AUDI S7 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used AUDI S7 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2015–2025) 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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Found a AUDI S7? Check that exact car.
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 S7 has 27 owner complaints and 30 safety recalls across model years 2015–2025. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2016 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.
- Make
- AUDI
- Model
- S7
- Model years analyzed
- 2015–2025 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 27
- Safety recall campaigns
- 30
- Crash-related complaints
- 0
- Fire-related complaints
- 1
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2016 (15 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2022 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Good
By model year
AUDI S7: 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
GoodThe AUDI S7 has 27 NHTSA complaints and 30 recalls on record. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 27 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 30 federal recall campaigns
- No 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: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
30 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
TIRES
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
TIRES
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2015–2025. 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 27 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
27 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.
Electrical warning issue, totally stopped and showed all the faults on the dash. Seems like starter/alternator problem. Located in Spain, car is from US. Will tow the car to the dealer.
Received the following faults while driving on the freeway and car when into limp mode:“Electrical system: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle” “Electrical system: malfunction! Please contact Service” “Parking aid: malfunction!” “Transmission: malfunction!” “Rear spoiler: malfunction!” “Drive system: malfunction! Stop vehicle safely” “Traction control: malfunction!” “Tire pressure monitoring system: malfunction!” “Parking brake: malfunction!” “Automatic start/stop system: malfunction!” “Start/stop system: malfunction!”
The contact owns a 2021 Audi S7. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V155000 (Electrical System) and was later informed that the vehicle was also included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V861000 (Electrical System) however, parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the manufacturer but had no success. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
TODAY, I was driving my vehicle when I got multiple warnings including a “electrical failure, ABS failure, start stop failure.” I was on a stretch of road where I could not safely remove myself from traffic and was forced to proceed. Within 5 minutes of receiving the error messages my car shutdown and I was unable to control the car. Horrifying experience. By the grace of god I was able to get the vehicle to the side of road where I had to wait for extended period of time to get a tow vehicle that could accommodate my vehicle and have the vehicle towed to my local dealership. I have just learned that what I experienced is a “known problem,” and that there are a massive amount of Audi’s that are impacted by this “alternator issue.” What I also learned due to this widespread problem, parts availability are extremely limited and the waiting period for my car just to get the parts could be in excess of 6-8 weeks. I also learned that the part replacing the failed alternator is the EXACT same alternator in my vehicle presently and there has been no FIX provided so the chances are what I experienced today can most likely occur again once the replaced alternator fails. I never ever what to go through what I went through today ever again.
On 10/9/2023, the starter generator failed causing the vehicle to stop and shut down while driving and completely break down. I was not able to move the vehicle or shift it into park. Stall occurred on a freeway entrance (acceleration lane) in the traffic lane without warning. Approximately 20 minutes before this complete failure of the vehicle, the dashboard warning system provided the following warnings in yellow (meaning the car was drivable): (1) electrical system malfunction! Please contact Service; (2) rear spoiler malfunction; (3) traction control malfunction; and (3) Parking aid malfunction. The vehicle also indicated that the collision avoidance system was not operating and the air conditioning system shut down approximately five minutes before the vehicle completely broke down in the traffic lane. I have received the "rear spoiler malfunction" alert 5+ times in the last year; I asked the dealer to check it; and they said there was no record in the onboard computer of the problem.
I have been trying to get this recall remedied since 4/1/22 to no avail. I have been stranded on the side of a busy highway due to the fuel indicator reading 1/3 full but the fuel tank was actually empty. This put me in a significant safety situation where the car slows to unsafe speeds and stops due to lack of fuel. I have contacted Audi Corp for months without success.
Read 14 more owner reports
The last month I’ve been having issues with the transmission. It’s been cutting out on me, giving me warnings and causing me to stall in the middle of the road, and when I do manage to get it back on it, jerks to the point where I could crash into someone in front of me. I’ve lost power while driving three times already. I also get warnings that my lane assistance is not working and that my forward collision warning is not working. I wasn’t able to get pictures, but I can definitely get pictures next time cause I know it’s gonna happen again. I’m very positive if they did a diagnostics that the diagnostics would let them know when the engine started acting up as today (12/18/24) around 9:30 am, it happened again, on my way to a doctors appointment … but it started on November 28th, was the first time it started happening. This is SO DANGEROUS
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? blown turbos with new oil strainer from dealer. They said that they replaced it but who knows if they did. My audi had all those symptoms that pull up for this recall. (EPC light, Low oil light, and no control of the steering wheel. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car lost power and steering control out of the no where, i made a full stop on the freeway at 65mph and had to pull out the road to NOT get hit by upcoming traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I took the car to the dealer about a week later, and they had the car for about a month and the only thing they said was its either the starter or a seized engine, because the car doesnt even crank no more. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? It was inspected at the Audi Dealer here in Tucson AZ. The problem is that they have a horrible service and they only want to take money out of customers pocket. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? All warning lights showed up at once, one fallowed by the other. First light was low oil, i checked the MMI and it showed that it was full, Second light was i could REV more than 4k, third one EPC, Four light steering wheel malfunction. This whole thing happened in less than ONE minute until i fully stopped the car, i dont remember if the car shut off or i turned off the engine. I stepped out and i just saw white smoke from the side of the engine, it smelled like electrical burning, i went into the trunk to unplugged the battery and the negative terminal was SUPER HOT i had my fingers burned trying to disconnect the negative wire. PLEASE HELP ME OUT, 4 MONTHS SINCE THIS HAPPEND AND STILL NO ANSWER FROM ANYONE.
I was driving on the freeway all of the sudden the dashboard has all lights up, I stepped out of the Vehicle to see what was going on and I starter to smell like a burning electric component, I went into the battery to disconnect and the Negative terminal was SUPER HOT to the point it burned my hand. I took it to the dealer and they said it's the starter, I looked into forums and there's hundreds of people with the same issue. I looked for an open bolting or recall and it just mentions 2018 and my car 2017 has the same engine same chassis
WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING, STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. CAUSED BY BOTH TURBOCHARGERS GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. 36,000 MILES A FEW MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI'S AND AUDI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR ANYTHING ACCORDING TO THE AUDI DEALER. $11,000 REPAIR. VERY SCARY WHEN POWER LOST AND REMAINED OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI S7. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEWELL COLLISION CENTER OF HOUSTON (111 STAGE RUNN DR, HOUSTON, TX 77090) WHO STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF LIKELY SHATTERED DUE TO BEING STRUCK BY AN OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
My turbochargers failed due to oil starvation caused by a clogged oil screen. My vehicle had 71,393 miles on it when the turbos failed and had no prior problems or warning lights. While driving to the dealership for a Passenger Occupant Detection System recall (unrelated issue with no warning lights), my car lost power in traffic as I was pulling off the main road into the parking lot. Luckily I was able to coast most of the way to the service entrance but had to have the car pushed the rest of the way. The electronics still worked, the car would simply not turn over. I was very lucky that I was not on the highway or other major road when I lost power as there was absolutely no warning or signs of trouble: the engine simply stopped. The car has since been repaired by the Audi Raleigh dealership, but they were an absolute nightmare to work with and took forever to diagnose the problem. I believe there is a well know service bulletin related to this issue for this engine, but no recall has been issued. I also believe there is an open NHTSA investigation and I would like to help in any way possible.
Carvana sold me a 2016 Audi S7 (VIN [XXX] ) with what was later discovered to be an odometer discrepancy. I submitted a formal complaint to the Ohio Attorney General, and Carvana subsequently issued a refund. However, after refunding me, I learned that Carvana resold the vehicle at auction without disclosing the odometer issue or branding the title as required under federal law. Play also did disclose the damage that was done to the engine, turbo chargers, or from the car catching on fire. This raises serious concerns about odometer fraud and title washing, and I believe it warrants federal investigation under 49 U.S. Code § 32705. I request NHTSA open a case on this matter and audit Carvana’s practices relating to odometer disclosures and resale. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The car was driving perfectly fine until last week heading to drop my kids to school and the vehicle stopped on the middle of the street. I had no previous issues or notice. I had multiple warnings on the dashboard and now the car won't crank. I have seen several post with people with this same issue and can't find a clear answer. I had to push the vehicle out of the road with traffic behind
Submitting an official complaint since there has been a lack of status update or repair resolution. I am concerned that I will have a failure resulting in injury or death since I cannot get this fixed.
I have a 2016 Audi S7 that uses the notorious 7-speed DSG transmission. I started to notice some random jerking when I pull the car from the red light a month before the car completely dead on me in April 2021. One time when I was driving on the highway at 70mph it throws a "transmission malfunction" code on my dash and put my car in Limp Mode (only 1,3,5,7 gear available). I also experience gear slipping when putting the car in reverse, when putting the car in reverse, 9/10 times the R gear won't engage at all, and the onetime the R gear will only engage when the gas pedal is pressed way down, resulting in the car shooting backward and potentially putting anyone behind the car in danger. One time I almost got rear-ended when the car suddenly stalled at a crossroad when pulling from a red light, because the car decided to shift in neutral instead of 2nd gear. I had to restart the car couple of times to drive it in Limp Mode and created a traffic jam at a very busy crossroad. After I did some extensive search on this issue, I believe the mechatronic unit has design flaws that after some miles (in my case 40000 miles) are bound to fail. And since the manufacturer's warranty only covers the drivetrain for cars that is either 5 years old or within 36000 miles, I have to replace the mechatronic unit out of my pocket, which is a major burden on my financial situation. There weren't any warning lights prior to the failure, and the only symptom is the random jerking when upshift or downshifting but I was told it is normal to the 7 speed DSG gearbox my car was using. I had Audi Tysons Corner did a diagnosis and they respond that a new mechatronic needs to be put in. I have attached the report they send me. They also send me a picture of the leaking fluid in the transmission pan which I attached also. I ended up putting a new Mechatronic Unit in and I was told it is an Upgrade version from a local Audi-authorized dealer I am attaching the invoice here.
The engine died on the New Jersey turnpike going 70 mph. Had to coast to shoulder. Sat on the side of the highway with children in back seat for 45 mins waiting for tow which is extremely dangerous. No warning lights before or after the issue. Had to be towed to dealer. Dealer confirmed turbo system failed.
The car drove normally at highway speed for approximately 4 hours. Upon leaving the highway and attempting to accelerate onto a secondary road into oncoming traffic, the engine shuttered. The car drove erratically for about a mile with hesitation and shuttering. After stopping at a stop sign at a very busy intersection, the engine failed completely. The Electronic Power Control warning light appeared. The engine would not restart on repeated attempts. After dealing with following traffic for several minutes, a passer by assisted with pushing the car to the side of the road. During this time, the steering and brakes barely worked and I was just able to avoid hitting a parked car due to these disablements. Note that the manual for the car includes very little information about this warning light other than "to have the function corrected as soon as possible" by an Audi dealer. There were no prior warning lights or degradations in performance. This was a catastrophic failure. The car went from performing normally to complete failure in a matter of minutes. During this sequence my wife and I were at risk as well as the drivers who were forced to enter the oncoming traffic lane to go around me and the passer by who assisted. Due to the position of the car, the tow truck operator was also at risk as were passing drivers at the time of the tow. I am told by the Audi Dealer in Rutland, VT that both turbochargers failed. This is apparently due to the clogging of an oil screen which filters oil before entering the turbos. My understanding is that this is known problem to Audi. It is very expensive to access the oil screen to determine if it is clogged. My car has only approximately 48,000 miles on it and it has received all indicated services and oil changes. There are aftermarket solutions to fix this problem which Audi has failed to implement or recommend. I was never made aware of this being a potential problem by Audi or my Audi dealer.
Car only has 29,489 miles and has been serviced at Audi for every 1yr and now has turbo failure at a cost of 12k.
AT 40K MILES, I'VE BEEN NOTICING THE SYMPTOMS OF A DYING MECH UNIT (BANG/JERK TO STOP, SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE), ETC. THOSE SYMPTOMS HAPPENED WHEN I PULL UP FROM STATIONARY, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. CAR WILL ALSO THROW TRANSMISSION ERROR CODE ON DASHBOARD AND PUT IN "LIMP MODE" FROM TIME TO TIME. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AUDI QUOTED ME $5800 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MECHATRONIC UNIT. MANY THREADS ON THE AUDI FORUM CONFIRM THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO QUALITY CONTROL ON AUDI'S PART, AND AUDI REFUSED TO ISSUE A CALLBACK OR PAY FOR THE EXPENSE FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY CARS WITH FALUTY 7-SPEED DSG TRANSMISSION.
Showing 20 of 27 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact AUDI S7
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 S7, 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 S7 has 27 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 S7 has 30 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. 0 of the AUDI S7's 27 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 (Good) 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 S7 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two AUDI S7 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 S7 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
Check a AUDI S7 by state
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 S7.
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AUDI S7 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the AUDI S7 reliable?
Good. The AUDI S7 has 27 NHTSA owner complaints and 30 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which AUDI S7 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2016 (15 complaints), 2017 (5 complaints), 2020 (3 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 S7 problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (15 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (10 complaints); POWER TRAIN (6 complaints).
Does the AUDI S7 have recalls?
Yes — 30 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the AUDI S7. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.