Model year guide

2016 Audi q3

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2016 Audi q3 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 940 on record.

2016 Audi q3 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2016 Audi q3 at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints28
Combined23 mpg
Typical price$20,764

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2016 Audi q3 recalls 3

Exterior Lighting:turn Signal NHTSA Campaign #19V385000 · manufacturer #97DK · 23/05/2019

Volkswagen 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."

Fix: Audi 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.

Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking NHTSA Campaign #17V400000 · manufacturer #45G6 · 26/06/2017

Volkswagen 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."

Fix: Audi 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.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #16V642000 · manufacturer #97CB · 06/09/2016

Volkswagen 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 c…

Fix: Audi 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2016 Audi q3 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

2016 Audi q3 MPG & running costs

Combined23 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,550
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (S8)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Passenger volume84 cu ft
Cargo volume17 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

What's a 2016 Audi q3 worth?

Low
$18,050
Typical price
$20,764
High
$23,998

From 8 comparable 2016 Audi q3 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2016 Audi q3 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,750
Fuel only$17,750
Per mile$0.24

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
172.8 in
Width
72.0 in
Height
63.4 in
Wheelbase
102.4 in
Curb weight
3,494–3,682 lb
Front track
61.8 in
Rear track
62.2 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2016 Audi q3 — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 670

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 670.

This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.

Bulletin TSB_2052680_2 · Sep 2026

This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.

Bulletin TSB_2083409_1 · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.

Bulletin TSB_2020552_15 · Visibility/wiper · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.

Bulletin TSB_2074846_5 · Steering · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.

Bulletin TSB_2030471_9 · Sep 2026

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.

Bulletin SM 39-2026 · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.

Bulletin TSB_2051095_12 · Sep 2026

This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.

Bulletin TSB_2068999_5 · Structure · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.

Bulletin TSB_2074436_3 · Aug 2026

This bulletin provides information when there is corrosion on the friction survace of steel brake discs.

Bulletin TSB_2067132_4 · Service Brakes · Aug 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the Q3 FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 4

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2016 Audi q3. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Lights And Instruments

Issue: On certain vehicles, the ESC warning light may not remain on if a fault was detected on the previous key cycle. Instead, the warning light does not turn on until the vehicle starts to move. Canadian regulations require that the ESC warning light must turn on when the vehicle is started (under these conditions). Note: This problem can only happen if there is a fault relat…

Transport Canada #2020468 · Oct 2020

Lights And Instruments

Issue: On certain vehicles, if the front turn signal light fails, the driver would not be alerted by a fast-flashing turn signal indicator. Canadian regulations require this to happen so a driver knows when a turn signal light is not working. Safety Risk: A loss of turn signal function, without a warning to the driver, could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The…

Transport Canada #2019241 · May 2019

Lights And Instruments

Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. If the parking brake is used during emergency braking, the brake lights on the vehicle will not activate. Following road users would be unaware of the emergency braking that is taking place, which could increase the risk of a r…

Transport Canada #2017318 · Jun 2017

Lights And Instruments

Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. In a situation where the parking lights are switched on and the vehicle is locked, the side marker lights do not illuminate, which is contrary to the requirements of the standard. This could reduce vehicle visibility, which cou…

Transport Canada #2016427 · Sep 2016

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Audi q3

The Audi Q3 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV produced by Audi since 2011. The Q3 has a transverse-mounted front engine. It was unveiled in April 2007 at the Shanghai motor show. A coupe SUV variant has been produced since the second generation, called the Q3 Sportback.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2016 Audi q3 trims & engines on record

Trims
quattro Premium Plus · quattro Prestige · Premium Plus
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 200 hp

2016 Audi q3 vehicles on record

Other Audi q3 model years

2016 Audi q3 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Audi q3 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Audi q3. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi q3?

Across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Audi q3 get?

The 2016 Audi q3 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 23 mpg combined (20 city / 28 highway).

How much is a 2016 Audi q3 worth?

Comparable 2016 Audi q3 listings run roughly $18,050–$23,998, typically around $20,764 (from 8 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.