AUDI Q7 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used AUDI Q7 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the AUDI Q7 has 634 owner complaints and 40 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2023 drew the fewest.
- Make
- AUDI
- Model
- Q7
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 634
- Safety recall campaigns
- 40
- Crash-related complaints
- 19
- Fire-related complaints
- 4
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (318 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2023 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
AUDI Q7: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe AUDI Q7 has 634 NHTSA complaints and 40 recalls on record. 19 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 634 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 40 federal recall campaigns
- 19 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
40 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
STEERING
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 634 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
634 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The emergency call is malfunctioning in the overhead console.
Sunday morning, XXX, at 07:25 CST, while driving west on [XXX] outside of [XXX], the moonroof of the 2025 Audi Q7 spontaneously exploded with what sounded like a gunshot in the car. The sunscreen was closed at the time, so very little glass entered the vehicle. There were no other vehicles around us at the time. There was no rock hit. We took the next exit and examined the moonroof and found it to be completely gone with a thin rim of remaining glass. We drove to [XXX] and covered the entire moonroof with a well secured contractor bag and continued our remaining trip. I contacted the Glenwood Springs, Audi dealership, and took the vehicle for a dealer examination/inspection on 08/18/26. They told me that this was not covered under the warranty, and that it was probabpy caused by a rock striking the glass. We were very fortunate that the sunscreen was closed at the time or we would have been showered with glass. There were no premonitory signs that this was about to occur. While at the dealership we were shown a copy of recently released TSB from Audi (XXX) acknowledging the potential for glass moonroof spontaneously shattering. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
4/30/26 I came home, parked in my driveway, got out of the car and opened the left back door to get my handicapped son out of the car. He wanted his talker from his backpack(he is nonverbal), so I sat next to him on the back seat and gave him the talker. Then I got out of the car and helped him to get out, closed the left rear door and turned towards my house holding his hand. At that point my mother who got out of the house because she saw us coming started yelling that the car is moving. I jumped, opened the driver door put my right leg inside trying to stop it but by then the car had already hit my fence right where we have a gate. The gate unlatched and opened and the car got then stuck in the opening pinning my left leg which was still On the ground against the door and the car as the car itself was pinned inside the fence opening. Eventually the gate completely gave in and the car continued to slowly move forward into my backyard, I got my right leg out while I saw the car rolling and taking down a shed and stopping in my tree. My leg was hurting very badly so I called 911. I still have some minor discomfort but had a large hematoma and significant pain for 2 weeks. Then the car had a failure to start several times on two different days on one day needing 15 attempts to start. I took the car to the dealer after the first incident and they said no codes and car is fine. I took it again after the car didn’t start and they mocked me. There was 15000 in body damage. I am a doctor and discussed with 5 different patients that are mechanics and they all said this car has clearly a defect and I should Not be driving it.
WHile trying to park 2025 Q7 the vehicle accelerated without warning and adaptive cruise flashed quickly then disappeared. I was the driver and had a passanger along. THis incedent repeated itself within 30 mins. I am not comfortable driving the car..
Start/Stop button will not start the engine at times. May take several attempts before engine will start. Had to have Audi Roadside Assist come to my location to get the vehicle car started. Drove vehicle to nearest dealer with the "engine light" illuminated. Was advised that Audi has a software update that needs to be installed. Update was supposed to drop by week 10 of 2026 but it is still not available as of week 12. Audi and the dealer cannot provide a resolution after vehicle has been in shop for 3 weeks. Was told that I could pick up the car since they did not see it as a safety issue, but if the vehicle if often unable to start why would one trust driving it?
I own a 2025 Audi Q7 and have experienced repeated malfunctions related to the vehicle’s driver assistance and safety systems. The vehicle frequently displays warnings such as “Driving Assist Not Available” and other safety system errors. These issues started while the vehicle was still relatively new and have continued intermittently. The warnings appear while driving and indicate that important driver assistance systems are not functioning properly. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership multiple times for inspection. However, the dealership often reported that they could not duplicate the problem or that no fault codes were found. Despite this, the warnings continue to appear and the problem remains unresolved. Because these systems are related to safety features such as emergency braking and driver assistance, I am concerned that the malfunction could create a dangerous driving situation. The vehicle has multiple documented service visits and I also have video evidence showing the warnings when they occur. I am reporting this issue because the malfunction involves critical safety systems and has not been properly resolved by the dealership.
Read 14 more owner reports
New Audi Q7 only 1,392 miles driven, front brake failed, Audi NOT willing to remedy under warranty claiming unsubstantiated brakes overheated due to excessive braking ? Clearly manufacturer fault and serious safety hazard - no support from Audi Grapevine
The vehicle has adaptive cruise control with something called "predictive control." The occurrence happened on I-40 in New Mexico with a 75mph speed limit. I went to pass a semi and a pickup truck followed me into the passing lane. Both lanes were clear ahead for at least a tenth of a mile. As I got to the front of the semi, we reached an exit off the right lane. The Q7 slammed on the brakes - not slowed down, it literally slammed on the brakes. Luckily I reacted to hit the gas pedal to override the cruise control and the pickup truck driver reacted by slamming on his brakes. But a simple pass could have resulted in a disastrous accident solely because of the vehicle. I had some of these issues earlier in my trip, but not to the degree of the above incident. It was most common when passing near any intersection, including exit ramps and emergency vehicle cross-overs. An intersection icon showed up and the vehicle slowed down - sometimes gently, sometimes more forcefully. It appears to be operating within its design parameters. I reported the issue to the dealer, but I am currently across the country. I am awaiting a response. I found the settings to turn off predictive control and am testing the system to see if this works. But if the system is operating as designed, there appears to be a flaw if predictive control is active.
The contact owns a 2025 Audi Q7. The contact stated that the Lane Departure: Lane Keep Assist unintendedly engaged. While driving 40-70 MPH and attempting to switch lanes, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The contact stated that the Lane Departure: Lane Keep Assist was turned off. The Lane Departure: Lane Keep Assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer on two occasions, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed. The system was reset, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
I am filing a formal complaint regarding serious safety-related defects in a newly purchased Audi vehicle. Immediately upon delivery, the car presented: • A faulty solenoid, a critical engine component, creating risks of engine misfires, sudden stalling, loss of acceleration, and transmission malfunctions while driving. Such failures pose imminent hazards during the cross-country travel that military families like mine regularly undertake. • Defective windshield wipers from the outset, jeopardizing visibility and safety during inclement weather. These defects demonstrate systemic quality control failures by Audi, undermining the safety expectations owed to U.S. consumers. Requested Action I urge NHTSA to: 1. Investigate Audi for potential violations of federal motor vehicle safety standards. 2. Evaluate whether a recall is warranted, as this appears not to be an isolated case. 3. Hold Audi accountable for delivering vehicles with concealed or unaddressed safety defects. As a U.S. military officer, I cannot risk the safety of my family in a vehicle plagued by such defects. American families deserve full confidence that new vehicles meet uncompromising safety standards.
The system keeps turning itself on after I knowingly turn it off. I have seen that other customers have complained for the same reason. I have owned the car since 1/30/25, it has turned itself on average 1-2x per week since owning the car. There are a myriad of other software issues with the car that Audi refuses to fix. When it comes back on, if I do not immediately notice, making any lane change becomes very dangerous, or particularly in a panic situation, the steering wheel is jerked so hard by the car that it is not a safe system to have turned on.
Purchased my new 2025 Audi Q7 on 11/23/2024. About a week later, I discovered that after I permanently turned OFF the Lane Departure Warning/Alert, it came back on unexpectedly and nearly caused me to overcorrect during a lane change and nearly caused me to hit an oncoming vehicle. This problem has been recurring at random intervals over the last 3 months of approximately 3 to 10 key cycles with the same safety issues. I've advised the dealership & Audi of the problem and they have refused to do anything since they say it is a 'software problem' and hope to have a 'fix' in Q2 or Q3. I understand that this issue has been ongoing for the last 2 or 3 years on Audi new cars and a software fix has been 'in the works' since then.
Often brakes abruptly. the first time the car was set at 60mph adaptive cruise control when the car abruptly braked to almost a stop on a divided four lane hwy. I reported incidents to Audi Cary & put my car in for service. they did not find diagnostic conclusion. after picking up my car the problem continues.While on Adaptive cruise control set at 62 mph abruptly decelerates to 17, forcing driver to pull into right turn lane. Again on same afternoon car braked abruptly with another car following closely behind, the driver accelerated, there was a pause where braking stopped but car did not accelerate, then the car accelerated avoiding being hit from behind. The last two incidents I immediately call Audi Cary to report the problem. I now journal all episodes of malfunction.
I leased a brand new 2025 Q7 at the beginning of June 2024. Two weeks into the lease i was attempting to back my car out of a parking spot at work, during a rainstorm, and the vehicle applied the brakes, grinding me to a sudden halt. It thought the rain was an obstacle. I tried several times to back out of the parking space and each time the car, without any other warning, slammed on the brakes. I called my salesperson who requested I contact the service center, who requested that I bring the vehicle in to be looked at. I was told that the vehicle should not be acting that way. After having the vehicle for 24 hours they called me to say there were no malfunctions or errors recorded in the system and I could come get the car. They told me that they were not able to "simulate rain" to test the issue adequately. A couple of weeks later it happened again. This time I was attempting to leave my garage, again in the rain, and I could not do so. The vehicle continued to halt each time I tried to back up. The car went back to the service center who had it for a full week, from 7/23/24 - 7/30/24, just to tell me that the issue I am referring to is actually "normal behavior and is a feature of the car" and they said that it could be turned off. This issue continued to occur and so I was provided a loaner vehicle while they were investigating what was occurring with mine. This report is related to that loaner vehicle as it has the same issue as my leased vehicle. Neither 2025 Q7 will backup in the rain and will slam on the brakes if you attempt to do so. The dealer continues to claim this is normal and I was told the issue was mine and there was nothing the dealer can or will do. I am reporting this vehicle as having an issue due to the severe safety concerns surrounding this issue with these vehicles. It is not being taken seriously by Audi and this is very concerning.
I leased a brand new 2025 Q7 at the beginning of June 2024. Two weeks into the lease i was attempting to back my car out of a parking spot at work, during a rainstorm, and the vehicle applied the brakes, grinding me to a sudden halt. It thought the rain was an obstacle. I tried several times to back out of the parking space and each time the car, without any other warning, slammed on the brakes. I called my salesperson who requested I contact the service center, who requested that I bring the vehicle in to be looked at. I was told that the vehicle should not be acting that way. After having the vehicle for 24 hours they called me to say there were no malfunctions or errors recorded in the system and I could come get the car. They told me that they were not able to "simulate rain" to test the issue adequately. A couple of weeks later it happened again. This time I was attempting to leave my garage, again in the rain, and I could not do so. The vehicle continued to halt each time I tried to back up. The car went back to the service center who had it for a full week, from 7/23/24 - 7/30/24, just to tell me that the issue I am referring to is actually "normal behavior and is a feature of the car" and they said that it could be turned off. When I picked up the car, the feature they turned off was the Rear Cross Traffic Assist (RCTA). However, that is a feature that I want to be able to use and nowhere in the owner's manual or anywhere I can find does it say that rain will stop the vehicle. I do understand how the RCTA is meant to work and I do want to have an audible and visual warning of objects or people impeding my path. However, I do not want the vehicle thinking that rain is an obstacle. I do have videos of this occurring.
Matrix adaptive headlights are not working. Night driving with increased adoption of LED headlights become challenging due to high glare level and associated temporary vision sensitivity reduction, I was hoping that matrix adaptive headlights will improve this (especially in states like Michigan where extra side light appreciates due to high amount of deers) but they are not working. Also, It puts some pedestrians under extra danger since they could not been seen in low light conditions (there’s a lack of external lighting poles)
Took my Aui Q7 in to AUDI of [XXX], on XXX for a very rough idle and surging at lights from the automatic oof/on system and the 10,000 initial service ( 8000 Mile) I was surprized when the service rep mentioned that it could be a broken motor mount as i thought it was more of a idle adjustment. They did find the driver side mount was broken and replaced it under warranty. Received the car back on the 9th, but the car was again idling very roughly, took it back immediatley. they replaced the second motor mount, under warranty. I asked why they didt replace both at the initial repoair they said it was a policy to only replace one at a time under warranty!! After receiving the car back, there is still a rough idle, transmission is out of sync, no diagnosis or adjustment for the auto/on off system at lights. Took the car back and has been at the dealer while they discuss/diagnosis with Audi technical. Several discussion with the service manager Chris Calhoun regarding these problems and resolution. Received an email 7/28/29 that the dealership wants to return the car after adjusting the transsmission, no determination of the root cause or adjustments to the auto on/off system,but i have escalated with Audi Customer Care Case#XXX.The vehichle has been in their shop for 3 weeks- 7-7 to 7/29. I am awaiting a response form their care team looking for them to repurchase the vehichle or provide a replacement as i dont feel safe or confident that the repairs were done correctly or completely. It seem that they know the issue with the motor mounts are a problem that havent been disclosed , and to have a double failure at 8000 miles seems more than bad luck. The repairs have compounded other problems, rendering a new car to a used worn car, with unresolved issues that will only require future services visits in the future , totally negating my reasons for purchasing a new car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Dashboard leather is bubbling, separating, and delaminating near the center windshield vents. This is a known manufacturing defect, Audi has issued a warranty extension (bulletin AWA-23-11) for this identical issue on the Q8, e-tron quattro, and R8 models, but not the Q7, despite the dashboard part number (4M8857001S33A) being identical across the Q7 and Q8. This appears to be a widespread issue affecting multiple Audi models sharing this dashboard component
the first indication of an issue was oil consumption. It was using more oil than usual around the 70K mile mark. Then it started misfiring, and soon after a knocking noise coming from the engine. There are no check engine light on, after bringing it in for diagnostics, it read that it was a spark plug, once they got into the engine they discovered the cylinder had been stripped from the piston. Yes the diagnostics came from our foreign car mechanic. no, it has not been inspected by the manufacturer or police. Just the symptoms. sometimes the light would come on, and then it would go off. At this point it is off. All of this started in the fall of 2025.
While my vehicle was in for the Audi piston issue, they stated my water pump needed to be replaced and isn’t covered by a recall (yet). My vehicle had less than 42,000 mile on it. I was lead to believe that this problem is coming up more often and they believe a class action lawsuit will come about. I needed to pay over $1,700 out of pocket and was told I was saving so much money because they already had the engine apart because of the piston recall. This is unacceptable.
Showing 20 of 634 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact AUDI Q7
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used AUDI Q7, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The AUDI Q7 has 634 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The AUDI Q7 has 40 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 19 of the AUDI Q7's 634 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all AUDI Q7 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two AUDI Q7 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The AUDI Q7 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used AUDI Q7.
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AUDI Q7 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the AUDI Q7 reliable?
Poor. The AUDI Q7 has 634 NHTSA owner complaints and 40 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which AUDI Q7 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (318 complaints), 2018 (141 complaints), 2021 (71 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common AUDI Q7 problems?
Top reported issues: EXTERIOR LIGHTING (160 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (134 complaints); ENGINE (127 complaints).
Does the AUDI Q7 have recalls?
Yes — 40 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the AUDI Q7. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.