YearToAvoid

2017 Audi A4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#3 most-complained of 15 A4 years

The 2017 Audi A4 ranks 3rd worst among 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 86 and 55 NHTSA complaints. Engine problems, mostly coolant leaks, make up 45% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 28,000 miles. Verdict: Avoid, relative to other A4 years.

Complaints
55
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27.5
24.5 city / 33 hwy

Top 2017 Audi A4 problems

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

  1. Engine25 (45%)
  2. Airbags13 (24%)
  3. Other9 (16%)
  4. Electrical System7 (13%)
  5. Fuel System6 (11%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain4 (7%)
  7. Steering3 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  9. Seat Belts2 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Coolant reservoir level drops repeatedly, sometimes every few thousand miles, without dealers finding a leak.
  • Thermostat housing leaks coolant, discovered when the low-coolant warning appears.
  • Passenger airbag activates and deactivates randomly, sometimes triggering dashboard alerts even after the connector was replaced under recall.
  • Rear driver-side window lowers itself about 6 inches after the vehicle is parked and locked with the key fob.
  • Stability control light comes on and the car swings left to right on its own while driving normally.
  • Horn fails to activate when pressed in certain areas of the wheel, tied to a dual-sensor design in the horn unit.
2017 Audi A4 complaints: complaints filed per month5Jan 2020Jan 2021Jun 2021Dec 2021May 2022Feb 2023Jan 2024Oct 2024
75 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Feb 2022 (5).

2017 Audi A4 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V874000Nov 10, 2021Airbags208,332 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

    Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

2017 Audi A4 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,900
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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 A4 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good4319026
2016Best2111026
2017Avoid8655127.5
2018Avoid7944127
2019Caution5010128.5

All Audi A4 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Audi A4 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 A4 ranks 3rd worst out of 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 86 and 55 complaints, mostly involving the engine.
What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Audi A4?
Engine issues account for 45% of complaints, mostly coolant leaks, with a median failure mileage of 28,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Audi A4 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2017 A4, covering an airbag connecting cable and seat heating mat/cover that dealers replace free of charge.
How does the 2017 Audi A4 compare to other years?
The 2017 A4 has a Complaint Index of 86, higher than most other A4 years; only 2020 (100) and 2010 (93) score worse.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Audi A4?
The 2017 A4 gets an EPA-rated 27.5 mpg combined (24.5 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900.

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.