CSR

Audi · NHTSA safety record

2016 Audi A7

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

15

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Audi A7 have filed 15 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2017 and December 2024. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 7 of them (47%). The typical failure was reported at 20,000 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

19V035000 · January 16, 2019

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

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 74,881 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

18V370000 · June 4, 2018

The 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.
The 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.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 139,249 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

17V293000 · May 1, 2017

The 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."
The 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.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 17,694 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 15.

AIR BAGS 7 47%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 13%
STEERING 2 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 7%
ENGINE 1 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 7%
POWER TRAIN 1 7%
STRUCTURE 1 7%
TIRES 1 7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 7%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 4.

2017 2024
2017 to 2024

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

3 injured · crash · towed · 10,956 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11163138. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

towed · 130,036 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11582185, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
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.

NHTSA complaint 11632572. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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

NHTSA complaint 11603833, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
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.

NHTSA complaint 11574795. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.

NHTSA complaint 11559498. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
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.

NHTSA complaint 11515032. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi A7

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 43 6
2014 11 2
2013 19 5
2012 30 5

Other 2016 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.

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