NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 84 owner complaints for the 2017 Audi A4. Most complaints involve air bags (26) and engine (21). The EPA rates it 25–31 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each A4 model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 92 |
| 1997 | 99 |
| 1998 | 258 |
| 1999 | 190 |
| 2000 | 96 |
| 2001 | 130 |
| 2002 | 189 |
| 2003 | 215 |
| 2004 | 189 |
| 2005 | 219 |
| 2006 | 298 |
| 2008 | 191 |
| 2009 | 144 |
| 2010 | 64 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 45 |
| 2013 | 111 |
| 2014 | 76 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 84 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 158 |
“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 melted and created a hole. Additionally, the contact noticed that there was a hole in her coat. There was no warning light illuminated. There was no injury sustained. The contact was able to drive to her residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V874000 (Seats, Air Bags) as the VIN was included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,867.”
“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?”
“I have been experiencing something that might be related to safety recall 74E3, but i am not sure. I've been driving with my seatbelt on with no one at the passenger seat. But the seatbelt sign keeps showing up with the beeping sound, and the sign says Safety System Malfunction with front airbags off.... I called the Audi Fletcher Jones dealership in Irvine, California, the service team told me that they don't have the part to help fix this recall and there is nothing they can do. They also would not tell me when this recall can be fixed. I called a few other dealership in Orange County, California, seems none of the dealership has the parts to fix this. I have not yet encountered an accident, but felt risky driving the car now.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 Ultra Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 37 | 31 | $2,500 | 284 |
| A4 Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,750 | 315 |
| A4 quattro Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 31 | 27 | $2,850 | 330 |
| A4 quattro Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 24 | 33 | 27 | $2,850 | 329 |
| A4 allroad quattro Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 23 | 28 | 25 | $3,100 | 349 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 84 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (26), engine (21), seats (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2017 Audi A4 at 25–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2017 Audi A4 5 out of 5 stars overall.