AUDI Q3 (2017) recall — Exterior Lighting
Volkswagen recalls certain 2016-2017 Audi Q3 vehicles where brake lights may not activate during emergency braking, increasing crash risk. Owners must contact Audi for free software update.
Use caution until it’s fixed
A vehicle approaching from behind may not have any warning that the vehicle is stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Volkswagen is recalling specific 2016-2017 Audi Q3 models because brake lights might not turn on if the parking brake is used while braking suddenly. This could cause a crash if a vehicle behind doesn't see the stop signal. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1225575-audi-q3-2017-exterior-lighting-recall-risk-of-crash-during.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1225575-audi-q3-2017-exterior-lighting-recall-risk-of-crash-during · Updated October 8, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #17V400000
Cite this page
“Audi Q3 (2017) Exterior Lighting Recall: Risk of Crash During Stopping.” GovInfoNow, updated October 8, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1225575-audi-q3-2017-exterior-lighting-recall-risk-of-crash-during. Based on NHTSA recall #17V400000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V400000).
Why it’s dangerous
If the parking brake is engaged during emergency braking, the brake lights won't activate. This means vehicles behind might not see the stopping signal, increasing crash risk. The issue violates federal safety standards for vehicle lighting.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2016-2017 Audi Q3 vehicles with the specific parking brake issue are affected. Drivers who frequently stop suddenly while using the parking brake are at higher risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2016-2017 Audi Q3 has the parking brake engaged while braking suddenly. The recall covers vehicles with the specific software issue identified by Volkswagen's recall number 45G6.
- Brand
Audi- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Audi Customer Service
Call 1-800-253-2834 to get the free software update for your vehicle.
Update Vehicle Software
Dealers will provide a free software update to fix the brake light issue.
What NHTSA says to do
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6.
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
The brake lights may not activate if the parking brake is used during emergency braking, which violates federal safety standards.
How do I know if my vehicle is affected?
Your vehicle is affected if it's a 2016-2017 Audi Q3 with the specific software issue identified by Volkswagen's recall number 45G6.
What should I do if I have this vehicle?
Contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834 to schedule a free software update at a dealer.
Contact Audi
We’ve drafted a message you can send Audi to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 17V400000 — Audi Audi Hello, I own a Audi that is covered by recall 17V400000 from Audi. The official recall notice states: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 45G6. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #17V400000 (June 26, 2017)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 8, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.