2016 Audi A7

Routine

Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags7
103
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Visibility/Wiper1
000
Tires1
000
Steering1
000
Power Train1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
000
Engine1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail19V035000
Filed Jan 16, 201974,881 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification18V370000
Filed Jun 4, 2018139,249 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.

Risk. If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.

Air Bags › Side/Window17V293000
Filed May 1, 201717,694 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have head curtain air bags that may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Risk. If the head curtain airbag does not deploy properly in the event of a crash, an unbelted passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy. Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected head curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 29, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 69R2.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Dec 27, 2024NC

When I have a passenger riding with me the passenger airbag cuts on and off the whole time while I’m driving. This is a major safety concern especially when I have passengers all the time. I’m concerned the airbag will not deploy during an accident.

Engine
Filed Jul 22, 2024OH

Component/System Malfunction: The engine control unit fails, causing the engine to shut off unexpectedly while driving. This component is available for inspection. Safety Risk: The sudden shutdown poses severe risks. It happened on local roads and highways at speeds over 65 mph, creating immediate danger. Reproduction and Confirmation: The problem has been reproduced but not resolved by Audi Columbus. Inspection: Inspected multiple times by Audi Columbus, but not by police or insurance. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: No warning lamps or messages before the engine shuts off; the failure is sudden. Detailed Timeline of Incidents: •[XXX]: First incident; the engine shut off on a local road. Paid $1,500 for repairs, but the issue persisted. •[XXX]: Engine shut off again, preventing going to office due to lack of loaner vehicles. •[XXX]: Engine shut off on the highway, causing extreme fear and distress. Vehicle towed to the service center. The engine shut off in a high-crime area. Restarted vehicle message came on, Vehicle towed from work place. Service Center Issues: •Shutdowns prevent work due to no loaners. •Service advisor Ellis declined services without permission and acting like he has no idea why the vehicle is there even though he is the same service advisor dealing with the constant issue. •No effective resolution despite multiple visits. Impact: The repeated issues severely affect my mental health and safety. Request for Resolution: I seek either a replacement vehicle or a full

Steering
Filed Apr 10, 2024130,036 milesTX

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A7. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel stopped operating and the "Do Not Drive Vehicle, Steering Defective" message was displayed. The vehicle was pulled into a parking lot where the vehicle restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be taken to the dealer as soon as possible. The contact discovered an unknown Technical Service Bulletin however, the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an electrical power steering failure. The vehicle was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 130,036.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Feb 29, 2024MN

In five years I have had my windshield chip or crack four times. Replacement is a pain and expensive. It seems the design is far too susceptible to breakage and is unsafe.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 11, 2023TX

Gas smell while AC/HEATER is on and car is sitting idle. My car is not included in the 2019 safety recall 24DP although it should be.

Tires
Filed Apr 2, 2023SC

Flat tire on highway 255/40 R19 100H. I thought it’s a nail or a sharp object. After further inspection, the tire was ripping from inside out. Please see attached picture. My speed was very low at higher speeds or could have been a complete tire blow out.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 8, 2022WA

Around 36k miles the vehicle had some dried coolant residue and required coolant topups every 2-3k miles. Two different dealerships performed comprehensive inspections between then and now and did not notify me of any problems. The residue was explained away in a service bulletin stating that it was normal for the water pump to weep some coolant. Now at 44k miles, I brought the car in when I saw dried coolant residue and it seemed to require coolant more frequently. Dealer notified me that the engine water pump has failed and requires replacement.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 15, 2022MA

I have reached a gas station and I am unable to open the fuel filler flap. Apparently this is a known issue to Audi Service departments on Audi’s of this generation not just the A7 model. The problem is apparently intermittent, and apparently worse during winter months. In the next generation vehicle the ful filler flap housing has been redesigned to solve the fuel filler flap not opening problem. Since the car cannot go with our gas, this is clearly a design error, and could leave people stranded mid-winter. Not good here in the North-East.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 17, 202150,100 milesIA

1ST PROBLEM MY PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL GO ON AND OFF SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH NO ONE IS SITTING THERE. 2ND PROBLEM THE WEATHER HERE WAS -30 FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS AND MY CAR STOPPED WORKING ONE MORNING WHEN I TURNED IT ON. MORE PRECISELY STEERING DID NOT WORK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO VW DEALER AND THEY HAD IT OVER NIGHT FOR ALL ICE TO MELT THEY SAID A BUNCH OF WATER CAME OUT FROM MODULE WHEN THEY UNPLUGGED WIRE HARNES.

Power Train
Filed Oct 1, 201920,000 milesMO

MY 2016 AUDI A7 WITH 20,000 MILES DEVELOPED AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND AUDIBLE NOISE WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION AND TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE KANSAS CITY DEALERSHIP AND AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS BINDING OF THE FRONT QUATRO DRIVE SYSTEM IS NORMAL OPERATION. THIS BINDING AND NOISE ONLY DEVELOPED AFTER ABOUT 20000 MILES AND WAS NOT NORMAL OPERATION WHEN PURCHASED NEW AND UNTIL REACHING THE INDICATED MILEAGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SYSTEM AT A CRITICAL POINT CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY.

Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Dec 22, 201810,956 milesCO

GOING STRAIGHT, PASSING THRU A GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER RUNS RED LIGHT, T BONES A7 (PRESTIGE TRIM) CAUSING NOTICABLE DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR ON PASSENGER SIDE HOWEVER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MEANWHILE A7 ALSO HAD IMPACT TO DRIVER SIDE WHICH THE AIRBAGS DID DIPLOY WITH LESS IMPACT THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS A KNOWN RECALL ON OTHER TRIM LEVELS FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HOWEVER THE PRESTIGE TRIM WAS NOT INCLUDED.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 31, 201713,713 milesPA

TAKATA RECALL -RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT MY CAR'S VIN CAME UP THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DROPPED OFF CAR ON JULY 13, 2017. I WAS CALLED BY AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT NO AIRBAGS COULD BE ORDERED SO I PICKED UP THE CAR. TODAY, TUESDAY, OCT 31, 2017, I CALL THE SAME AUDI DEALERSHIP, 1421 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER PA 19382 AND TALKED TO GEORGE IN SERVICE 610-455-2000, AND HE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS STILL NOT RECEIVED ANY REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 31, 2017VA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V293000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (FLOW AUDI IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 27, 2017TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V293000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (AUDI GRAPEVINE AT 1260 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051 888-780-7923) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 21, 2017NY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V293000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (AUDI ALBANY, 737 NEW LOUDON ROAD, LATHAM, NY 12110) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

15 of 15 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2019
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20250100Routine
20240100Routine
20230100Routine
20220600Routine
202161100Routine
20202800Routine
201943600Routine
20183200Routine
20171400Routine
2016 — this page15300Routine
20155300Routine
201411200Routine
201319510Routine
201230520Routine
20091000Routine
20072000Routine

Compare every A7 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 16, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.