RoadVitals

2016 Audi A3 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jul 21, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 81 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Audi A3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsEngine
Filed Jul 21, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID
11751789
Incident
Jul 21, 2026
Mileage
44,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 31, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID
11622918
Incident
Sep 23, 2024
Mileage
92,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 8, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID
11607390
Incident
Aug 8, 2024
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 1, 2024

The suction jet pump inside the fuel tank is designed to purge fuel from the Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) system. This mechanism could leak and cause a fire. I have informed Audi about the issue but they indicated there isn't a fix for the repair currently. They even stated there isn't a deadline or date they could give me for the repair.

NHTSA ID
11605800
Incident
Jun 7, 2024
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID
11582005
Incident
Apr 5, 2024
Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID
11501654
Incident
Dec 2, 2022
AirbagsEngine
Filed Jul 12, 2022

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID
11473610
Incident
Jul 12, 2022
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the oil light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and oil was added to the engine. The contact stated that vehicle was still consuming oil. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.

NHTSA ID
11461571
Incident
Apr 11, 2022
Mileage
77,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 20, 2021
Crash reported

I have filed multiple complaints with you all regarding my concern for safety and anxiety each time I get behind the wheel of my car. I contacted Audi, National, local dealer and no help with National safety recall. My car has been presenting random electrical concerns. It has shown numerous check engine lights telling me to shut engine down immediately, my AC will shut off, my speed declines at times and becomes almost as if I’m losing control of the car. It has done this at a stop and also on the highway going 75. I have had to pullover many times. I am so scared something is going to happen. I took to Audi after calling numerous times about recall and how the electrical has got to be a part of this National recall and they stated “ yes, that’s cannot be ruled out “ but they would not fix under recall more could they fix anything with the National recall they’ve had for years! They have stopped making all A 3’s and pulled them all off the lots! This is huge and tells me it is VERY serious and something has to be done!!! I recently got my car back from a collision center from driving to see a patient going 75 in the fast lane when we feel the car shaking out of control, I’ve lost control of the vehicle and we are in the far left lane with nowhere to go but into a 18wheeler! We had nowhere safe to go! It happened so fast that I’m screaming snd praying God please take the wheel!! My tire tread completely separated from my right rear side and caused about 6feet of tread whipping the car underneath and along the passenger side doors, windows etc… it was horrific and I’m terrified to drive!! My daughter was in the passenger seat and the air bag was not working when we were able to come to a stop on the shoulder! We had to be towed and tread was everywhere! I didn’t know at that time what happened! I thought it was a blowout, it was the tread came completely off the rubber! We almost flipped! My fear!!! We could’ve died - I cannot wait for next time!!

NHTSA ID
11433557
Incident
Aug 30, 2021
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Mar 31, 2021

AUDI A3 QUATTRO 2016 MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) CAME ON WHILST DRIVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE THE VERSION OF THE ECM IN MY VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND MAY BE RELATED TO "SAFETY RECALL 24DF": HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2017/RCONL-17V508-5502.PDF HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2017/RCAK-17V508-2021.PDF CROSS REFERENCING "APPLICATION FOR EMISSIONS CERTIFICATION 2016 MODEL YEAR" "TEST GROUP: GVGAV02.0APA", IN PARTICULAR PAGE 79 FOR MY ENGINE CODE "CNTC" WHICH LISTS SOFTWARE ID "5G0906259L": HTTPS://IASPUB.EPA.GOV/OTAQPUB/DISPLAY_FILE.JSP?DOCID=43249&FLAG=1 THE ECU PART NUMBER WAS SUPERSEDED WITHOUT BEING PROPERLY RELEASED FOR EDIR OR CAL ID AND CVN INFORMATION. PLEASE NOTE THE DIFFERENCE IN PART NUMBER SUFFIX. "B" VS "L". I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CAR IS CURRENTLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND NEEDS REPAIRING. BELOW IS OUTPUT FROM VCDS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL SHOWING THE FAULT AND ECU SOFTWARE ID "5G0 906 259 D" 0001 (FULL OUTPUT CAN BE PROVIDED): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDRESS 01: ENGINE (J623-CNTC) LABELS:. 06K-907-425-V1.CLB PART NO SW: 5G0 906 259 D HW: 06K 907 425 B COMPONENT: 2.0L R4 TFSI H13 0001 REVISION: --H13--- CODING: 0A1D00124426000F2000 SHOP #: WSC 06385 790 00016 ASAM DATASET: EV_ECM20TFS0205G0906259D 001002 ROD: EV_ECM20TFS0205G0906259D.ROD VCID: 2F3B1884879B11D3269-807A 1 FAULT FOUND: 15059 - FUEL RAIL/SYSTEM PRESSURE P0087 00 [104] - TOO LOW INTERMITTENT - CONFIRMED - TESTED SINCE MEMORY CLEAR FREEZE FRAME: FAULT STATUS: 00000001 FAULT PRIORITY: 2 FAULT FREQUENCY: 2 MILEAGE: 119924 KM DATE: 2021.03.17 TIME: 12:39:23

NHTSA ID
11405759
Incident
Mar 17, 2021
Mileage
74,517 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2021

TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL RUMBLING SOUND WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY START-UP. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE, THE NOZZLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY CLICK OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER REEVES AUDI LOCATED AT 105 E FOWLER AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 16V647000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,093.

NHTSA ID
11405299
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
45,093 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 21, 2020

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CUTS ON WITH OVERHEATING AND EPS ERROR WHEN STARTING CAR SOMETIMES. WHEN YOU SHUT OFF CAR IT CUTS OFF AND RETURNS TO NORMAL. IT STARTED LAST YEAR AND HAS CONTINUED, I WAS TOLD IT MAY BE A SENSOR SHORTAGE.

NHTSA ID
11365628
Incident
Oct 27, 2018
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2020
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, HE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL IN HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PARKED HIS VEHICLE IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND OPENED THE HOOD WHEN FLUIDS BUBBLING WHERE COMING FROM ONE OF THE COOLANT RESERVOIRS AND THE BURNING ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER AUDI BOISE (8400 W FRANKLIN RD #1, BOISE, ID 83709 208-377-5400) SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE TOWED WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NO FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500.

NHTSA ID
11331785
Incident
May 29, 2020
Mileage
19,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .