2017 Audi A3 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2017 Audi A3 has 36 complaints with NHTSA after 10 years, or 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most A3 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Fuel system, gasoline and Front passenger seat weight sensor.

2012 Audi A3 — Photo by Peulle, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (15 of 36), then Electrical system (10) and Fuel and propulsion system (10).

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 A3 has 112 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2018 has 44 complaints, 2 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2017 Audi A3. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall Fuel system, gasoline 2024-02-14 · NHTSA campaign 24V110000

Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.

Remedy Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.

Recall Front passenger seat weight sensor 2021-03-22 · NHTSA campaign 21V198000

Summary 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.

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.

Complaints by component (36 total)

Air bags

Electrical system

Fuel and propulsion system

Engine

Powertrain

Seats

Exterior lighting

Forward collision avoidance

Seat belts

Speed control

Structure

Show 3 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The Vehicle Electrical System Control Module J519 had a fault that prevented using many vehicle functions - no interior lights, no heated seats, dashboard and navigation screen too dim to read in daylight."
Electrical system · filed 2025-01-24
"Car throws P2884 and the internal combustion motor will not start. The issue is gone into detail here: [XXX] recommendation is swapping out mechatronic unit for the upgraded unit. Since the unit is prone to failure this…"
Powertrain · filed 2025-01-21
"Passenger airbags, and emergency braking have been failing, i would have to be aware in advance if my vehicle needs to be checked, my safety and my passengers safety is in danger because incase i need to brake quickly…"
Air bags, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2024-12-19
"The passenger side break light and signal stop working occasionally. I took it to a certified Audi service center, and they were able to fix the issue but reported that the central wire system that makes the break light…"
Electrical system, Exterior lighting · filed 2024-04-02
"Panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving under normal conditions. This happened while I was driving on a freeway. Luckily I maintained my composure and safely drove home with broken glass all over myself.…"
Structure · filed 2024-03-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2017 A3 Sportback e-tron FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2017 Audi A3 4 DR AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2017 Audi A3 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2017 Audi A3 C AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2017 Audi A3 C FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
A3	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S7)	Front-wheel drive	26	35	29 MPG	$2250
A3 Cabriolet	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S7)	Front-wheel drive	25	34	28 MPG	$2300
A3 Cabriolet quattro	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S6)	All-wheel drive	22	30	25 MPG	$2600
A3 e-tron	1.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S6)	Front-wheel drive	33	36	34 MPG / 380 mi range	$2350
A3 quattro	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S6)	All-wheel drive	24	31	27 MPG	$2400

Specs and fitment

8V A3, 2012–2020

Body styles Sedan, Cabriolet

Oil 5W-30 full synthetic (common US fills) , 5.5 qt capacity

Tire size 225/45R17, 225/40R18, 235/35R19

Known issues for this generation

Recall 21V-198 covers certain 2015-2020 A3 Sedan and related A3/S3/RS3 and e-tron variants: the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied, increasing injury risk in a crash; dealers replace the PODS sensor mat and update the control module. Recall 24V-110 covers certain front-wheel-drive 2015-2020 A3 Sedan and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles (with several Volkswagen models in the same campaign): a fuel suction pump concern can allow a fuel leak that increases fire risk; dealers replace the suction pump.

Compare

Previous year 2016 Audi A3 Next year 2018 Audi A3 See every Audi A3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Audi A3 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2017 Audi A3?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (15 of 36), then Electrical system (10) and Fuel and propulsion system (10).

Is the 2017 Audi A3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2016 A3 has 112 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2018 has 44 complaints, 2 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

Has the 2017 Audi A3 been recalled?

The 2017 Audi A3 has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2017 Audi A3?

Owners have filed 36 complaints about the 2017 Audi A3 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2017 Audi A3 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2017 Audi A3 is 28.6 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does an Audi A3 take?

US 8V (2012-2020) commonly lists 5W-30; US 8Y (2022+) commonly lists 0W-20 full synthetic.

Does recall 21V-198 cover the Audi A3?

It covers certain 2015-2020 A3 Sedan and related A3/S3/RS3/e-tron variants: the passenger occupant detection system may switch off the passenger air bag incorrectly.

What generation is a 2020 Audi A3?

8V generation (2012-2020 in the US). The next US generation is 8Y from 2022.