The contact owns a 2016 Audi A3. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the front passenger’s seat air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The air bag warning was illuminated approximately one and a half years later. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who informed the contact that the repair was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a claim was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
2016 Audi A3: airbag warning light
8 of the 84 complaints about the 2016 Audi A3 describe airbag warning light.
- owner complaints
- 8
- of this car's complaints
- 10%
- recalls
- 2
Airbag warning light by model year
- 20201
- 20182
- 20173
- 20168
- 20157
- 20111
- 20092
- 20061
What owners say
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 purchased my 2016 Audi A3 in April of 2020 from Audi San Diego. Less than a year later, I was getting airbag warning lights on my dash, as well as constant warning sounds when driving. I brought my vehicle into Audi San Diego, and they "fixed" the issue free of charge. A few months later, I started getting the same warning lights/sounds - this time, the passenger airbag was turning on and off even while somebody was sitting in the passenger seat. I received a recall letter in the mail shortly thereafter. When I called in the summer of 2021 to schedule a service appointment, I was told there was not yet a remedy to this recall and that in the next few months I should receive a phone call to schedule service. Over a year later, I called Audi San Diego to get an update (since I did receive a phone call as promised), and I am still told that there is no solution. For over a year now, I have been unable to have passengers in my front seat, due to the fear of the airbags not working in the event of a crash.
Air bag light comes on when no on is in the passenger seat, the coolant light is coming on saying turn engine off when my coolant level is fine, the suspension cracks even though I have had this checked by Audi in Birmingham, Al. multiple times.
On August 30th 2021 around 12:45pm driving to work I experienced something I did not realize was possible. I was in the fast lane going 70-75mph when my steering wheel began to shake profusely, I felt like something was under my car and hitting/whipping the right passenger side of my vehicle. I lost control of my car, almost flipped and thought it was a blowout, while trying to come to a stop on the highway and nowhere to pullover. 18wheelers all around me and I had no choice but to stop on left small shoulder. At this time we realized that my tire had not blown, but ALL the Tread had separated from the tire. It had separated and this caused roughly 6feet of extreme whipping of tread while separating from the tube part of tire was beating my car in multiple areas under the car, damaged and took off half of my bumper, tore up the passenger side back and front door while causing large dents. I called a tow truck while my daughter called my husband to help us. Tow driver stated he hadn’t seen that happen and we were very lucky something catastrophic didn’t happen, Myself and my daughters life was in great risk!! We almost flipped the car due to tire separation, and we could’ve caused a multi car accident! My car had to go to the collision center ( Caliber Collision ) which is a vendor my insurance company works with - they have taken multiple photos of the damage. I have also taken multiple photos of damage. It has not been inspected by authorities etc… yet. No warning lights representing tire pressure, concerns etc….were alerting me of anything to be concerned of. The interior passenger airbag light was stating airbag was off - which caused for more concern ( I am driving a 2016 Audi A3 with a National recall & no fix!! ) with if we would’ve crashed, rolled, wrecked into someone/something that the airbags would’ve potentiality not gone off to protect my daughter or myself!
There has been a National recall on my VIN with no known fix at this time. My car has stalled, would not cool off, it will read error codes that don’t make any sense. It goes from speed, to shut engine off now, immediately exit and turn off vehicle, saying it’s too Hot, oil leaking, airbag lights coming on/off randomly, the air conditioner won’t cool off when the dash lights are reading multiple codes and I’ve had to stop my car multiple times on the highway and when just running to the store a few miles away. It’s very strange and concerning. It’s becoming for frequent and I drive every day all day for work, along with having children in my car. I purchased this brand new from Audi of Fort Worth Texas in 2016. All routine maintenance has always been done. My concern for myself and children has increased over the last few months and each time I have to get in my car I have a fear that overwhelms me! I’ve contacted the Audi dealership multiple times and they’ve said I need to be patient, there is no fix at this time and they don’t know if/when there will be one. This is not acceptable and is putting our lives at risk on a daily basis. I would like to know my options and their legal responsibility to help the situation. I will notate the most recent date of occurrence below. The pictures I’ve uploaded are from the most recent experience when leaving a Sam’s grocery club and had just turned from a red light on a main road. I had to stop my vehicle, shut off the engine and remain in a center lane dangerously fast traffic all around me and had to call my son to pick me up.
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 same with the warning beeps; while parked and while driving.
Air bag light is on and seat belt light is on. Error message on dashboard: safety system: system fault. Car had a recall for similar issue on january 2020. Took to the dealership and want to replace a sensor for $1300. Dealership stated is not the same issue related to the recall. This is a safety issue. Car is not under warranty anymore. *tr *bf update: the car was involved in a collision while parked in front of the contact's aprtment. The air bags did not deploy.
Service bulletins that may apply
- The federal safety agency has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators...
- This bulletin provides information when the airbag warning light is on, DTC B13BCF2 stored in the airbag...
- This bulletin provides information for when the airbag warning light is on and DTC B13BCF2 is stored in...
- This bulletin contains instructions for when the airbag warning is illuminated and DTC B13BCF2 is stored.
- This bulletin contains instructions for correcting DTC B12251B, B102229, and/or B102202 with...
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, S3 Sedan, R8 Coupe, A3 Sedan, A3 Etron, A3 Cabriolet, 2016 Golf Sportwagen, Golf R, Golf GTI, Golf A7, and E Golf vehicles. During air bag deployment, the front passenger air bag may explode or deploy improperly.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. An improper air bag deployment may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front-passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1‑800‑893‑5298. Audi's customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69DY and 61C1.
Recall number 22V543000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
- Risk
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1‑800‑253‑2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
Recall number 21V198000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2016 Audi A3 airbag light
Is airbag warning light a common problem on the 2016 Audi A3?
8 of 84 owner complaints about the 2016 Audi A3 (10%) mention airbag warning light. The model year with the most reports is 2016.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Audi A3?
There are 2 recalls and 8 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2016 Audi A3
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