2017 Audi A4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
28,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 54 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 21 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
Engine: 21; Air Bags: 13; Unknown Or Other: 9; Electrical System: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Power Train: 4; Seats: 3; Steering: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 43 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2020: 6; 2021: 19; 2022: 13; 2023: 6; 2024: 8; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 11297986 · 2020-01-08 (January 8, 2020)
REAR WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE LOWERS ITSELF 6-INCHES AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AND LOCKED WITH FOB REMOTE. HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH SINCE OWNERSHIP. NO DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11330945 · 2020-06-26 (June 26, 2020)
COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW SO TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS LEAKING COOLANT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11340740 · 2020-07-21 (July 21, 2020)
THE HORN WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHEN PRESSED IN THE LOCATION OF ABOUT 3 - 6 O'CLOCK (LOWER RIGHT QUADRANT). THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE IS TWO SENSORS IN THIS MODELS UNIT, ONE AT AROUND 12 (TOP) AND 7 (LOWER LEFT), AND THAT THE HORN CAN ONLY EASILY ACTIVATE IF PRESSED IN EITHER THOSE LOCATIONS OR IF PRESSED IN THE CENTER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11340740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11372649 · 2020-11-02 (November 2, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AC BEGAN TO BLOW HOT AIR. THE DASHBOARD WAS REMOVED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR USED FOR RELEASING COLD AIR. THEN WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO USE THE PADDLES TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (AUDI FORT LAUDERDALE - SALES DEPARTMENT 1200 N FEDERAL HWY, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304; [phone removed]) WHO REMOVED THE CONSOLE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 257,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11372649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11376749 · 2020-11-27 (November 27, 2020)
COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS REALLY LOW. FILLED IT RIGHT AWAY BUT IT WENT LOW AGAIN A MONTH AFTER. CONFIRMED FROM OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11376749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11385034 · 2020-12-26 (December 26, 2020)
FAULTY AUDI A4 PODS SENSOR DESPITE PREVIOUSLY REPLACING RECALLED CONNECTOR. PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATES AND CAUSES FREQUENT DASH ALARMS. REPLACEMENT / REPAIR NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES. QUOTED REPAIR BY AUDI DEALERSHIP $1700 OUT-OF-POCKET FOR AN OBVIOUSLY FAULTY COMPONENT THAT SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING NUMEROUS AUDI VEHICLE MODELS AND YEARS $1700
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11385034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11390778 · 2021-01-30 (January 30, 2021)
PASSENGER AIRBAG GOES ON AND OFF RANDOM WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. DRIVING ON SIDE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11390778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11394694 · 2021-02-04 (February 4, 2021)
MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING COOLANT. EVERY 8-10K MILES IT GOES BELOW NORMAL LEVEL IN RESERVOIR . THERE IS A DISTINCT ODOR OF COOLANT EACH TIME I GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD AUDI LOOK AT IT 5 TIMES. THEY CONFIRM THE COOLANT LEVELS ARE LOW AND THEY REFILL IT SAYING THEY CAN'T FIND A LEAK. I AM CONCERN THAT THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11394694 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V874000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Seats
Reported: 2021-11-10 (November 10, 2021)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗