2017 Audi A4 Reliability
The 2017 Audi A4 has 84 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with nearby A4 model years (2015–2019), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the A4's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
84
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2017 Audi A4 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 model year, filed between 2016 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 26 | 31% |
| Engine | 21 | 25% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 19% |
| Seats | 11 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 5 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 6% |
2017 Audi A4 recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2017 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V874000 | Nov 10, 2021 | 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… |
How the 2017 compares with nearby A4 years
Verdicts compare these A4 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 44 | 0 | Engine | Better year |
| 2016 | 26 | 0 | Engine | Better year |
| 2017 (this page) | 84 | 1 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2018 | 52 | 4 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | Electrical system | Too few reports |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2017 Audi A4
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Seats: try every power and manual adjustment and check seat heaters if fitted.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2017 Audi A4 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2017 Audi A4 reliability FAQ
Is the 2017 Audi A4 reliable?
The 2017 Audi A4 has 84 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with nearby A4 model years (2015–2019), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the A4's typical year.
What are the most common 2017 Audi A4 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2017 Audi A4 are air bags (26), engine (21), unknown or other (16), seats (11). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2017 Audi A4 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 Audi A4, including 21V874000 (seats). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2017 Audi A4 compare with the 2016 and 2018 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2016 has 26 complaints and 0 recalls (better year); the 2018 has 52 complaints and 4 recalls (solid). The 2017 has 84 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2017 Audi A4?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Audi A4 research
Other Audi A4 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2017 A4, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.