2017 Audi A3 CABRIOLET: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 25 complaints (48.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 12.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | 1 |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Air Bags: 12; Engine: 5; Power Train: 3; Seat Belts: 2; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification: 1; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger: 1; Electrical System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2017: 7; 2019: 2; 2021: 5; 2022: 9; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10950379 · 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)
WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN D/S AND THE START/STOP ENGINE BUTTON IS PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE TRANSMISSION IS LEFT IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR CAN ROLL UNIMPEDED. THIS IS FULLY REPEATABLE AND APPEARS TO NOT BE A FAIL-SAFE SITUATION. SHORT VIDEO VIEWABLE HERE: HTTPS://GOO.GL/PHOTOS/GUPETK6CSQ6IC8HU8
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10950379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11000404 · 2017-06-21 (June 21, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI A3. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (CROWN AUDI LOCATED AT 19940 US HIGHWAY 19 N CLEARWATER, FL 33764 [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS STILL BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 08/22/17*LJ UPDATED 8/25/2017*JS
Owner-reported narrative. 4,671 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11004966 · 2017-07-12 (July 12, 2017)
ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND DISPLAYS MESSAGE OF "START/STOP SYSTEM DEACTIVATED. PLEASE RESTART ENGINE MANUALLY. THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN APPEARS. AND THE VEHICLE ROLLS AWAY UNLESS BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES - 10 TIMES IN MY CAR, 3 IN MY FIRST LOANER CAR AND 6 IN MY SECOND LOANER CAR. THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY IN MOTION RIGHT AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 500 FEET, AFTER THE CAR IS GOING 3-5 MPH THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR WILL ROL…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11004966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11005273 · 2017-07-14 (July 14, 2017)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AS A PARENT YOU WANT TO HAVE YOU CHILD AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.THE VEHICLE IS ANYTHING BUT SAFE. AS A MATTER OF FACT IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. OR WORST A FATALITY.THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING JUST TURNS OFF. IT WASN'T EVEN A MONTH INTO OWNING THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT ISSUES STARTED TO ARISE. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING.ABOUT 4 WEEKS LATER, WHILE ENTERING THE EXPRESSWAY,ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING COMPLETELY TURN OFF. BY A MIRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023393 · 2017-09-14 (September 14, 2017)
THE SHOULDER STRAP OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT IS A FEW INCHES FROM MY BODY WHEN FASTENED. I AM TALL AND SKINNY SO THIS MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH OTHER BODY TYPES. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A RIGID SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE THAT IS TILTED FORWARD AND FIXED IN PLACE. EVERY OTHER AUDI MODEL HAS A FLEXIBLE SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE WHICH ALLOWS THE SHOULDER STRAP TO FIT SNUGLY AGAINST MY BODY. ONLY THE A3 HAS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE THE SEAT BACK AS FAR FORWARD AS IS COMFORTABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 66 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033133 · 2017-10-12 (October 12, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER (AUDI WEST HOUSTON, 15865 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77094, [phone removed]) MADE NO MENTION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V508000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BEFORE SELLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V196000 (AIR BAGS) OF WHICH THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER (AUDI CENTRAL HOUSTON, 2120 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77098, [phone removed]) STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED PRIOR TO SELLING THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11033133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11056111 · 2017-12-22 (December 22, 2017)
THE CAR PURCHASED IN DEC 2016. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE; DRIVERS VISIBITY REDUCED GREATLY, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AUDI REPLACED THE WIPERS BUT DENIED THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM! THOUGH, AVOIDING DRIVING IN THE RAIN, I COMPLIANED TO AUDI SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS IN AUGUST OF 2017, WHEN AUDI FINALLY ADMITTED TO ME, THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO PUT SOME "FILM" ON THE WINDSHEILD" IN MY VIEW, THERE SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL ON ALL 2017 AUDI A3 FOR WINDSHEILD REPLACEMENT. DOES ANYON…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11056111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11202561 · 2019-04-19 (April 19, 2019)
I WILL BE DRIVING AND STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I GO LET MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK TO START DRIVING AGAIN MY CAR THEN SPAZZES AND SAYS PLEASE SHIFT CAR INTO PARK AND I AM UNABLE TO DIVE MY CAR AND I HAVE TO RESTART IT A FEW TIMES TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. IT IS VER SCARY BECAUSE EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I CAN'T MOVE. IT'S ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN I AM AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN. IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 10 TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD MY CAR AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO AUDI THEY TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11202561 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V196000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2017-03-22 (March 22, 2017)
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."
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V508000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2017-08-16 (August 16, 2017)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and A3 Sedan vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may misinterpret the flywheel rotation on engine start-up as a "knocking" condition, and the adjusted air/fuel mixture may result in an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24DF.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V474000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2019-06-19 (June 19, 2019)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.
NHTSA campaign record ↗