AI Damage2017 Audi A4: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Audi A4 filed 83 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. The maker issued 743 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 83
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 743
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 31% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 13% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 26 complaints (31% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Engine: 21 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 29.
- Seats: 11 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 200.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 42.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 83 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 26 | 0 | 9 |
| Engine | 21 | 0 | 29 |
| Seats | 11 | 0 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 1 | 200 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2 | 42 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Steering | 4 | 2 | 47 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 45 |
| Wheels | 3 | 1 | 18 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 37 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 42 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I have been an Audi A4 owner for more than 10 years. During that time, I have had 2 incidents where I could have easily been killed as well as injured or killed passengers in oncoming vehicles. The latest was this morning on March 23, 2022. The other was nearly 10 years ago.
I was driving like normal and the stability light came on and the car started to swing left to right by it self.
I was driving on the highway in rainy conditions. (driving according to speed limit) and I suddenly lost control. The car wouldn't turn when I turned the wheel and started veering out of the lane. It then turned into the opposite direction into traffic and eventually spun to a stop.
I believe the presense sensors activates the collision avoidance system resulting in a loss of control in the car and subsequent accident.
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 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.
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".
2017 A4 Audi Allroad- while making turns at low speeds with the steering wheel, the vehicle makes cracking, popping and vibration noises. The noise was inspected and reproduced, confirmed on 1/4/2023 by Audi Fletcher Jones, Costa Mesa, California and advised to replace engine mounts, and both front upper control arms,…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 646 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the A4 has 16 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 83, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has…
This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
- This bulletin provides information regarding fault finding and repair information for electric tailgate
- This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel
- This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations
- This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases
- This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer
- This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the…
This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.
- This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped
- This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning
- This bulletin provides informaiton when the airbag warning lamp is active, event memory "B200000 - Faulty…
This bulletin provides informaiton when the airbag warning lamp is active, event memory "B200000 - Faulty control module, symptom 305".
- This bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels
- This service information TSB provides warranty coverage information for vehicles with a broken sunroof panel
NHTSA lists 743 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Audi A4?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, seats. Total complaints: 83. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (11%), windows, sunroof (10%), airbag warning light (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Audi A4?
NHTSA lists 743 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Audi A4 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.