer was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that PODS had failed and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V474000 (AIR BAGS); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.

Electrical problems and fuel leak

This vehicle was involved in a rear end collision in late 2025. The vehicle was just sold at auction with a clean title even though it has frame damage that is more than 100% of the cost of this vehicle. It is sold with a clean title and I am worried that a used car dealership will try to sell it with no accident history and clean title to an unsuspecting person.

FUEL LEAKED ALL MY GARAGE ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE IN MY HOME WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL TANK REPLACED 3 TIMES. AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE IT REPLACED BECAUSE AUDI WOULD NOT REPLACE THE RECALL OF IT SO I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU SO YOU CAN REACH OUT TO AUDI ABOUT NOT STANDING BY THE RECALL PROCEDURE!

My 2016 Audi A3 Sportsback E-tron vehicle was parked at my house. When I went to start it the engine did nothing, no power. The message “Driver System Fault” and a red triangle with a red ! in the middle was displayed on the instrument panel. I was unable to start or operate the vehicle. I called AAA and they towed the vehicle to a Recharge Hybrid pump location near my house. I tired to charge the battery and it would just turn off. Then I called AAA again and they towed my car back to my house and checked the small 12 volt battery to see if that was the problem, they determined that the 12 volt battery still had 75% life in it. They were unable to get my vehicle started. The same message is still on the dashboard “Driver System Fault." The failure mileage is approximately 81,567. I want to know before I call the Dealer and get it towed again if this issue is the Hybrid High-Voltage Battery or the housing bonded seam could have lead to corrosion the service recall from a while ago. Service Action Code 93D2

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power. During the failure, the message “Driver System Fault” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was unable to restart or operate the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Hybrid battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

Passenger airbag not activated when passenger is seated

Passenger Occupancy Detection System is malfunctioning. Pre-sense system fault

The rearview camera is failed. Yes I can have an inspection done. Yes, dealer confirmed that camera is failed but wanted hundreds of dollars to troubleshoot. Has not been inspected by police or insurance. No it just stopped working one day.

The rear wiper hose is consistently getting completely clogged so that no fluid comes out when the spray mechanism is engaged. The dealership has replaced it for a fee two or three times. At the last service they told us they cleaned it and did not charge a fee. However, within two months it was clogged again. I have noticed that the issue is more likely to occur after (intentionally or accidentally) using the rear window defroster. I am therefore wondering whether the hose is made of a plastic that is too soft, causing it to change shape as a response to the defroster heat.

Mechatronics unit failed, stalled on freeway nearly caused an accident behind me.

Passenger air bag not working light of airbag system stays on

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The air bag warning was illuminated approximately one and a half years later. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who informed the contact that the repair was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a claim was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

The **mechatronic unit** (integrated into the S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission) is the primary component that fails. This unit controls gear shifts, clutch engagement, and hydraulic pressure within the transmission. Common failure points include: - Internal electronic control module (ECU) faults. - Malfunctioning solenoids or pressure valves. - Software glitches or calibration errors. **2. Safety Risks** Mechatronic failure poses significant safety risks: - **Erratic Gear Shifts**: Sudden jerks, delayed engagement, or refusal to shift gears could lead to loss of vehicle control, especially in traffic or during overtaking . - **Limp Mode**: The transmission may default to a single gear (e.g., 3rd gear), severely limiting acceleration and braking responsiveness . - **Complete Gear Loss**: Loss of reverse or multiple forward gears increases collision risks during parking or low-speed maneuvers . --- **3. Confirmation by Dealers/Service Centers** Dealers and independent specialists can reproduce and confirm the issue through: - **Diagnostic Scans**: Fault codes like "implausible gear ratio," "valve electrical faults," or "clutch adaptation limits" often indicate mechatronic failure . - **Physical Testing**: Symptoms such as harsh shifting, RPM fluctuations, or transmission warnings (e.g., flashing PRNDS lights) are observable during test drives . - Audi has issued **Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)** for related transmission issues, though the 2016 A3 e-tron’s mechatronic unit isn’t part of a formal recall.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the Electronic Power Control System (EPC light) malfunctioned, and the vehicle lost power. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power, the temperature gauge raised with the radiator fan activated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle restarted immediately. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The check engine warning light and the electronic power control system warning light was illuminating on and off. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle hesitated while starting. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure persisted before starting. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was an engine misfire and a leak in the fuel pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V647000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

225/45r17 Dry rot on all four tires less than three years old - and actually used for fewer than 18 months as alternated with winter tires - crack runs entire circumference of tire - deep - at joining of sidewall to tread. Nokian has said that this is “cosmetic sidewall cracking” - there is nothing cosmetic about it and each tire dealer I have visited reports that the tires are unsafe and need to be replaced. This is also supposedly a known issue that Nokia has acknowledged but not provided any extra coverage for.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, fuel started leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering while being started. The failure occurred intermittently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact removed the EVAP hose and became aware that the hose was filled with gasoline. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The dealer confirmed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine and low oil warning lights illuminated. The contact also became aware that there was fuel leaking from the charcoal canister. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the evaporative emissions and charcoal canister needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer, where it was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, Audi Richmond (12592 Broad St., Richmond, VA 23233), where it was determined that the module connected to the sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Power Train system failed also engine light is now on How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Me and my toddler were in the vehicle when it started to jerk in bad traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the mechanic said this is a serious problem and i should be concerned. He stated i should not drive my vehicle. It was inspected by a certified mechanic. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, everything happen at one time.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at unknown speed the message, "Oil Level Sensor System Fault" was displayed. The message was display on several occasions while the contact was driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the mechanic stated that several fault codes were displayed. The mechanic informed the contact that replacing the sensor might fix the failure and the part was replaced. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to stall, and the message was displayed again. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle for the vehicle to operate as needed. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic where the failure was unknown, and the mechanic had the vehicle taken to a different mechanic. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the gear shifter had failed to shift from park when the vehicle was started. The contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be towed to the dealer. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,500.

There is a current recall for 2015-2020 Audi A3 sedan models regarding the vehicles EVAP SYSTEM, and I believe my car is experiencing that same issue but my specific vehicle isn’t listed as it is a 2016 Audi A3 Premium Plus Sportback E-tron. My engine light is illuminated and when checked, the detecting device says the warning is due to a small leak from the EVAP system in the vehicle.

EL AUTO TIENE UN OLOR FUERTE A GAS Y CUANDO ME DETUVE VOTO GASOLINA POR LA PARTE DE ATRAS EN EL LADO TRASERO DEL PASAJERO. DESPUES INTENTE HECHARLE GAS Y SE LLENA EL CUELLO DEL TANQUE HASTA DESVOLDARSE. NO PERMITE LA ENTRADA DE GAS. AUTO NO TIENE CODIGO DE FALLA. ESTOY PREOCUPADO PORQUE ESTA SITUACION PODRIA OCACIONAR UN INCENDIO. ENCONTRE UN RECALL 20Y6/20Y5 EL CUAL SE REFIERE A MI PROBLEMA. QIERO SABER SI ESTE RECALL ME APLICA. GRACIAS

Car start running loosing fuel.

I was entering the interstate and accelerating to merge with the traffic. When I reached about 70 mph the car stalled and a message appeared, transmission faulty, no reverse, safe to continue to drive. The car was drivable at a low speed and a high rpm. After having it towed to an Audi dealership, I was informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. According to the dealership, the mechatronic unit was faulty due to an unknown short in the transmission.

Cust gasoline is spilling out of the rear part of the unit. The following complaint, was escalated to AUDi USA related to recall of the suction pump, campaign number 16V647000. My vehicle was replaced or completed the recall on 2017, as requested, approximately 1 years or less of the purchase. Now my vehicle presents the same situation with only 32,000miles and Audi, may be a quotation over $5300 to repair a car that have the same behavior or symptoms that the suction pump recall, with its a safety recall. The car didn't present in the dashboard any flag of malfunction to advise of the danger situation, was in the store parking and one person point me that the car is spill gasoline. The car was moved in the trolley crane to the mechanic's shop. The mechanics, told me that Audi, is responsible for this situation because was a recall. I called to Audi Puerto Rico, and uSA and told me that the car has 7 years, and it is out of warranty. I reiterated, that is a manufactured detects and Audi will be responsible because is a safety issue and the car didn’t present any advice of .

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds and making a U-turn, the "Steering Defect; Do Not Drive" message was displayed. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The steering wheel turned in the other direction when the vehicle struck the curb. While making a left turn, the steering wheel pulled hard to the right. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

Gearshifter sensor going off. Been told this shifter issue can cause car to shift into a different gear at any given moment. Read plenty of forums reporting the same thing.

PODS system recall was fixed, but not properly, 3 months after it was "fixed" the passenger airbag is off warning comes on beeping loud and turns off and back on constantly. Super annoying and dealership won't do anything without paying a huge fee.

Backup Camera, not displaying image on dash screen. Big safety issue when parking, no visibility while backing up, viewing obstacles and parking. No the vehicle has not be inspected. No other warnings or messages prior to failure. Camera failed Friday 5/12/2023

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle drove over a massive pothole in the roadway. The contact pulled over to assess the vehicle and discovered that the front passenger’s rim had detached the vehicle. Additionally, the oil pan was punctured, causing oil to leak from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to his residence where it remained in his possession. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 63,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while refueling the vehicle, gasoline sprayed out from the fuel filler neck. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of a malfunction with the filler neck. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 8,000.

At 100,000 miles my engine lost all compression in cylinder 4 causing the vehicle to suffer a serious lack of power and become a danger to drive. Upon further research I have found that this is not uncommon for the Audi/VW 2.0 Liter TFSI (direct injected) engines. It appears that injector issues lead to either lean or rich running conditions that essentially melt the pistons and/or rings. I did have to have the engine replaced as there was no way to reliably verify whether the engine could be re-built so another engine was sourced from a salvage yard. The entire cost for the job was roughly $9,000. Again, this appears to be more common than a person should expect for an engine with such low mileage.

I had a safety issue with the gas tank not accepting gas and spilling over and out. I replaced the gas tank and vapor canister, and costly labor. My car was taken to: Palm Beach Performance RO#: 11887 1761 Latham Rd West Palm Beach, FL 33409 Tel#: 561-932-8840

I've been told by the dealer that a fix for the PODS system recall is still not available. This is after almost a year and a half of the issue being known. My car is now regularly illuminating the airbag light and beeping for the passenger to put the seat belt on even if no one is using the seat. This is becoming very annoying and I'm told there is no way to fix this.

I have been trying to get this recall fixed since December 2019. This recall are pods needed to be replaced on the passenger seat. As of today, October 21, 2022, my passenger airbag is off at all times and is unable to provide safety for my passenger. This is due to the recall. I have contacted Audi multiple times and they are unable to help. I have documentation proof for everything. This is a safety hazard for my passenger. I am too afraid to drive my car.

the light on the passenger side airbag is on all the time and a letter explaining my car had a recall to fix the issue was received back in 2020. I've been informed and also researched myself that the passenger side should not be used due to the airbag malfunctioning and being dangerous and possibly fatal. For those reasons I don't have anyone sitting in that sear and actually I don't feels safe having anyone in the back of the car. The dealerships say they do not have the parts

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated the front passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

The component failing seems to be the fuel system. It is unsafe because the vehicle shoots out fuel all over the place (which is a fire hazard) when I attempt to add fuel to the car. Even though this problem (for our vehicle) is listed on an Audi Technical Service Bulletin, they said that they have nothing to do with the problem. Audi won't inspect the problem just said I have to pay for any repairs. There were no warning lamps, etc. One day the car just starting spitting gas out and has become progressively worse as time has passed. Can only add an extreme minimum amount (about $5.00 worth or less) of fuel to the fuel tank before it shoots out all over the place. The Audi Technical Service Bulletin is uploaded below. We purchased the 2016 car about two years ago but haven't driven it much until recently.