2017 Audi A4 problems, complaints & recalls

2017 Audi A4 recalls (1)

• Recall 21V874000Nov 10, 2021208,332 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · SEATS

  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.

  Risk: 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.

Recent 2017 Audi A4 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Sep 11, 2026NYEngine

   my initial water pump from Audi was replaced via recall. then I recently changed the thermostat hose and my water pump started leaking again. can you please look into these faulty water pumps?

   NHTSA complaint #11763714 · source
2. Filed Dec 5, 2025CAFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   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. I took it to an authorized Audi repair shop that told me the issue was related to a…

   NHTSA complaint #11703360 · source
3. Filed Aug 25, 2025NJLighting

   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 ambient temperature, and age. This defect directly impairs visibility and makes…

   NHTSA complaint #11682928 · source
4. Filed Dec 20, 2024MOOther / Unknown

   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 conditions, but I don't know if I could always do it again, or if others might find…

   NHTSA complaint #11631789 · source
5. Filed Oct 16, 2024MAEngine

   Audi A4 Water pump and Thermostat failure. VW/ Audi USA had a recall on this issue for several models including the Audi A4 models thru 2016. My car was built in 2016 with model year 2017 and according to the recall my car did not qualify. Since then there has been several Class Action Lawsuits for this same issue. I was fortunate I discovered the leak while the car was parked in my garage and wasn't on the freeway. It seems that VW/Audi USA hasn't corrected this issue…

   NHTSA complaint #11620159 · source
6. Filed Sep 11, 2024PAOther / Unknown

   Randomly, sometimes multiple times in a 30-60 minute time window while driving, the media center turns itself off and reboots. While driving with the navigation system or other key functionality of this system (phone connectivity, radio, etc) the driver suddenly has lost the current connection that was in use. As for the navigation or phone connection, this disconnection could result in a sudden dangerous situation. The manufacturer knows of this “bug” and has a software…

   NHTSA complaint #11613948 · source
7. Filed Jul 29, 2024MIFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The fuel level sensor that is built into the gas tank, sensor #2, has failed and I only had 30,354 miles on the car at the time of failure. Audi Birmingham, in Birmingham, MI, confirmed the failure via a diagnostic test.

   NHTSA complaint #11605079 · source
8. Filed May 27, 2024MDAirbagsEngine

   Every time I start the car, a message comes on saying that the passenger airbag is off even when I have an occupant next to me. I spoke with the dealer and he told me that this recall was claimed and fixed in 2022 in Texas by the previous owner but I replied that the problem continues and he told me that this was no longer an Audi problem. Furthermore, every time it accelerates over 40 miles per hour, a message about the driving system in malfunction appears and also the…

   NHTSA complaint #11590889 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology