2017 Audi A4

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

75/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Audi A4, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine	15	19%
Air bags	13	16%
Unknown or other	11	14%
Air bags	7	9%
Power train	2	2%
Steering	2	2%
Electrical system	2	2%
Engine and engine cooling	2	2%
Tires	2	2%
Engine	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I have been trying to register my vehicle in California for several months, however, in order to do so, I need the car to pass SMOG. Initially I was told that the issue was related to an emissions sensor and that I had
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

The headlights on my 2017 Audi A4 have developed stress cracks in the headlamp housing. According to the inspection performed by an authorized Audi dealer, these cracks will obscure headlight projection and lower the vis
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

The Audi "Drive Select" transmission function switches to "Sports Mode" in rain and snow. This makes the vehicle dangerously jumpy in slippery conditions. This has happened to me (I think) three times in the last coupl
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

I experienced similar undesirable engine behavior on two occasions. Upon coming to a stop, the auto start/stop system stopped the engine. Shortly after, when attempting to drive away, the stop/start system attempted to s
NHTSA complaint: Engine

Turbo needs to be replaced after only 58,000 miles. This has been an issue causing recalls on Audi models in different years.
NHTSA complaint: Power train

2017 A4 Audi Allroad- while making turns at low speeds with the steering wheel, the vehicle makes cracking, popping and vibration noises. The noise was inspected and reproduced, confirmed on 1/4/2023 by Audi Fletcher Jon
NHTSA complaint: Steering

2017 A4 B9 premium plus model, AWD, 2.0T. I have had an Audi dealership service my car for all major service intervals outside of oil change, not only at recommended intervals but even early. 3 years ago I had my 40K mi
NHTSA complaint: Engine

Start Stop system failures. Upon engine restarting, it stalls instead. This has happened on multiple occasions and the dealer response is to just turn it off every time you start the car. Causes dangerous situations du
NHTSA complaint: Engine

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 Audi A4. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seats 21V874000

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 Passen

Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer se

The seven scores

Reliability raw	83	excellent
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	69	good
Depreciation	71	good
Performance	67	good
Efficiency	47	below average
Safety	100	excellent

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 40% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 41% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 31% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 76% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 83: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2017 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 69: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety 100: NHTSA crash testing blended with IIHS awards.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2017 Audi A4?

Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 15 of them (19%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2017 Audi A4 reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2017 Audi A4 last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2017 Audi A4?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.