CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2016 Audi Q3

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

28

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Audi Q3 have filed 28 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2016 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 10 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 25,000 miles, the median across the 13 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

19V385000 · May 23, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Audi Q3 vehicles equipped with LED headlights. An inoperable front turn signal may not illuminate an indicator, failing to alert the driver to the issue. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
Without an indicator informing the driver of an inoperable turn signal, the driver may turn or change lanes without a signal, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module (BCM), free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97DK.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 23,241 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

17V400000 · June 26, 2017

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Audi Q3 vehicles. If the parking brake is used during emergency braking, the brake lights on the vehicle will not activate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 24,754 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

16V642000 · September 6, 2016

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 TT roadster, A3 cabriolet, A3 sedan and A3 e-tron, 2016-2017 TT coupe, 2017 A4 sedan and Q7 and 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97CB.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 79,895 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 28.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10 36%
ENGINE 7 25%
AIR BAGS 3 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 11%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 7%
STEERING 2 7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 4%
SEAT BELTS 1 4%
SEATS 1 4%
STRUCTURE 1 4%
SUSPENSION 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2021 at 6.

2016 2021 2026
2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 77,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED FIRE/SMOKE FROM THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS THE START OF A FIRE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE MMI SCREEN. THE CONNECTION FOR PHONE GOT CHOPPY BUT DID NOT GO OUT COMPLETELY.

NHTSA complaint 11270088. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash · 20 miles

BACKUP CAMERA AND ALARM SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE RESULTING IN BACK-UP COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR, NO PERSONAL INJURIES. OWNER WAS NOT WARNED ABOUT DELAYS IN CAMERA/ALARM ACTIVATION AT DEALER ORIENTATION. OWNERS MANUAL PROVIDES NO SUCH WARNINGS. P 87 OF MANUAL, LAST ITEM UNDER "INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM" MENTIONS POSSIBLE DELAY IN CAMERA ACTIVATION. NO WARNING AT ALL ABOUT DELAY IN BACKUP ALARM ACTIVATION. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT PARKING LOT EXIT GATE. DRIVER LOOKED OVER SHOULDER AND IN MIRRORS, SAW NOTHING, ENGAGED REVERSE, SAW BLANK SCREEN, NO WARNING ALARM, BACKED INTO ANOTHER CAR WHICH WAS BELOW VISIBILITY BUT DIRECTLY IN RANGE OF BACKUP CAMERA AND ALARM, WHICH ACTIVATED ON IMPACT. DEALER

NHTSA complaint 10938916, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 49,500 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI Q3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY AND WOULD CONSTANTLY DECELERATE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES OFTEN. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI DOMINION (21105 I-10, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78257, (888) 478-2089) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. DURING THE THIRD REPAIR, THE DEALER BROKE ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. SINCE THEN, THE FAILURES RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER

NHTSA complaint 11184933, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The engine oil consumption rate is alarming going thru quarts or entire oil change in a week or two of driving depending how much it was driven. Audi has admitted the pistons are at fault along with piston rings. It is unsafe and can cause engine to seize up and lose control which can lead to dangerous situations or accidents. I was never informed with a class action settlement from Audi. I have lived at the same address for 21 years. I never received a letter from Audi of the class action settlement due to oil consumption.

NHTSA complaint 11745833. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this communication to you per an attorney referral. I have an Audi that was included in the Turbo Class Action Lawsuit. See [XXX] My VIN was included in the lawsuit. The lawsuit was won on December 4th 2025. The class action lawsuit only covers and reimburses consumers who had paid out of pocket (prior to a certain date) expenses incurred fixing the Turbo. I have a letter from a Master Mechanic who is saying my engine problems are due to the turbo being bad however, I have not had the issue fixed. The class action lawsuit does not cover consumers who have not had the Turbo fixed or replaced. Please advise on what I should do or refer me to the

NHTSA complaint 11718686, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle emits a smell of fuel into the cabin of the car, and if the windows are up, this makes the driver sleepy and could cause a crash. It does not read fuel levels properly. The car has been taken to Butler, who said they could not find a problem. It was then taken to Audi Agusta (Gerald Jones), they replaced a fuel line that had to be correctly tigheted by another servicer Autobahn Automotive in Augusta Ga. That all happened in October and November of 2025. It is December 2025 with the same issue and no correction at this point.

NHTSA complaint 11703719. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
In 4/2024 car wouldn’t start. Took to Audi for new battery and was told Water pump failed so it was replaced with delays. In 3/2025 noticed no heat and car took a long time to warm up. Took back to dealership replaced thermostat. Still no heat so I was told ok to drive but need to flush heater core to fix heat issue for $3500. Started my car on 8/14/2025 had multiple lights come on dash (lights, brake, TPMs, epc, and brake fluid) so I turned off. Took to mechanic for inspection told something strange different codes instructed to take to dealer. On 10/8/2025 took back to Audi for evaluation and first they stated my fuse box panel was slightly melted couldn’t code read. Ordered part, 2

NHTSA complaint 11693736, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Owned car for 4 years. Car has a panoramic sunroof in two sections. rear section is glass and does not move. Front section is glass and does actuate. On [XXX]. All was fine. Driving on smooth highway, [XXX (at XXX]. No other vehicles within site behind or in front around me). Sunroof was 100% closed the entire trip. Suddenly my front (moveable segment) of the sunroof literally exploded, raining glass all over me. I maintained control of the vehicle and arrived at work 20 min later. Was able to take photos when the sun came up. No apparent cause. I found no other debris in the car except the glass. No vehicles were around me at the time. Temperature was high 50s that morning. INFORMATION

NHTSA complaint 11655074, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Had pistons and rings replaced by Audi dealership. After repairs were completed my car was burning through excessive amounts of oil. The engine seized while I was driving on highway. A replacement engine was installed after that by Audi. Now have clusters lights on dash after picking up car from the dealership. My car was not listed in class action lawsuit. I want to know why? When all of the repairs were what was in the lawsuit.

NHTSA complaint 11640285. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi Q3

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 17 2
2022 32 5
2021 14 2
2020 64 2
2019 10 3
2018 26 1
2015 22 2

Other 2016 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 147 vehicles, 216 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst