CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2011 Audi Q7

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

23

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Audi Q7 have filed 23 safety complaints with NHTSA between April 2013 and September 2025. The most complained-about system is visibility and the wipers, named in 7 of them (30%). The typical failure was reported at 90,700 miles, the median across the 15 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

23V086000 · February 15, 2023

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2009-2015 Q7 vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the certification label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims," and Part 567, "Certification."
The risk
An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will install an overlay label containing the correct rear GAWR on top of the existing safety certification label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 50G5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 12,100 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

18V818000 · November 19, 2018

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.
The risk
The butyl tape may not prevent fuel from leaking. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BJ.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 5,987 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

16V660000 · September 13, 2016

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20W9.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 143,214 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

15V019000 · January 20, 2015

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
The risk
A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 26,008 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure

EA11003

Closed engineering analysis · opened February 7, 2011 · closed March 27, 2015

the diesel fuel system, the fuel system

The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 23.

VISIBILITY/WIPER 7 30%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 17%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 9%
ENGINE 2 9%
AIR BAGS 1 4%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 1 4%
SEATS 1 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 4%
STEERING 1 4%
TIRES 1 4%
WHEELS 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 4.

2013 2020 2025
2013 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

5 injured · crash · 45,000 miles

I AND FOUR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2 AND 9 WERE DRIVING A 2011 AUDI Q7 ON A RIGHT LANE OF A STREET. WE HAD A GREEN LIGHT AND ANOTHER DRIVER IN A HONDA MINIVAN FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF US WITHOUT YIELDING AND THOUGH I HIT THE BRAKE IMMEDIATELY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING HEAD ON INTO THE OTHER CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VAN. I AM TOLD THAT MY AUDI IS PROBABLY TOTALED BUT WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR THE OFFICIAL RESULTS. WE WERE ALL WEARING SEATBELTS BUT THE AIRBAGS ON MY AUDI NEVER DEPLOYED. WE ALL HIT OUR HEAD BACKWARDS. I HAVE A SPRAINED KNEE AND PAIN ON MY NECK, SHOULDERS AND BACK; ONE CHILD SEATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AGE 9,

NHTSA complaint 10507364, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

towed · 114,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Audi Q7. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic stated that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump, fuel injectors, fuel tank, and fuel filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by the dealer. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 114,000.

NHTSA complaint 11530838. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driving on a country road with no vehicle in front of me - a loud explosion occurred and realized the front panel of the sunroof had exploded. Luckily, the screen was closed at the time and no large glass fragments fell into the occupants of the vehicle - there were five of us at the time. Arrived at a friend’s house to vacuum out the small slivers of glass pieces that fell through the screen. The outside temperature that day was approximately 80°F. The explosion sounded like gunfire and it was very scary. My [XXX] (Nephew) started crying after the incident because it was very shocking to all of us. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11686487. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The Bosch CP4 High Pressure Fuel Pump failed suddenly at interstate speed (65-70mph) as I was driving up a hill in 3 lanes of traffic. The car stalled immediately and lost all motive power. I had to limp across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder right away, risking collision from passing vehicles. I could provide the damaged pump for inspection if needed. It's a common failure of the CP4 design, disintegrating and pushing tiny metal shards throughout the fuel system including injectors. The CP4 has been recalled on many vehicles previously. The problem has been diagnosed by the Audi dealership and confirmed the Bosch CP4 pump failed and destroyed the entire fuel system. The car has

NHTSA complaint 11620539, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The smell of gasoline out side on the left and the right behind driver seat. Please help me. I searched on YouTube alot of car audi brand recall to fix the issue. They said cracked and leaked the cap of filter fuel pump.

NHTSA complaint 11612006. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Passenger windshield wiper snapped off. Light rain and also driving at normal interstate speed.

NHTSA complaint 11549884. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Driving on a Saturday evening when it started raining. Wipers automatically engaged, suddenly saw passenger side blade warp then snap off and fly off the to the side of the street causing the driver behind me to swerve almost causing an accident. I pulled over immediately, to retrieve the piece to try and determine what happened. Saw that it just snapped off and flew off without any notice.

NHTSA complaint 11539960. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi Q7

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 14 2
2023 16 3
2022 18 3
2021 69 9
2020 26 5
2019 61 4
2018 141 3
2017 317 7
2015 44 2
2014 45 2
2013 41 3
2012 29 4
2010 29 3

Other 2011 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 147 vehicles, 216 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst