Audi Q7 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 364 owner complaints and 20 safety recalls for the Audi Q7. That averages 6.8 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.17 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 14.2.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2022 and 2023 models run 50% below the 2018 and 2019 models (8 early complaints per model year versus 18).
The 2018 model year has the highest rate (16.3 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (0.7). Model years 2018 and 2021 run at least 50% above this model's average of 6.8 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2024 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 6.8 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (24.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.2%) and Wheels, tires & suspension (10.4%). 17 complaints (4.7%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 15 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 79 complaints versus 79 in the previous 12 months — virtually unchanged. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (22). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 52 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 20 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (4). No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Lexus NX, but fewer than Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ▲50%+ | 143 | 16.3 | 0.4 | 22 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 62 | 8.0 | 0.2 | 6 | 4 | Wheels, tires & suspension | View › |
| 2020 | 28 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 8 | 5 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 ▲50%+ | 75 | 13.0 | 0.32 | 22 | 9 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 20 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 7 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 16 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 2 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 2 | 0.7 | 0.02 | 2 | 3 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 17 | 9.5 | 0.24 | 9 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 1 | 1.0 | 0.02 | 1 | 1 | Engine | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 79 · Previous 12 months: 79 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
88 · 24.2% · 1.08 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
77 · 21.2% · 1.34 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Wheels, tires & suspension
38 · 10.4% · 4.17 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Unspecified or other
36 · 9.9% · 1.1 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
20 · 5.5% · 0.96 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
20 · 5.5% · 3.54 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
18 · 4.9% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
16 · 4.4% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Transmission / powertrain
16 · 4.4% · 0.38 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
15 · 4.1% · 0.95 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
10 · 2.7% · 0.72 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
8 · 2.2% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
2 · 0.5% · 0.3 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 52 months
What owners report
I described this prior in a complaint from 7/31/26 - 11407511 This was an unassisted rollaway from parking. Car was in park and started drifting I tried to get back in the car and car pinned my leg. On top of this car has had multiple ignition failures.
The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly lost motive power and the brakes engaged without warning, causing the vehicle to rear-end another vehicle in front.
Active Lane Assist defect that causes uncommanded, abrupt steering to the left without driver input, most often in intersections where lane markings disappear. The system cannot be deactivated, creating a risk of loss of vehicle control and a crash.
What happened: During routine service on XXX at 64,148 miles, an independent Audi specialist ([XXX], [XXX]) found low coolant, coolant leaking into the vacuum system, and coolant on the belt drive.
While driving, the vehicle displayed an error message (occurring when going downhill), limited engine RPM to 1200, and illuminated a warning instructing the driver not to exceed 1200 RPM — a limp-mode condition that severely limited acceleration and the…
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Luxury SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexus NX | 237 | 6.7 | 0.17 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 9 | Electrical |
| 2 | Audi Q7 | 364 | 6.8 | 0.17 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | Engine |
| 3 | Lexus RX | 441 | 11.7 | 0.29 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz GLE | 498 | 12.4 | 0.31 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 2 | Engine |
| 5 | Audi Q5 | 575 | 12.8 | 0.32 | Stable | Rising | 19 | Electrical |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 529 | 13.3 | 0.33 | Worsening | Rising | 8 | Engine |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 665 | 15.9 | 0.39 | Improving | Rising | 40 | Electrical |
| 8 | BMW X5 | 825 | 22.8 | 0.56 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 44 | Electrical |
| 9 | Acura MDX | 981 | 26.6 | 0.66 | Stable | Rising | 16 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 20
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (3) · 2019 (4) · 2020 (5) · 2021 (9) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (2) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.