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2016 Audi Q3

Gas
Compact Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
86 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA28
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Audi Q3 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Q3, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 28 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Q3GasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202823$3,350
Q3 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202823$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36399, 36400.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Audi Q3 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Exterior Lighting

97DK
23,241 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskWithout 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.FixAudi 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.
NHTSA campaign 19V385000reported May 23, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
○minor

Exterior Lighting

45G6
24,754 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskA vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.FixAudi 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V400000reported Jun 26, 2017Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
○minor

Electrical System

97CB
79,895 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskIf the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.FixAudi 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V642000reported Sep 6, 2016Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
28complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Electrical System10
Engine7
Unspecified3
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Air Bags3
Steering2

What owners describe

“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 ac…”Jun 23, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“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 …”Feb 18, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“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 …”Dec 8, 2025 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other Q3 model years

A

2026 Audi Q3

1 recalls · 4 complaints

A

2025 Audi Q3

1 recalls · 4 complaints

B

2024 Audi Q3

2 recalls · 18 complaints

A

2023 Audi Q3

1 recalls · 2 complaints

D

2022 Audi Q3

5 recalls · 32 complaints

B

2021 Audi Q3

2 recalls · 15 complaints

B

2020 Audi Q3

2 recalls · 64 complaints

C

2019 Audi Q3

3 recalls · 10 complaints

A

2018 Audi Q3

1 recalls · 26 complaints

B

2017 Audi Q3

3 recalls · 8 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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