YearToAvoid

2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#3 most-complained of 5 A3 Cabriolet years

The 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet has 25 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 3rd worst of 5 model years with a "Caution" verdict. Airbags are the top problem area, making up 52% of complaints.

Complaints
25
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26.5
23.5 city / 32 hwy

Top 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags13 (52%)
  2. Engine5 (20%)
  3. Fuel System3 (12%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain3 (12%)
  5. Seat Belts2 (8%)
  6. Brakes1 (4%)
  7. Electrical System1 (4%)
  8. Other1 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine stalling unexpectedly while driving at unknown speeds, with a median failure mileage around 4,671 miles.
  • Some describe the engine shutting off in drive or reverse, triggering a "start/stop system deactivated" message and causing the car to roll unless the brakes are applied.
  • One owner reported the transmission staying in neutral after pressing the start/stop button while in drive, letting the car roll unimpeded.
  • A driver described the car displaying a message to shift into park while stopped, with the vehicle becoming temporarily undrivable.
  • Windshield wiper performance was reported as reduced during rain, with owners saying visibility was greatly impaired.
  • Several owners referenced airbag-related recalls, including the Takata air bag recall and an occupant detection system issue affecting the passenger seat, with parts unavailable for repair.
2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet complaints: complaints filed per month6Feb 2017Sep 2017Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2022Aug 2022Jan 2023
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2017 to Apr 2024; peak Jul 2017 (6).

2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V474000Jun 19, 2019Airbags138,896 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.

    Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.

  2. NHTSA 17V508000Aug 16, 2017Engine8,383 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and A3 Sedan vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may misinterpret the flywheel rotation on engine start-up as a "knocking" condition, and the adjusted air/fuel mixture may result in an engine stall.

    Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24DF.

  3. NHTSA 17V196000Mar 22, 2017Airbags11,618 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q3.

2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23.5 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
26.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,450
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other A3 Cabriolet years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid10087527
2016Avoid7536327
2017Caution5025326.5
2018Good2512526.5
2019No verdict04127

All Audi A3 Cabriolet years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet reliable?
NHTSA lists 25 complaints and 3 recalls for the 2017 A3 Cabriolet, giving it a Complaint Index of 50 and a "Caution" verdict, ranking 3rd worst among the 5 model years with data.
What is the top problem area for the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 52% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 55,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 A3 Cabriolet, covering airbag connector issues, an engine control unit software problem, and passenger airbag deployment software.
How does the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet compare to other years?
The 2017 model has a Complaint Index of 50, better than 2015 (100, Avoid) and 2016 (75, Avoid) but worse than 2018 (25, Good) and 2019 (0).
What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 40,000 miles, though engine issues were reported at a much lower median of 4,671 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.