The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated, and the State In…
2016 audi A3 airbags problems
moderate 45 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100
Complaints
45
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$1,100
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS PERMANENTLY DISABLE, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED ON IT- IT APPEARS THE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT DOES IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS CRITICAL MALFUNCTION AS THE PASSENGER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED IN A COLLISION CASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE SEATBELT LIGHT COMES ON TO FASTEN SEATBELT EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SAT ON THAT SEAT AND WON'T GO AWAY UNTIL THE BELT IS FASTEN. I HAVE BEEN …
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, IT BEEPS A WARNING, THE MESSAGE 'AUDI PRE SENSE SYSTEM FAULT' AND THE 'PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF' LIGHT IS ON WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. THIS IS INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER HAS STATED THAT THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE WARNINGS ARE VISIBLE WHILE PARKED (STATIONARY) AND WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION) AND ALSO THE …
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 sa…
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 h…
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2016 audi A3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 45 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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