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2017 Audi A4

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
54
Latest Dec 5, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 10, 2021
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 54 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Audi A4, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 729 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine2334.8%
  • Airbags1319.7%
  • Electrical69.1%
  • Fuel system69.1%
  • Powertrain (other)46.1%
  • Interior & seats34.5%
  • Steering34.5%
  • Seat belts23.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER; SEATS

Nov 10, 2021
208,332 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The 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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 74E3View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Dec 5, 2025

I have been trying to register my vehicle in California for several months, however, in order to do so, I need the car to pass SMOG. Initially I was told that the issue was related to an emissions sensor and that I had to drive the vehicle a few more miles to get the sensor to register properly. This turned out not to be the case. A short time later, the fuel gauge completely stopped working. I took it to an authorized Audi repair shop that told me the issue was related to a the "Fuel Tank Sending Unit". That part was replaced by the repair shop, however, the issue persisted. The authorized repair shop is now telling me that it the entire tank needs to be replaced in order to fix the issue.. I have searched and this seems to be a common issue among Audi vehicles; the sensor stops working and the gauge stops responding. Audi seems to know that this is an issue. Can this possibly be investigated.

NHTSA ID
11703360
Incident
Jun 1, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 25, 2025

The headlights on my 2017 Audi A4 have developed stress cracks in the headlamp housing. According to the inspection performed by an authorized Audi dealer, these cracks will obscure headlight projection and lower the visibility range at night. The dealer specifically noted there were no signs of outside influence or misuse, and the issue is likely due to internal headlight temperature, external ambient temperature, and age. This defect directly impairs visibility and makes it unsafe to drive the vehicle at night or in low-light conditions. Headlights are a critical safety system. The problem has been confirmed and documented by the Audi dealership in a written inspection report. Audi of America has acknowledged that the defect is unrelated to misuse but refuses to fully assist with repairs, despite admitting it impacts visibility. The issue is ongoing and worsens with time. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages related to the defect prior to its discovery. The vehicle and documentation are available for inspection upon request. This is a safety concern that puts me and others at risk due to reduced nighttime visibility.

NHTSA ID
11682928
Incident
Aug 6, 2025
Filed Dec 20, 2024

The Audi "Drive Select" transmission function switches to "Sports Mode" in rain and snow. This makes the vehicle dangerously jumpy in slippery conditions. This has happened to me (I think) three times in the last couple of years, always in rain or snow. My knowledge of the car allowed me to slowly delve into the screen functions to reprogram the transmission while driving in these dangerous conditions, but I don't know if I could always do it again, or if others might find it too confusing in the moment.

NHTSA ID
11631789
Incident
Aug 1, 2024
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2024

Audi A4 Water pump and Thermostat failure. VW/ Audi USA had a recall on this issue for several models including the Audi A4 models thru 2016. My car was built in 2016 with model year 2017 and according to the recall my car did not qualify. Since then there has been several Class Action Lawsuits for this same issue. I was fortunate I discovered the leak while the car was parked in my garage and wasn't on the freeway. It seems that VW/Audi USA hasn't corrected this issue leaving many people in danger of a possible breakdown and a premature costly repair. In addition, I was denied the Class Action Lawsuit extended warranty by 3 months. So this premature costly repair was on me. Thank you for all you do to keep us safe.

NHTSA ID
11620159
Incident
Sep 14, 2024
Filed Sep 11, 2024

Randomly, sometimes multiple times in a 30-60 minute time window while driving, the media center turns itself off and reboots. While driving with the navigation system or other key functionality of this system (phone connectivity, radio, etc) the driver suddenly has lost the current connection that was in use. As for the navigation or phone connection, this disconnection could result in a sudden dangerous situation. The manufacturer knows of this “bug” and has a software fix, but charges any customer whose vehicle is not still under warranty to diagnose and fix it.

NHTSA ID
11613948
Incident
Sep 8, 2024
Fuel system
Filed Jul 29, 2024

The fuel level sensor that is built into the gas tank, sensor #2, has failed and I only had 30,354 miles on the car at the time of failure. Audi Birmingham, in Birmingham, MI, confirmed the failure via a diagnostic test.

NHTSA ID
11605079
Incident
Jul 14, 2024
AirbagsEngine
Filed May 27, 2024

Every time I start the car, a message comes on saying that the passenger airbag is off even when I have an occupant next to me. I spoke with the dealer and he told me that this recall was claimed and fixed in 2022 in Texas by the previous owner but I replied that the problem continues and he told me that this was no longer an Audi problem. Furthermore, every time it accelerates over 40 miles per hour, a message about the driving system in malfunction appears and also the automatic on and off system at stops stops working and when I drive it at low speed there is no problem. I took it to Audi and they told me that they should change the turbo and I told them that the car only has 100,000 miles and why they should change a turbo that only has 100,000 miles of use and they told me that’s how it is

NHTSA ID
11590889
Incident
May 10, 2024
Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2024

I experienced similar undesirable engine behavior on two occasions. Upon coming to a stop, the auto start/stop system stopped the engine. Shortly after, when attempting to drive away, the stop/start system attempted to start the engine, but failed; the starter briefly activated to turn over the engine, but the engine did not start and continue running. The car was left in the following condition: Engine off. Gear indicator showing "D". Accelerator pedal unresponsive. Regaining engine power required turning the car off, applying the brake pedal, turning the car on, and selecting "D" with the gear selector. This behavior occurred on two occasions on different days; once on 16 March 2024 and the first time within several days prior. Both occasions occurred before the engine was at full operating temperature, and while the car was on a slight uphill slope. Ambient temperatures were in the high 40's or 50's Fahrenheit. By luck, neither occasion resulted in an unsafe traffic condition.

NHTSA ID
11578793
Incident
Mar 16, 2024

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB_2082846_1

This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.

TSB_2078648_2

STRUCTURE:BODY

This service information TSB provides warranty coverage information for vehicles with a broken sunroof panel.

TSB_2073747_4

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides informatoinw hent here are scratches or a coating on the cover of the instrument cluster, or particles inside of the housing.

TSB_2073282_1

STRUCTURE:BODY

This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.

TSB_2074640_3

ENGINE

This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000 km.

TSB_2059335_7

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the instrument cluster.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi A4 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025000
2024200
2023100043.4
2022630
2021114065.1
20201273048.0
2019101059.4
2018441049.2
2017Viewing541040.6
2016110035.5
2015190046.4
2014310032.2
2013240044.8
2012190039.7
2011110027.6
2010640031.8
20091202047.1
20081754050.8
20071963046.5
20062953047.0
20052194049.4
20041893150.9
20032104049.2
20021812050.4
20011313157.3
2000965358.5
19991907559.8
19982586559.0
1997988462.0
1996896356.1
1995120

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.