AudiQ32016Overview/audi/q3/2016/base/

2016 Audi Q3

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Q3.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2016 Audi Q3 is a compact luxury SUV equipped with an automatic S8 transmission, achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined, making it a practical choice in its segment. This model year recorded 28 owner complaints, with the electrical system emerging as the primary concern alongside three issued recalls. Compared against the model's broader complaint history spanning 2008 to 2026, where annual complaints ranged from as low as 1 to as high as 63, the 2016 Q3 sits in a middle range—well below the峰值 complaint years but with enough documented issues to suggest owners should monitor electrical components closely throughout ownership.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 570 CCA battery, OE oil filter 06J115403Q. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 570 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/50R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06J115403Q
Engine air filter1K0129620G
Spark plug06H905621A alt 06H905601A
Battery000915089BC alt 000915089F
Front wiper blades8U1998002
Serpentine belt06J260849D
Thermostat06H121113B alt 06H121119E
Cabin air filter1K1819669 alt 1K0819644B

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.8 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height63.4 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Curb weight3494 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 28 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Q3 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.7–7.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 2016 Premium Plus Quattro
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016Premium Plus Quattro 2.0L Turbo I-47.70 sec16.10 sec200 hpAWD
2016Prestige S-Line Quattro 2.0L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.10 sec200 hpAWD
2015Prestige Quattro 2.0L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.10 sec200 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine VW Part Number G052145S2 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.4 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidAudi part number G055025A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilVW Part Number G052145S2
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9-2.1
Engine CoolantUse Audi coolant G13 TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity10.5 qt
Power Steering FluidAudi part number G004 000 M2

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.4 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.2

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Torque22 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10-1.20 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.38-4.06 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance570 cca
Optional BCI Group Number49

Service checks

Pressure Test14.5 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-23 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum87
Residual Pressure44 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)72.5-116 psi
Residual Pressure43 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 22.0; Rear: 26 Use; Front: 22; Rear: 26
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 145; Rear: 75 use; Front: 147.5; Rear: 66
ABS Sensor Torque6.6 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.354; Rear: 0.315 Specifications
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront w/1LJ and 1ZD:

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install new bolt and tighten to 148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180 degrees.148 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install new bolt and tighten to 148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180 degrees.148 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 55,000 mi; coolant at 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 15,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 35,000 miBrake Rotor (inspect)
Every 40,000 miBrake Rotor (inspect)
At 55,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 75,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt Tensioner (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Audi Q3 sits near the beginning of this model’s federal record, with 28 complaints and 3 recalls, placing it between the 2015 model’s 22 complaints/2 recalls and the 2017 model’s 7 complaints/3 recalls. Complaint volume rose from launch, peaked much later at 63 in 2020, and then tapered off, while recalls held fairly steady at two to three per year across the early portion of the run. Its 650 TSBs mark a modest decline from 2015’s 727 and continue a downward trend through 2018, indicating dealer-facing service documentation did not expand for this model year. Complaint concentration is low and diffuse: the electrical system leads with five complaints, the engine follows with four, and there is one crash-related and one fire-related complaint, though the data does not specify underlying causes. Because 2016 predates the generation’s much higher 2020 complaint volume and carries only average recall exposure for this lineup, it is a reasonable used-buy candidate, provided a pre-purchase inspection checks the reported systems and any open recalls are closed.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
650
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
28
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 28 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System5
Engine4
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Structure1
Steering,Electrical System,Air Bags1
Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V385000Exterior Lighting:Turn SignalReported 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… Remedy: 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…

17V400000Exterior Lighting:Brake LightsReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 650 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2074640_32026-06-26EngineThis bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2059335_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2082323_12026-06-10EngineThis bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
TSB_2052680_62026-06-04Unknown Or OtherThis Reporting Obligation requires technicains to contact the Technical Assistance Center…
AOS-26-252026-05-26Unknown Or OtherThis is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Q3. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Q3 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Q3 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.