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2016 Audi A3 Sportback E-TRON

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Compare all A3 Sportback E-TRON years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

1 reports
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10,000 miles · Aug 26, 2017
Visibility/wiper

AUDI ETRON SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. WHILE FUTZING WITH THE WINDOWS TRYING TO STOP THE "WOOP WOOP WOOP" AIR PRESSURE THING THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE PARTIALLY OPEN, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT OF THE CAR. SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, HAPPENED IN A SPLIT SECOND, SCARED THE BEJESUS OUT OF ME. THE ENTIRE CENTER OF THE SUN…

Read full complaint

AUDI ETRON SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. WHILE FUTZING WITH THE WINDOWS TRYING TO STOP THE "WOOP WOOP WOOP" AIR PRESSURE THING THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE PARTIALLY OPEN, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT OF THE CAR. SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, HAPPENED IN A SPLIT SECOND, SCARED THE BEJESUS OUT OF ME. THE ENTIRE CENTER OF THE SUNROOF DISAPPEARED INSTANTLY. THE DEALER SAYS TO REPLACE IT MIGHT TAKE WEEKS, AND COST THOUSANDS. APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THE GLASS ON THE ROOF, TAKE OFF THE DOORS, AND GUT THE INTERIOR ROOF. ARGH

NHTSA ODI #11019857

Official recalls

3

22V543000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jul 27, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An 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.

Remedy: Dealers 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.

21V198000 · Air BAGS:ON-OFF Switch Assembly; Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

Mar 22, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

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.

Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers 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.

Air BAGS:ON-OFF Switch Assembly

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.

Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers 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.

19V474000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 19, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Audi 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.