Most common 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A3 Cabriolet complaints by model year
Best A3 Cabriolet years: 2018, 2017, 2016. Years to avoid: 2015. Compare all years →
2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet recalls (3)
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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.
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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.
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.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet:
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle.
What 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet owners say
Air bags
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 upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated and the warning message "Air Bag Off" would illuminate though there was a passenger in the front passenger's seat. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger's seat belt chime reminder would engage while driving with no passenger in the front passenger's seat. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2017 Audi A3. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated and the message "Air Bag Malfunction. Please Seek Audi Dealer" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring intermittently. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V198000 (Air Bags). However, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the failure was associated with the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Engine & cooling
Engine shuts off when car is in drive or reverse while vehicle is in motion and displays message of "start/stop system deactivated. Please restart engine manually. The yellow check engine light then appears. And the vehicle rolls away unless brakes are applied. This happened multiple times - 10 times in my car, 3 in my first loaner car and 6 in my second loaner car. The vehicle is usually in motion right after the engine is started and the car is driven for about 500 feet, after the car is going 3-5 MPH the engine shuts off and the car will roll away. On other occasions when the car is stopped in traffic the engine shuts off and will roll away. Each time you must put the vehicle in park and restart the engine. On another occasion a pre sense malfunction occurred where the car slammed on its brakes in traffic and almost caused a rear end collision. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Audi A3. While driving unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (crown Audi located at 19940 us highway 19 n clearwater, fl 33764 [phone]) where it was still being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,000. Updated 08/22/17 updated 8/25/2017
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2017 Audi A3. The contact stated that while placing the gear shifter into PARK, the vehicle would reverse. The "Put Vehicle In Park Immediately" warning message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive it to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer-scheduled for the vehicle to be towed to an authorized dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
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 aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 25 / 34 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 A3 Cabriolet rates better than average: 57% fewer complaints than a typical year of the A3 Cabriolet at the same age. It is one of the best A3 Cabriolet years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet?
The air bags — 13 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sensor › occupant classification. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and transmission & drivetrain (3).
How many recalls does the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet, the most recent from June 19, 2019 (occupant classification). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi A3 Cabriolet?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2017 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015. See the full Audi A3 Cabriolet years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 60% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.