IllustrationAFTER STARTING ENGINE, AROUND 20 SECS WARNING COMES THAT RIGHT REAR BRAKE NOT WORKING, RIGHT REAR PARKING LIGHT NOT WORKING. BUT THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH BRAKE LIGHTS OR PARKING LIGHTS. PHYSICAL INSPECTION SHOWS IT WORKS JUST FINE.
2011 Audi Q7
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Audi Q7 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Q7 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 15 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
23 reportsPASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES. ARM AND BLADE FALL OFF WHEN THE WIPERS ARE OPERATING IN HIGH SPEED.
I PURCHASED A NEW AUDI Q7 S-LINE IN 2011. MULTIPLE REPAIRS AND RECALLS DURING AND AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. ELECTRICAL IS PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC. CHANGED FIRST SENSOR DOOR HANDLE IN 2014, UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, WITH JUST OVER 70,000, ALL FOUR HANDLES FAILED, HAD TO REPLACE NEW BATTERY AND ALL FOUR HANDLES, TOTAL COST OVER $2,500. C…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A NEW AUDI Q7 S-LINE IN 2011. MULTIPLE REPAIRS AND RECALLS DURING AND AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. ELECTRICAL IS PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC. CHANGED FIRST SENSOR DOOR HANDLE IN 2014, UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, WITH JUST OVER 70,000, ALL FOUR HANDLES FAILED, HAD TO REPLACE NEW BATTERY AND ALL FOUR HANDLES, TOTAL COST OVER $2,500. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND IF YOU SEARCH YOU'LL FIND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, SO I CALLED AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS DEALER-MAINTAINED AND REPAIRED, WITH ALL RECORDS, BUT THEY'VE BEEN "RESEARCHING MY INQUIRY" FOR OVER A MONTH NOW WITH NO DECISION. NOT WHAT I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED OF A "PREMIUM" CAR BRAND. RECOMMEND THEY ISSUE A TSB
FUEL PUMP RECALL RUBBER BAND FIX IS INADEQUATE. MY MODEL GOT REPAIRED LAST YEAR FOR THE RECALL. THIS REPAIR IS INADEQUATE AND PUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AT RISK. THE GASOLINE MELTED THE RUBBER BAND AND LEAK. WE STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE INSIDE OUR VEHICLE AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE.
POSSIBLE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE: I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS CLICK SOUND ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER, BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY, STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASING HARD TO MANEUVER. I WAS ABLE TO BRING TO A STOP BY THE SHOULDER. I NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD GOT TURNED OFF. I TURN…
Read full complaint
POSSIBLE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE: I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 70 MPH WHEN THERE WAS CLICK SOUND ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER, BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY, STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASING HARD TO MANEUVER. I WAS ABLE TO BRING TO A STOP BY THE SHOULDER. I NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD GOT TURNED OFF. I TURNED THE IGNITION AND THE CAR STARTING WORKING AGAIN. VERY SCARY!
THE WIPER ARM BROKE OFF FROM THE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY AT THE BASE. CONDITIONS WERE MEDIUM RAIN. TEMPERATURE APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES (F). DRIVING AT LEGAL HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. THERE WAS NO OBJECT COLLISION. IT SIMPLY SNAPPED, LEAVING ONLY THE DRIVER WIPER FUNCTIONAL.
THE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INCIDENT THAT AN AUDI Q7 RIGHT WIPER BLADE CAN SNAPPED OFF AND CAN HIT ANOTHER CAR OF PERSON WHILE DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT AND LUCKILY SLOWED DOWN ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY PASSENGER WIPER ARM JUST SNAPPED IN HALF. IF I WAS DRIVING FASTER AT THAT TIME, THAT COULD HA…
Read full complaint
THE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INCIDENT THAT AN AUDI Q7 RIGHT WIPER BLADE CAN SNAPPED OFF AND CAN HIT ANOTHER CAR OF PERSON WHILE DRIVING IN A HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT AND LUCKILY SLOWED DOWN ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY PASSENGER WIPER ARM JUST SNAPPED IN HALF. IF I WAS DRIVING FASTER AT THAT TIME, THAT COULD HAVE WENT FLYING AND HIT ANOTHER CAR BEHIND ME. THE WIPER ARM IS METAL AND THE END WHERE IT SNAPPED IS SHARP. WHEN I SEARCH THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR AND AUDI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT FIRST. FORUM THAT I FOUND OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. HTTPS://WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM/FORUMS/Q7-DISCUSSION-112/PASSENGER-SIDE-WIPER-ARM-BROKE-COMPLETELY-OFF-2895850/
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q7. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL ON SEVERAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SPRAY DERIVED FROM A FAI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI Q7. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL ON SEVERAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SPRAY DERIVED FROM A FAILED OR FRACTURED FUEL INJECTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V019000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO AUDI'S ADBLUE (NOX) SYSTEM. THE NOX SENSOR FAILED, WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING OR STATIONARY. THE WARNING ALERT STATES THE CAR WILL NOT START WITHIN 600 MILES. THE NOX SENSOR MUST BE REPLACE; OTHERWISE, THE CAR WILL NOT RUN DUE TO THE SOFTWARE LOCK OUT TRIGGERED BY THE SENSOR. I AM FORCED TO REPAIR THE CA…
Read full complaint
THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO AUDI'S ADBLUE (NOX) SYSTEM. THE NOX SENSOR FAILED, WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING OR STATIONARY. THE WARNING ALERT STATES THE CAR WILL NOT START WITHIN 600 MILES. THE NOX SENSOR MUST BE REPLACE; OTHERWISE, THE CAR WILL NOT RUN DUE TO THE SOFTWARE LOCK OUT TRIGGERED BY THE SENSOR. I AM FORCED TO REPAIR THE CAR DESPITE THE FACT THE TDI ADBLUE SYSTEM NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AS ADVERTISED BY VW/AUDI. IN MY VIEW, VW/AUDI SHOULD REPLACE THE SENSOR OR VW/AUDI SHOULD OFFER A REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY COST RELATED TO THE TDI ADBLUE SYSTEM THAT OCCURRED WHILE THE COURT CASE IS PENDING.
THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO AUDIS ADBLUE(NOX) SYSTEM. WE RECIEVED A FAULT ON A ROAD TRIP. IT STATED CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON WITHIN 600 MILES. IT STARTED TO COUNT DOWN. AFTER 3 DEALERSHIP VISITS THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FIRST PART TO REPLACE IS A NOX SENSOR TO THE COST OF 1300 DOLLARS. I REFUSED AS I DIDN'T HAVE THAT AMOUNT. SO NOW…
Read full complaint
THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO AUDIS ADBLUE(NOX) SYSTEM. WE RECIEVED A FAULT ON A ROAD TRIP. IT STATED CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON WITHIN 600 MILES. IT STARTED TO COUNT DOWN. AFTER 3 DEALERSHIP VISITS THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FIRST PART TO REPLACE IS A NOX SENSOR TO THE COST OF 1300 DOLLARS. I REFUSED AS I DIDN'T HAVE THAT AMOUNT. SO NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT CANT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT WONT TURN ON AND COMPLY WITH FEDERAL EMISSIONS. I FEEL THAT IF THERE IS A PART HAVING TO DO WITH FEDERAL EMISSIONS THEN AUDI SHOULD HAVE TO BE FORCED TO REPLACE IT LIKE THEY WOULD A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. OR NOT DISABLE THE VEHICLE IN CASE I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!!!!!! AUDI SHOULD REMOVE THAT PROGRAMMING, GIVEN THE FACT THAT IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY I WOULD APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE DRIVING FOR MONTHS OR YEARS(IF NEED BE) IF THE COUNTRY IS LACKING INFRASTRUCTURE. ANOTHER SCENARIO WOULD BE IF I DECIDE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE SOUTHERN TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA. I WOULD HATE FOR MY CAR TO BE STRANDED BECAUSE OF A NOT SO CRITICAL ISSUE.
Official recalls
423V086000 · Equipment:other:labels; Tires
Feb 15, 2023
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:labels
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."
Consequence: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Tires
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."
Consequence: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
18V818000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 19, 2018
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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.
16V660000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Sep 13, 2016
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
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.
15V019000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
Jan 20, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA11003 · High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
Opened Feb 7, 2011 · Closed Mar 27, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Diesel
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.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
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.