2017 Audi A3 problems
The 2017 Audi A3 has 75 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (21%) concerns air bags. Next are fuel system (20%) and electrical system (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 75 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 47,000 miles 19 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 19 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 47,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2017 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Audi A3 with enough data (53 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I recently was involved in a collision where my car going at 30 mph collided with. Car that was completely stopped that I unfortunately didn’t see I’ve previously been warned by the safety system where it’s saved me by first audio warning and then immediately breaking allowing me to avoid collision unfortunately prior to the accident I never had any issues but occasionally noticed that the Audi Pre Sense could be triggered occasionally when I was driving on the highway and the police were using radars to control…
In August 2025, my 2017 Audi A3 (VIN [XXX] ) experienced repeated stalling, strong gasoline odors inside the cabin, and a check engine light immediately after Audi completed recall-related service. The safety issue was later confirmed by the dealership to be caused by a failed suction jet pump (NHTSA Recall 24V110), which allowed fuel to enter the EVAP system and leak into the rear seat area and cabin. The leak was so severe that the rear seat and flooring had to be replaced due to fuel saturation.
Regardless of front seat passenger presence: 'passenger airbag off', 'seatbelt off', and 'pre sense off' warning messages illuminate at car start, restart, drive, park, restart, repeat. Unable to clear warnings. Also appears in vehicle dash warning system. Started noticing intermittently after airbag recall addressed, not sure if exact date. Now, the malfunction is constant.
The vehicle was affected previously and confirmed fixed by audi under recall 69z4 for the occupant sensor. The airbag, seatbelt, audi presense error light will illuminate at times regardless of whether an occupant is sitting in the passenger seat going on and off sporadically while driving or stationary. The vehicle is eligible to be fixed under warranty, however it appears their original fix under the recall was not adequate in resolving the occupant airbag sensor light and poses a safety hazard to passengers if…