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Audi A3 CabrioletModel year report

2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems

Compared with other Audi A3 Cabriolet years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2017

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
36filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
28,000miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
28 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet. The part named most often is air bags, with 15 complaints (42% of the total), followed by fuel system (8) and engine (6). 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 71% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 28,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 536 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the occupant classification and 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Audi A3 Cabriolet model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “We received two safety recalls from Audi: NHTSA recall #16v647 and #16v642. We were informed by Audi that the service would have to be completed by an authorized Audi dealer. The closest Audi dealer is in honolulu, which would require us to ship our car from maui. Given this was an Audi recall, it was my expectation that they would either pay the costs or authorize the work to be done on maui by the vw dealer, which is one of Audi's sister companies. Neither recall has been completed as of today. …”

NHTSA complaint #10984399, filed 2017-05, 17,215 miles

Fuel system: “Twice I have experienced the random loss of power. The first time occurred on a local street, driving approximately 40 MPH, and all of a sudden the vehicle stuttered and lost power. It appeared as if the vehicle was slowing down, not even coasting but slowing down considerably. I was required to pull onto a side road. I restarted the car and the issue disappeared. The second time occurred on the highway driving in the left lane at approximately 70 MPH. Same issue, car stuttered and then loss power. The car's speed slowed considerable fast, from 70 to 30 in apprximately 5-7 seconds. …”

NHTSA complaint #11067212, filed 2018-02, 15,500 miles

Engine: “Driving 50-60 MPH on the fwy when all of a sudden the car started to jerk/stutter and then it lost speed. The jerking is similar to a new driver learning how to drive a manual transmission where you're thrown fwd and back somewhat violently. As I tried to accelerate back to fwy speed, it wouldn't accelerate. It kept slowing down instead. No cel illuminated. I decided to exit and pulled into a parking lot.”

NHTSA complaint #11000378, filed 2017-06, 19,878 miles

Electrical system: “The contact owned a 2016 Audi a3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was informed that the vehicle caught on fire. It was unknown how the fire was extinguished. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10948733, filed 2017-01, 45,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

71% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,500 and 55,000 miles.

21%0–1029%10–2521%25–5017%50–754%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 28,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

201620178201820192021202220232024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
A3 Cabriolet FWD1.8L 4-cyl6-speed automatic243528$2,400
A3 Cabriolet quattro AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic233226$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 536 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 536 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi A3 Cabriolet

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20181234,0505—28—Not enough data
20172540,0003—2819 · FewerFalling
20163628,0003—2850 · TypicalFalling
20158733,0005—2888 · MoreFalling

All Audi A3 Cabriolet model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet have?

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 15 complaints (42% of the total), followed by fuel system with 8.

Has the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet (A3 Cabriolet, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 24 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Audi A3 Cabriolet reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 28,000 miles and the middle half falls between 15,500 and 55,000 miles; 71% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.