Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 143 safety complaints
about the 2018 Audi Q7 with the US government. Of those, 3 describe a crash, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 38 complaints, 27% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 15,800 miles,
the median across the 33
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers January 2018 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
143 complaints on file
143
Complaints
3
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
3
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
Complaints fell 39% year on year: 22 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 36 in the twelve before.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 38 · 27%
38 27%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 23 · 16%
23 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19 · 13%
19 13%
SUSPENSION 17 · 12%
17 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16 · 11%
16 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 12 · 8%
12 8%
POWER TRAIN 7 · 5%
7 5%
STEERING 7 · 5%
7 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 4%
6 4%
WHEELS 6 · 4%
6 4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 · 3%
5 3%
SEAT BELTS 4 · 3%
4 3%
01531
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 143.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2024 at 34.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2018 Audi Q7, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
15.7%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Audi Q7 vehicles. The padding on the vehicle's C-pillar may not absorb enough impact in the event of a crash.
The risk
In the event of a crash, an unbelted occupant's head may impact the vehicle's C-pillar padding, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the deformation element on the C-pillars, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 70H8.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 94,144 vehicles across all model years covered
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.
The risk
A sudden loss of loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 229 vehicles across all model years covered
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
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 injured
I WENT TO PICK MY 3 YO TWINS AT SCHOOL. OPENED MY DOOR, GOT OFF THE CAR AND CLOSED IT, WITH KEYS INSIDE MY PURSE AT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (MY USUAL ROUTINE). WAS ABLE TO OPEN PASSENGER'S BACK DOOR, BUCKLED MY SON TO CAR SEAT AND CLOSED HIS DOOR. WHEN TURNED TO OTHER SIDE TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR MY GIRL, NOTED CAR WAS LOCKED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF WITH MY 3YO SON INSIDE. ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED DESPITE KEYS BEING INSIDE CAR AND IGNITION OFF. REMOTE CONTROL WAS OPERABLE WITH BATTERIES FUNCTIONING WELL. SCHOOL DIRECTOR CALLED 911 AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WENT TO ASSIST. THEY WERE UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR AND AFTER ~20MINUTES OF MY SON BEING INSIDE, BUCKLED AND IN FLORIDA HEAT, EMT AND FIRE FIGHTERS HAD TO …
NHTSA complaint 11363538, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 injured · 27,500 miles
IN MAY OF 2020 I SEVERELY HIT MY HEAD (LEFT SIDE OF FOREHEAD) ON THE C-PILLAR WHILE EXITING THE LEFT-REAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME AT THE TIME OF MY HEAD INJURY. THE INJURY WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE C-PILLAR IS VERY CLOSE TO THE REAR HEADREST, AND TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ONE GENERALLY HAS TO LOOK DOWN AT THE GROUND WHERE ONE IS ABOUT TO STEP. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A SAFETY RECALL (70H8 NHTSA: 20V658) FOR THIS VEHICLE, A 2018 AUDI Q7. (THE C-PILLAR IS THE THIRD VERTICAL BEAM FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.) THE RECALL STATES "AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IF AN UNBELTED PASSENGER'S HEAD CONTACTS THE C-PILLAR IN A CRASH." MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT THERE IS ALSO AN …
NHTSA complaint 11384568, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
1 injured
My 8-year-old's finger was in the door frame and the door came close enough to engage the soft close feature and she tried to pull her finger out as we watched the door slowly continue closing on it. After 4 x-rays the doctor determined it was not fractured, but it is badly bruised, swollen, and was cut. This should not be possible that it doesn't sense her finger. On a car not equipped with soft closing, this incident wouldn't have occurred.
NHTSA complaint 11610620. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
crash · towed · 12,000 miles
I WAS TAKING A U-TURN UNDER A FREEWAY IN MY 10 MONTH OLD AUDI Q7. AS I WAS FINISHING THE U-TURN A STABILIZATION ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED AND MY BRAKES WENT OUT. I WAS FINISHING MY UTURN AND COULDN'T SLOW DOWN SOI ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE CEMENT BARRIER WITH MY RIGHT BACK WHEEL AND WENT ONTO THE FEEDER. LUCKILY IT WAS AT 5AM SO NO OTHER CARS WERE ON THE ROAD. HITTING THE BARRIER SLOWED BY CAR DOWN TO 5 MPH. AS I STRAIGHTENED OUT MY CAR, THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID AUDI OF AMERICA HAD TO LOOK AT IT. THE ENGINEER FINALLY CAME TO LOOK AT IT ON JAN 3RD (3 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT). HE SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T TEST DRIVE THE CAR …
NHTSA complaint 11170252, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SUSPENSION
I have a 2018 Audi Q7 3.0L with 86K miles on it. I discovered 1 of the rear coil springs was broke and both rear perches were very rusted. I had a local mechanic, who specializes in AUDIs, replace both rear springs and perches with OEM parts. After replacing everything, the mechanic went to take the car on a test drive. He said one of the new springs broke right away. The spring that broke was in the exact same location as the one that originally broke and it broke in the EXACT same way.
NHTSA complaint 11766848. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Vehicle began displaying low engine oil level warnings between scheduled oil changes beginning in 2021, at approximately 50,000 miles. Condition was reported to the authorized Audi dealer on multiple occasions. Dealer added oil each time and stated there was no visible oil leak. No oil consumption test was performed and no repair order documenting the concern was provided. Oil loss worsened progressively through 2024. Engine failed in January 2026 at approximately 101,000 miles. Estimated repair cost $18,000–$22,000.
NHTSA complaint 11763767. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Start/stop malfunction failed; yes it is available for inspection. Driving down highway vehicle stopped with 2 adult passengers and 2 children. Yes 3 mechanics completed a diagnostic. Vehicle has not been inspected by insurance, manufacturer or police but by VW dealer, and two registered mechanics. No other warnings or symptoms.
NHTSA complaint 11752232. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEATS
The right rear passenger heated seat in my 2018 Audi Q7 overheated and burned through the leather and foam. Fortunately, my disabled [XXX] daughter, who normally sits in that seat, was not in the vehicle at the time. The failure occurred without warning and during normal use. This defect presents a serious safety risk and could have caused injury or fire. Request: Please investigate this issue in the 2018 Audi Q7 rear heated seats and determine whether a recall or repair campaign is necessary. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11750098. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
My 2018 Audi Q7 3.0T Quattro is experiencing extreme oil consumption — dropping from full to minimum level in approximately 230 miles. This is approximately 14x beyond Audi's own threshold for excessive oil consumption of 0.5 quarts per 1,000 miles. Documented timeline: May 2026 (88,692 miles): Oil change required 2.2 extra quarts beyond standard 7.2qt fill. Low oil light triggered during highway travel. June 27, 2026 (90,200 miles): Authorized Audi dealer formally documented "oil consumption is very high" in their service system and scheduled an official oil consumption test. June 28, 2026 (90,351 miles): Audi MMI system showed oil near minimum after only 151 miles. June 30, 2026 (90,397 …
NHTSA complaint 11747856, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM GETTING FRONT LEFT SIDE MARKER LIGHT FAULTY PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR 2018 AUDI Q7. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND SEE IF I AM QUALIFIED TO GET THIS REPLACED BY AUDI. APPARENTLY, THE REPLACING THE LAMP ISN'T EASY BUT WOUDL REQUIRE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE LIGHTING FIXTURE WHICH COULD COST OVER $2K. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint 11739746. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed October 27, 2020.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst