This page covers 3 recalls, 25 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet.
28 mpg combined
8.4 L/100km
Subcompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
For the 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet, airbag-related complaints dominate the complaint set by a wide margin. The most common pattern owners describe is the airbag warning light illuminating, sometimes accompanied by a dashboard message directing them to a dealer, with many noting the light appears intermittently rather than staying on consistently. Several owners report being told parts were unavailable when they brought the car in, leaving the vehicle unrepaired for extended periods. Engine and powertrain complaints each account for a small cluster of reports; one recurring thread involves unexpected downshifts, reduced power warnings, and multiple warning lights, including the check engine and stability control lights, coming on together while driving.
25
Total Complaints
By System
The 2017 Audi A3 Cabriolet has 3 recalls, the most serious involving the passenger airbag system, which can either deactivate entirely or deploy with excessive force, both of which raise the risk of injury in a crash.
Two recalls involve the front passenger airbag. In the first, a faulty electrical contact in the passenger occupant detection system can cause the system to incorrectly flag a fault and shut the passenger airbag off, leaving the front seat passenger without that protection in a collision. In the second, the airbag control unit software can misread the passenger's seating position during a lower-speed crash, causing the airbag to fire harder than intended, particularly when the passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or reclining. The third recall covers the engine: the engine control software can misinterpret a signal from the flywheel at startup and treat it as an engine knock, prompting the system to alter the air and fuel mixture in a way that stalls the engine while driving.
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty electrical connection in the passenger air bag detection system may cause it to incorrectly sense a problem and turn off the passenger air bag.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the connector and reroute the cable to restore proper air bag operation.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control software may misread the flywheel motion during startup as engine knock, causing incorrect fuel-air mixture adjustment and engine stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control software at no cost to correct the misinterpretation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag control software may deploy the air bag incorrectly during a lower-speed crash if the passenger is sitting on the seat edge or lying back with the seat reclined.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control module software at no cost to correct the deployment logic.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
