Model year guide

2017 Audi s3

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2017 Audi s3 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 37 on record.

2017 Audi s3 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2017 Audi s3 at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints9
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined24 mpg
Typical price$31,398

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2017 Audi s3 recalls 2

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger NHTSA Campaign #21V198000 · manufacturer #69BY · 22/03/2021

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.

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 NHTSA Campaign #17V196000 · manufacturer #69Q3 · 22/03/2017

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 Vehic…

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2017 Audi s3 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

2017 Audi s3 safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 10.9% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2017 Audi S3 4 DR AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2017 Audi s3 MPG & running costs

Combined24 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,400
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S6)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume10 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,000 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

What's a 2017 Audi s3 worth?

Low
$26,995
Typical price
$31,398
High
$34,988

From 6 comparable 2017 Audi s3 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2017 Audi s3 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,000
Fuel only$17,000
Per mile$0.23

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
176.0 in
Width
70.9 in
Height
54.7 in
Wheelbase
103.5 in
Curb weight
3,450 lb
Front track
61.0 in
Rear track
60.2 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2017 Audi s3. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) Closed

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. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and A…

NHTSA #RQ23007 · Fuel System, Gasoline · opened Dec 2023 · closed Jul 2024

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 620

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 620.

This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.

Bulletin TSB_2052680_2 · Sep 2026

This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.

Bulletin TSB_2083409_1 · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.

Bulletin TSB_2074846_5 · Steering · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.

Bulletin TSB_2020552_15 · Visibility/wiper · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.

Bulletin TSB_2078648_4 · Structure · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.

Bulletin TSB_2030471_9 · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.

Bulletin TSB_2051095_12 · Sep 2026

This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.

Bulletin TSB_2068999_5 · Structure · Sep 2026

This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.

Bulletin TSB_2074436_3 · Aug 2026

This bulletin provides informaiotn when there are rattling/grinding noises reported from the front end.

Bulletin TSB_2068629_3 · Suspension · Aug 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the S3 AWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2017 Audi s3. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Airbag

Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may not work properly. This could cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a person is seated in the front passenger seat. Note: This problem would cause an error message to display on the instrument panel and a warning chime to sound. The airbag indicator light would also…

Transport Canada #2021169 · Mar 2021

Airbag

On certain vehicles, the airbag control module may not properly classify an out of position front passenger seat occupant. In the event of a crash, the airbag could deploy the front passenger airbag with more force than required, increasing the risk of injury to the front seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will update the airbag control module software.

Transport Canada #2017165 · Mar 2017

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Audi s3

The Audi S3 is a performance version of the Audi A3 small family car, produced by German automaker Audi since 1999. S3 variants of have been produced from the first generation through the fourth generation of Audi A3.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2017 Audi s3 trims & engines on record

Trims
quattro Premium Plus · quattro Prestige
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 292 hp

2017 Audi s3 vehicles on record

Other Audi s3 model years

2017 Audi s3 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Audi s3 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 Audi s3. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Audi s3?

Across all 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, power train, forward collision avoidance.

What is the 2017 Audi s3 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2017 Audi s3 an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2017 Audi s3 get?

The 2017 Audi s3 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 24 mpg combined (21 city / 28 highway).

How much is a 2017 Audi s3 worth?

Comparable 2017 Audi s3 listings run roughly $26,995–$34,988, typically around $31,398 (from 6 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.