2017 Audi S3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
78/100
#3 most-complained of 10 S3 years
The 2017 Audi S3 has a complaint index of 78 and ranks 3rd worst out of 10 model years, earning an 'Avoid' verdict. Airbags dominate reported problems (56% share, 5 complaints), tied to two recalls, with median failure mileage at 35,000.
- Complaints
- 9
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 28 hwy
Top 2017 Audi S3 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags5 (56%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (11%)
- Other1 (11%)
- Structure & Body1 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (11%)
What owners report
- Passenger airbag sensor (PODS) triggers fault messages repeatedly, with owners reporting repairs done multiple times since purchase.
- Front passenger seat air bag warning light fails to illuminate whether or not a passenger is seated, tied to the PODS recall.
- Owners report long delays getting the PODS sensor mat recall part, with dealers citing part unavailability for months.
- A sunroof shattered while driving on the freeway at highway speed, scattering glass inside the cabin at a low mileage of 6,703.
- One owner reported the transmission slamming into high gear and jerking the car forward after driving over a small pothole at low speed.
2017 Audi S3 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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 S3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,300
- 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 S3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Audi S3 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Audi S3 has a complaint index of 78 and ranks 3rd worst among 10 model years covered, resulting in an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other S3 years.
- What is the main problem with the 2017 Audi S3?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 56% of complaints (5 of 9), with a median failure mileage of 35,000. This is linked to two NHTSA recalls covering the passenger occupant detection system and airbag control unit software.
- Does the 2017 Audi S3 have a recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists two recalls: campaign 21V198000 for the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) sensor mat, and campaign 17V196000 for airbag control unit software that could deploy the passenger frontal airbag improperly in lower-speed crashes.
- How does the 2017 Audi S3 compare to other years?
- The 2017 model's complaint index of 78 is lower than 2015 (100) and 2016 (89), but higher than 2018 (56), 2019 (33), and later years, placing it 3rd worst out of 10 years tracked.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Audi S3?
- The 2017 Audi S3 gets an EPA-rated 24 mpg combined (21 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300.