Exterior Lighting. Review the 133 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

319 reports

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2021

Steering

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On intermittent and at unpredictable times while the car is in motion, the vehicle will show a series of two warnings while it appears to turn the steering wheel in the absence of any input from the driver. The first warning light indicates an electromechanical steering failure (indicator light flashes red for approximately one second) and the second states, "Distance warning: currently unavailable. See owner's manual." Unfortunately, there is not a description of a "distance warning" in the owner's manual to refer to for guidance. This has been a long-time issue and I have taken it to the dealership several times over the last two years to have it evaluated; however, since it is an intermittent issue they have not been able to replicate it and have not been able to offer any insight on fixing the problem. These occurrences are also sometimes coincident with with a separate warning that states, "Audi pre-sense: currently restricted. See owner's manual." These warnings also sometimes occur when the vehicle is stopped.

NHTSA ODI #11443320

57,000 miles · Nov 30, 2021

Engine

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The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle was hesitating while driving. The vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The add oil indicator light was illuminated. The contact purchased 4 to 5 additional quarts of oil. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was working as designed and there were no leaks found. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again for an oil consumption test. The contact was informed the vehicle was consuming 1 quart of oil. The recommendation was to install a condenser breather. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #11442130

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2021

Fuel/propulsion System

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Water pump is leaking coolant - Car was purchased brand new and all services performed on time and it has only 26K miles with no accident history - Audi has recalled multiple other models but this issue is also affecting the 2017 Q7 model which is not listed in the recall below: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/audi-recall-a4-a5-a6-q5-defective-water-pumps/#:~:text=Audi%20A4%2C%20A5%2C%20A6%20and%20Q5%20models%20are%20all%20affected.&text=A%20potential%20fire%20in%20a,worldwide%20for%20coolant%20pump%20issues.&text=The%20other%20has%20moisture%20within,causing%20a%20potential%20short%2Dcircuit.

NHTSA ODI #11440131

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2021

Unknown Or Other

Failed water pump at 67,000 miles. The vehicle started with a slow leak and coolant smell, but escalated to losing one liter of coolant each day in about a month. Potential for overheating and fires.

NHTSA ODI #11439943

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2021

Engine

At 35,400 miles, the car indicated low coolant via dash message. Audi dealer then diagnosed as a leaking water pump that requires replacement. Continued driving could have led to complete engine failure, since the engine would overheat and be destroyed by a lack of coolant. This type of water pump failure should never happen …

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NHTSA ODI #11439173

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2021

Engine

Car has 50k miles on it and was told by the dealer the water pump needs to be replaced!

NHTSA ODI #11438114

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2021

Engine

main water pump failure at 45 K witout any leaks or warning signs . confirmed by independent repair shop . spoked with other shops and its seams like common almoust guaranteed failure because of use plastic parts inside pump unit . average pump life span 15 - 40 .000 miles . cost to repair 1200 $ and week that took to get parts…

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NHTSA ODI #11437144

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2021

Exterior Lighting

Vehicle is giving me a warning that the marker lights are not working. Dealership verifed that they are working, and have no issue. They are unable to clear warning unless they disabled the market lights. Warning keeps popping up ever so often on my dashboard becoming a distraction while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11436722

80,000 miles · Oct 7, 2021

Air BagsCrashInjury

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The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while at a traffic light a second vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the rear of the vehicle causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a third vehicle located ahead. During the incident, the front of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The driver and front passenger both sustained fractured noses and facial injuries. The driver of the second vehicle sustained a fractured femur. A police report was taken at the scene. The destroyed vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11435910

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2021

Electrical System

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SOS module does not seem to work very well. This has been an issue on plenty of Audi cars and no recall has been made. While the car can operate the module goes off while driving causing some drivers to no focus on the road, they are distracted by the noise it make, the alerts that pop up. And it is not just one alert, it goes off at random, so perhaps every few seconds. And if the driver does crash how can Audi insure that the system is working properly. Currently I reached out to a Audi Dear ship and they informed me that they are aware of the issue and that there was a backorder on the part (which means this is happing way to often) and that the repair would cost around $2400-$2500.

NHTSA ODI #11434827

Official recalls

20V149000 · Steering

Mar 16, 2020

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles. The bolt connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear may loosen, possibly resulting in a loss of steering control.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A sudden loss of loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering shaft bolt, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 36A1.

19V035000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Jan 16, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.

16V955000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:side/window; Seat Belts:pretensioner

Dec 29, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Seat Belts:pretensioner

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Air Bags:side/window

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

16V648000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Sep 8, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured November 11, 2015, to November 23, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the electric power steering assist control unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of power steering assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: With a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering rack, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 48M5.

16V641000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Sep 6, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to July 10, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the third row seat back may move forward under load, such as in a frontal collision. As such, the vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the third row seat does not remain in its adjusted position, there may be an increased risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional support bracket to the seat, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F8.

16V642000 · Electrical System:software; Exterior Lighting

Sep 6, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 TT roadster, A3 cabriolet, A3 sedan and A3 e-tron, 2016-2017 TT coupe, 2017 A4 sedan and Q7 and 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97CB.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting

Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97CB.

Electrical System:software

Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

16V519000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Jul 8, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to May 8, 2016. Due to a software issue within the air bag control module, the frontal air bags may deploy with more force than required in certain crashes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bags that deploy with excessive force may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O3.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.