2017 Audi A4 Safety Report
2017 Audi A4 Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Audi A4
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Audi A4. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (81) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 4 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2019 | Compare against the 2019 Audi A4 with 5 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2020 | Check the 2020 Audi A4 before buying across this generation. |
Audi A4 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Audi A4 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Audi A4 | 26 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Audi A4 | 24 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Audi A4 | 5 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Audi A4 | 43 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Audi A4 | 122 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Audi A4 | 11 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2017 Audi A4 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Audi A4, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyAir Bags
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Audi onlyUnknown Or Other
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Audi onlyAir Bags,Seats
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags,Seats issues Audi onlyPower Train
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Audi onlySteering
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Audi A4
Reliability Score
The 2017 Audi A4 receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Audi A4
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Audi A4
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Audi A4:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling Coolant leaks and low coolant warnings have been reported, affecting the engine's performance and reliability. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbags And Seat Issues Recalls and failures related to airbags and seat sensors have been reported, posing safety risks. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Audi A4:
Issues with engine and cooling systems are common, affecting 30% of the vehicles.
Airbags and seat-related issues are frequent, affecting 20% of the vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2017 Audi A4
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2017 Audi A4 by NHTSA:
Summary: 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 reme...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Audi A4
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Audi A4 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
I have been trying to register my vehicle in California for several months, however, in order to do so, I need the car to pass SMOG. Initially I was told that the issue was related to an emissions sensor and that I had to drive the vehicle a few more miles to get the sensor to register properly. This turned out not to be the case. A short time later, the fuel gauge completely stopped working. ...
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. The dealer specifically noted there were no signs of outside influence or misuse, and the issue is likely due to internal headlight temperature, external am...
The Audi "Drive Select" transmission function switches to "Sports Mode" in rain and snow. This makes the vehicle dangerously jumpy in slippery conditions. This has happened to me (I think) three times in the last couple of years, always in rain or snow. My knowledge of the car allowed me to slowly delve into the screen functions to reprogram the transmission while driving in these dangerous cond...
I experienced similar undesirable engine behavior on two occasions. Upon coming to a stop, the auto start/stop system stopped the engine. 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:...
Coolant leak from thermostat/ water pump housing.
Turbo needs to be replaced after only 58,000 miles. This has been an issue causing recalls on Audi models in different years.
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, total repair bill $3240.27. After vehicle repairs the steering noises and vibra...
2017 A4 B9 premium plus model, AWD, 2.0T. I have had an Audi dealership service my car for all major service intervals outside of oil change, not only at recommended intervals but even early. 3 years ago I had my 40K mile service done at 35K miles. Spark plugs were replaced by Audi Hawthorne in Westchester county, NY. One week ago, at 49K miles (well before the 6 years or 60K miles Audi says thei...
Start Stop system failures. Upon engine restarting, it stalls instead. This has happened on multiple occasions and the dealer response is to just turn it off every time you start the car. Causes dangerous situations due to inability to move car until full power cycle happens.
I was driving on the freeway at night. There was a sudden explosion that sounded like a gunshot. I was shocked and afraid. I heard the rain outside, so it seemed like there was a hole in the car. I pulled off the freeway and went to a well lit gas station to inspect the car. The sunroof had exploded upward. Fortunately the fabric sunshade was closed so the shards of glass remained above it. T...
The Thermostat and it's house is failing on my of the 2017 audi a4 causing the coolant water to leak which makes the car heat up quickly due to leak and not having sufficient coolant water. So many of the b9 generation of audi a4 owners are also complain about this issue. Audi is charging $2500 to fix this known issue.
Random Engine Coolant Warning. Since purchase of vehicle mid-March 2022, I have randomly received engine coolant warnings on the dashboard. Visual checks of the coolant reservoir reveal no issues. Internet search of issue reveals a number of other owners have had the same problem. Issue has occurred at all speeds and temperature conditions.
The contact owns a 2017 Audi A4. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH with the front driver's seat heater engaged, she felt a burning sensation as the seat was overheating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact disengaged the seat heater. The contact stated that upon arriving at her destination and exiting the vehicle, she noticed that a portion of the seat's lumbar support had me...
Symptom of low coolant in overflow reservoir; below minimum line. Pressure test concluded leak in thermostat/water pump part. Appears to be a rampant problem spanning over a decade and affecting multiple trims and redesigns (i.e B8/B9 redesign/updates). Safety put at risk for possible vehicle fire or high pressure damage for engine coolant/radiator. The problem was reproduced and confirmed at...
My 2017 Audi A4, is having a problem with the passenger air bag sensor. Whether there is a person on the passenger seat or not, the air bag sensor with turn on or off without warning and display a message. I have read that this problem has been recalled before.
anti-freeze started coming out from the bottom of my vehicle... seems like that is a water pump issue, also I seen that I'm not the only person with this same issue with Audi A4... this should be a recall to resolve this problem.... thank you
Engine light on Dealership found a rodent nest in the engine space in the car. Dealership considers that fluids used to coat Audi engine wiring attract rodents. Dealership considers this to be a health and safety issue. Dealership considers it essential to replace the Audi air filter. Dealership is checking wires to assess any gnawed damage. I need the engine to be power-washed and the nest area...
The power steering on my A4 went out randomly with only 52k miles on the odometer. Thankfully it went out while the car was parked, but if it went out while I was driving it could've caused an accident. I towed it to a shop to diagnose the issue and they confirmed that the power steering rack went bad. While doing research I found that Audi extended the warranty on the steering racks for 2013-201...
My 2017 Audi A4 transmission started to fail as it frequently was not able to shift gears unless I came to a complete stop and restarted my car. This made it difficult to drive at a higher speed when I was on a major road or highway. I took it to a mechanic specializing in transmissions and he confirmed that the transmission was failing. The car would give me an indicator light of a transmission m...
While dropping off a passenger at a store front during a rain storm and a few seconds after the passenger exited the vehicle the sunroof glass exploded upward spontaneously! Some glass chunks flew out of the car and then gravity pulled the rest back down inside onto me and scattered around the interior in tiny little shards. Fortunately I was wearing a jacket and nothing got in my hair or on my f...
Showing 20 of 81 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Audi A4
Has the 2017 AUDI A4 been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 AUDI A4 has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 AUDI A4 have?
The 2017 AUDI A4 has 81 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 4 involved crashes. 2 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 AUDI A4?
The 2017 AUDI A4 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 AUDI A4?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 AUDI A4 involve engine (15 complaints), air bags (13 complaints), unknown or other (11 complaints). Other affected components include air bags,seats, power train, steering.
How many crash reports does the 2017 AUDI A4 have?
There are 4 crash reports associated with the 2017 AUDI A4 out of 81 total complaints (4.9% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 AUDI A4 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2017 AUDI A4 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 AUDI A4?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 AUDI A4.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 AUDI A4?
2 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 AUDI A4. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 AUDI A4?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 AUDI A4 is acceptable with caveats. It has 81 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 AUDI A4?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 AUDI A4 are: 1. ENGINE (15 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (13 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (11 complaints), 4. AIR BAGS,SEATS (7 complaints), 5. POWER TRAIN (2 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 15 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 AUDI A4?
Be cautious of engine cooling and airbag issues, as these can pose safety risks and require regular maintenance. The 2017 AUDI A4 has 81 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2017 AUDI A4?
The 2017 AUDI A4 receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 81 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 4 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and Engine Cooling and Airbags and Seat Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2017 AUDI A4?
Known issues with the 2017 AUDI A4 include: Engine and Engine Cooling, Airbags and Seat Issues. These are based on patterns found across 81 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 Audi A4?
Yes, there are recalls for engine and airbag issues.
What are the common issues with the 2017 Audi A4?
Common issues include engine cooling problems and airbag and seat sensor failures.
How can I prevent coolant leaks in my 2017 Audi A4?
Regularly check the coolant level and have the cooling system inspected by a professional.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine cooling and airbag issues, as these can pose safety risks and require regular maintenance.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Audi A4
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Audi A4. The data includes 81 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 4 reported crashes, 2 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Audi A4 an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13