YearToAvoid

2017 Audi A3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

77/100

#4 most-complained of 14 A3 years

The 2017 Audi A3 ranks 4th worst out of 14 model years, with a Complaint Index of 77 and 44 NHTSA complaints. Airbags (36%) and Fuel System (34%) are the top problem areas, backed by two recalls, making this year an Avoid relative to other A3 years.

Complaints
44
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 35 hwy

Top 2017 Audi A3 problems

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

  1. Airbags16 (36%)
  2. Fuel System15 (34%)
  3. Electrical System13 (30%)
  4. Engine10 (23%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain6 (14%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (11%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (7%)
  8. Seat Belts3 (7%)
  9. Other2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalls or jerks and knocks when pulling out of a driveway or accelerating from a stop, sometimes daily.
  • Vehicle sputters and stalls at low speeds (2-3 mph), including at intersections, with no warning lights.
  • Front daytime running lights fade to yellow or appear off, reducing visibility even after restarts.
  • Passenger airbag, seatbelt, and pre-sense warning lights illuminate intermittently regardless of whether the seat is occupied.
  • Fuel tank is difficult to fill, with the pump shutting off repeatedly and fuel odor or spillage occurring.
  • Camshaft position sensor failures trigger the malfunction indicator light and can cause the vehicle to fail emissions inspection.
2017 Audi A3 complaints: complaints filed per month5Dec 2019Sep 2020May 2021Jan 2022Oct 2022Mar 2024Dec 2024
73 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2019 to Jun 2026; peak Mar 2021 (5).

2017 Audi A3 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V110000Feb 14, 2024Fuel System261,257 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.

  2. NHTSA 21V198000Mar 22, 2021Airbags153,152 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    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.

2017 Audi A3 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,350
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 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid9292227
2016Avoid10081331
2017Avoid7744229
2018Caution5433229
2019Best810327

All Audi A3 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Audi A3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2017 A3 has a Complaint Index of 77 and ranks 4th worst among 14 model years, so it's an Avoid relative to other A3 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Audi A3?
NHTSA data shows Airbags (36% of complaints) and Fuel System (34%) as the top problem areas, followed by Electrical System (30%) and Engine (23%).
Does the 2017 Audi A3 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2017 A3: one for the fuel system suction pump and one for the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) tied to airbags.
At what mileage do 2017 Audi A3 problems typically occur?
Median mileage at failure across complaints is 48,500 miles, with airbag issues appearing around 47,500 miles and fuel system issues around 48,500 miles.
How does the 2017 A3 compare to other years?
The 2017 A3's Complaint Index of 77 is worse than 2018 (54), 2019 (8), and 2020 (38), but better than 2015 (92) and 2016 (100).

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.