2017 Audi A4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Audi A4 has 75 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: coolant level was low so took it into the dealer. the thermostat housing was leaking coolant. *tr.

2 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

23 complaints

31%

• COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW SO TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS LEAKING COOLANT. *TR
• 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
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW SO TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS LEAKING COOLANT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

13 complaints

17%

• 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 COMPON
• PASSENGER AIRBAG GOES ON AND OFF RANDOM WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. DRIVING ON SIDE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
• I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY AUDI A4 AND IMMEDIATELY HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JUST RECENTLY THE BACK WINDOW WILL RANDOMLY ROLL DOWN AND LAST NIGHT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE SAFETY SYSTEM LIGHT AND MESSAGE CAME ON. IT STATED SEE OWNERS MANUAL. I BEGAN TO DRIVE AND THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. AS I DROVE IT BE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 COMPON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

12%

• 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.
• THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME AUDI FOR THE TRIM ON THE BANG & OLUFSEN SPEAKERS. MINE ARE COMING OFF AS WELL AND ARE VERY SHARP AND CAN INJURE/CUT YOU VERY EASILY.
• BANG & OLUFSEN TRIM ON FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR IS PEELING OFF AND HAS CUT ME A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TRY AND PUSH IT BACK ONTO THE DOOR, BUT IT KEEPS POPPING OFF. IT IS VERY SHARP. EVENTUALLY, IT BROKE OFF AND I JUST STUCK IT BACK ON THE DOOR.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• 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.
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

6 complaints

• 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 CONCER
• While driving on the highway, there was a message that flashed on the dashboard about the coolant system, within a couple minutes, I felt like the car was shutting down while going 65 miles per hour. So I pulled over on the shoulder of the Turnpike Southbound in Miami. This cased a great safety pro
• 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. My personal investigatio

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 CONCER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 75 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW SO TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS LEAKING COOLANT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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 COMPON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)