2017 Audi S3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S3 years
- Not enough data 3rd of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Audi S3. That ranks 3rd out of 10 S3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (5 complaints, 56%), typically at around 35,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 9owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 Audi S3 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 | 56% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 11% | 6,703 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 11% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 11% | 18,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 Audi S3 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger; air bags:on-off switch assembly
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Risk: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: 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."
Risk: If the air bag deploys with more force than intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) (RQ23007) — opened Dec 12, 2023, closed Jul 1, 2024, led to recall 24V110.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
transmission failed after going over a small pothole at 20mph, after which engine revved up than slammed into high gear and jerked the car forward, car has been towed to dealership for inspection, transmission light came on
I have contacted Audi dealerships in my area with regard to Manufacturer Recall Number 69BY NHTSA Recall Number 21V198. But they say they do not have the parts to fix the recall and have no idea when they can fix it
The contact owns a 2017 Audi S3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and the contact was notified that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer…
The contact owns a 2017 Audi S3. The front passenger seat air bag warning light failed to illuminate whether there was a passenger seated in the seat or not. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that…
The contact owns a 2017 Audi S3. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). The owner contacted a local dealer to set up a recall appointment. The contact set the appointment and was told by the dealer that the parts would be ordered and that the dealer would contact the…
Other Audi S3 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 S3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 S3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 S3 | 2 | 7 |
| 2021 S3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 S3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 S3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2018 S3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2017 | 9 | 2 |
| 2016 S3 | 14 | 3 |
| 2015 S3 | 53 | 2 |
See all Audi S3 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Audi S3?
Owners most often report air bags, forward collision avoidance, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Audi S3?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 Audi S3 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S3 model years, the 2017 has too little data to compare, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.