Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

27 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
12

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 4sudden stalling 2
A recent report: the first indication of an issue was oil consumption. It was using more oil than usual around the 70K mile mark. Then it started misfiring, and soon after a knocking noise coming from the engine…
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the first indication of an issue was oil consumption. It was using more oil than usual around the 70K mile mark. Then it started misfiring, and soon after a knocking noise coming from the engine. There are no check engine light on, after bringing it in for diagnostics, it read that it was a spark plug, once they got into the engine they discovered the cylinder had been stripped from the piston. Yes the diagnostics came from our foreign car mechanic. no, it has not been inspected by the manufacturer or police. Just the symptoms. sometimes the light would come on, and then it would go off. At this point it is off. All of this started in the fall of 2025.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11737769 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
10

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 6electrical shorts 3software faults 1
A recent report: I am filing a complaint concerning serious safety risks associated with my 2020 Audi Q7 (VIN: [XXX] ) purchased as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle from Audi Dominion San Antonio. It is currently under…
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I am filing a complaint concerning serious safety risks associated with my 2020 Audi Q7 (VIN: [XXX] ) purchased as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle from Audi Dominion San Antonio. It is currently under service at Audi Central Houston, where multiple concerning events occurred. Timeline and Issues: - Initial diagnosis identified a fire-damaged electrical harness, estimated at $1,400 for replacement. - After repair attempts, the vehicle began smoking, and the diagnosis expanded to include additional compromised electrical lines. The revised quote skyrocketed to $4,700 (later reduced to $3,100). - After nearly two months in service, I was informed that the AC compressor is now deemed "bad" due to debris from the harness, an issue not mentioned in previous inspections. Safety Concerns: 1. Inconsistent Diagnosis: There was no mention of compressor damage during initial assessments. This late-stage discovery indicates negligence or potential additional damage during servicing. 2. Risky AC Activation: A technician attempted to clean the compromised AC compressor and activated the system, a procedure that is dangerous given the debris. This could lead to refrigerant leaks and electrical shorts. 3. Conflicting Statements: Audi Central Houston claims the compressor was previously damaged but also attempted to restore it. Such contradictions raise serious concerns about service integrity. 4. Certified Pre-Owned Credibility: The emergence of these costly issues questions the reliability guarantees of vehicles sold under Audi's Certified Pre-Owned program. Given that the vehicle began smoking shortly after being parked and had not undergone prior electrical work, I underscore the severe safety risks posed by potential electrical fires and undisclosed damage. These issues could endanger lives and property if not properly addressed. I strongly urge Audi USA and the NHTSA to investigate this matter for potential technical service bulletins or recalls, especially fo INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11678646 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 2sudden stalling 1
A recent report: 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…
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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. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact sustained injuries to the lower back, neck, and head. Medical attention was provided. The contact received continued treatment for whiplash, migraine headaches, and chiropractic treatments. A Police report was filed, but the information was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764109 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
1

Most reports here involve other issues. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

other issues 1
A recent report: Panoramic sunroof imploded while traveling at freeway speeds (70mph) during normal conditions (no rain, hail, snow, etc. and 60* temp) causing a large amount of glass to be blown into the cab of…
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Panoramic sunroof imploded while traveling at freeway speeds (70mph) during normal conditions (no rain, hail, snow, etc. and 60* temp) causing a large amount of glass to be blown into the cab of vehicle, striking the driver and passenger. With this loud implosion and visibility obstructed by flying glass debris it put the driver in a unsafe environment. This also put the passenger and other drivers on the road at a huge risk of an accident. Throughout the automotive industry, this has been a known issue over the past several years and even at the local Audi dealership in Bellingham, WA. After conversation with dealership there was no known contributing factors to the implosion and was suspected to be a manufacturing defect.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11622755 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
1

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1
A recent report: Dashboard leather is bubbling, separating, and delaminating near the center windshield vents. This is a known manufacturing defect, Audi has issued a warranty extension (bulletin AWA-23-11) for this…
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Dashboard leather is bubbling, separating, and delaminating near the center windshield vents. This is a known manufacturing defect, Audi has issued a warranty extension (bulletin AWA-23-11) for this identical issue on the Q8, e-tron quattro, and R8 models, but not the Q7, despite the dashboard part number (4M8857001S33A) being identical across the Q7 and Q8. This appears to be a widespread issue affecting multiple Audi models sharing this dashboard component

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11752459 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 27 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2020 and 2026, roughly 4 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.