NHTSA vehicle safety data

2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet Recalls & Complaints

The 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 25 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet owner complaints

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet, describing incidents dated January 4, 2017 to February 14, 2024.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 13 complaints
  • Engine 5 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
  • Power Train 3 complaints
  • Seat Belts 2 complaints
  • Electrical System 1 complaint

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11582595 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2017 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…

  • ODI #11501640 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2017 Audi A3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to make abnormal sounds and inadvertently downshifted. In addition, the reduced power warning light, check engine warning light, and the ESP warning light illuminated. The dealer was made…

  • ODI #11489321 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2017 Audi A3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer…

Read all 25 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Passenger Air Bag May Deactivate

NHTSA #19V474000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification · NHTSA notice

Reported June 19, 2019 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 138,896 vehicles

Repair completion: 82.12% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 69Z4 · Owners notified September 12, 2019 · Vehicles built July 7, 2016 – March 14, 2019 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.

Safety consequence

A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Engine Control Software May Cause Stall

NHTSA #17V508000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported August 16, 2017 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 8,383 vehicles

Repair completion: 96.59% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 24DF · Owners notified September 19, 2017 · Vehicles built September 23, 2016 – August 25, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A3 Cabriolet and A3 Sedan vehicles. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may misinterpret the flywheel rotation on engine start-up as a "knocking" condition, and the adjusted air/fuel mixture may result in an engine stall.

Safety consequence

An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24DF.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Frontal Air Bag may deploy too Forcibly/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #17V196000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification · NHTSA notice

Reported March 22, 2017 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 11,618 vehicles

Repair completion: 96.9% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 69Q3 · Owners notified April 20, 2017

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi A3 and S3 Sedan vehicles. In a lower-speed crash situation, the air bag control unit software may deploy the passenger frontal air bag improperly if the front seat passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or is laying in the seat with the seat reclined. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Safety consequence

If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q3.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Audi A3 Cabriolet model years

Check your 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi A3 Cabriolet at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check an Audi VIN