Recall 17V280 affects 2,091 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet vehicles for an incorrect production date label. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
Audi is recalling 2,091 2015 A3 Cabriolet vehicles because the safety certification label lists the wrong production date. That wrong date can make future recall checks harder and increase the risk that an owner misses a safety recall; Audi dealers will install a corrected label free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The safety certification label on the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is the factory label that identifies required vehicle information, including when the vehicle was built. Owners and Audi dealers use that label to confirm that the car matches federal certification information. It is not a moving part, but it is part of the vehicle's compliance record.
On affected vehicles, the label was printed with the wrong production date. That means the label does not match the vehicle's actual build information and does not meet federal certification requirements. The repair is an overlay label with the corrected production date, so the dealer updates the label rather than replacing a mechanical component.
There is no warning sign before failure. This recall is about incorrect label information, so the vehicle will not show a light, sound, smell, or change in driving feel before the problem is found.
Who's affected?
| 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2,091 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If another recall uses the production date to define affected vehicles, the wrong date can leave an owner unsure whether that safety repair applies. That uncertainty increases the risk of injury or a crash because a needed recall repair can be missed. Repair is free at any franchised Audi dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Audi dealer to schedule the free overlay-label installation that corrects the vehicle production date on the safety certification label.
- Bring the recall notice if Audi mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V280 when you call.
- Keep the corrected label with the vehicle paperwork after the dealer installs it, so future recall checks use the right production date.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Audi technician installs an overlay label with the correct vehicle production date over the incorrect safety certification label. The label update brings the certification information into line with the vehicle record. Parts and labor are free under the recall, and the dealer handles the label installation during the recall visit. No reimbursement is offered for this campaign because Audi is providing the label repair at no charge.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| April 26, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 23, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V280?
Recall 17V280 covers 2,091 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet vehicles with a safety certification label that lists the wrong vehicle production date. That incorrect date can make future recall checks harder for owners. Audi dealers will install an overlay label with the correct production date for free.
What should I do if my 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Audi is included in recall 17V280. If it is, contact a franchised Audi dealer and ask for the 51F5 recall label repair. The dealer installs an overlay label with the correct vehicle production date for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost to the owner. For recall 17V280, Audi dealers install the corrected production-date overlay label free of charge at any franchised Audi dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is not a part failure while driving. The wrong production date on the safety certification label can prevent an owner from knowing whether a later safety recall applies to the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash if that future recall is missed.
What if I bought this Audi A3 Cabriolet used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is included, then call an Audi dealer or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 and reference recall 51F5.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V280000 |
|---|---|
| Audi customer service | 1-800-253-2834 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V280 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V280000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →