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2018 Audi Q7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Q7 years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Audi Q7 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 33 of 142 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.

  • Engine. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherInjury

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 IGN…

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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 BREAK A WINDOW TO GET HIM OUT. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM, HE WAS EXTREMELY HOT WITH ELEVATED TEMPERATURE AND SOAKED IN SWEAT. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT WITH MY 3MONTH OLD BABY THAT DAY. SINCE MY BOY'S TEMPERATURE WAS COMING DOWN NICELY WITH SUPPORTIVE MEASURES I DID NOT TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AND DECIDED TO OBSERVE AT HOME. CAR HAD SERVICE 6 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT IN AUDI FORT MYERS NEXT DAY ON 10/08/10, TOOK CAR TO AUDI FORT MYERS AND REPORTED EVENT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND NO EVENT WAS REGISTERED. THEN I WAS TOLD BY EMPLOYEES AT AUDI, THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE EVENT BUT NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND NO NEED TO REPORT TO AUDI USA.

NHTSA ODI #11363538

16,000 miles · Sep 23, 2019
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM ON THE CAR HAS BEEN COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONING. IT WILL SLAM ON THE BRAKES WHEN TURNING, AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN A MONTH WITH NO RESOLUTION

NHTSA ODI #11257430

15,000 miles · Apr 2, 2019
Electrical SystemService Brakes

AUDI HAS A PRE SENSE FEATURE THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SLAM ON THE BRAKES. IT FAILS CONSTANTLY AND SLAMS ON THE BRAKES AT VARIOUS TIMES. SO FAR IT HAS BEEN AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BY THIS FEATURE. THERE IS NO WAY TO AUTOMATICALLY TURN IT OFF, AND IT TURNS ON EVERY TIME YOU RESTART THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #11193369

1 miles · Sep 13, 2018
Electrical System

WHILE IN REVERSE BACKING UP, THE BACKUP CAMERA UNPREDICTABLY REVERTS TO USELESS "GRAPHIC" MODE DESPITE REPEATEDLY BEING SET TO "CAMERA" MODE. CHANGING THIS SETTING WHILE BACKING UP IS DANGEROUS, DISTRACTING AND UNPREDICTABLE. SOMETIMES IT WORKS CORRECTLY AND STAYS IN CAMERA MODE, OTHER RANDOM TIMES IT REVERTS TO GRAPHICS MODE.…

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WHILE IN REVERSE BACKING UP, THE BACKUP CAMERA UNPREDICTABLY REVERTS TO USELESS "GRAPHIC" MODE DESPITE REPEATEDLY BEING SET TO "CAMERA" MODE. CHANGING THIS SETTING WHILE BACKING UP IS DANGEROUS, DISTRACTING AND UNPREDICTABLE. SOMETIMES IT WORKS CORRECTLY AND STAYS IN CAMERA MODE, OTHER RANDOM TIMES IT REVERTS TO GRAPHICS MODE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF MOST 2018 AUDI VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN UPDATED IN LATER RELEASED VEHICLES, BUT NO UPDATE TO EXISTING VEHICLES HAS BEEN OFFERED.

NHTSA ODI #11129372

5,000 miles · Aug 23, 2018
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE A "P" OR PARK IS STILL DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS HAS HAPPED SEVERAL TIMES. AUDI SERVICE WAS PROVIDED PICTURES AND VIDEO OF OCCURRENCES AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. THEY NEVER DID. ALSO NOW HAVE SOS MALFUNCTION WARNING DISPLAYED. CAR ONLY HAS 7K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11121938

2,600 miles · Apr 9, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE 2018 AUDI Q7 HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES SINCE I LEASED THE CAR ON 9/11/2017. MY INITIAL INQUIRY RELATED TO TECHNOLOGY ISSUES WAS BACK ON DECEMBER 22, 2017 THAT WAS SHORTLY FOLLOWED UP BY A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. AFTER YOUR TEAM ASSESSED THE ISSUE AND ALLEGEDLY RESET THE SYSTEM, I CHECKED OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMEN…

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THE 2018 AUDI Q7 HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES SINCE I LEASED THE CAR ON 9/11/2017. MY INITIAL INQUIRY RELATED TO TECHNOLOGY ISSUES WAS BACK ON DECEMBER 22, 2017 THAT WAS SHORTLY FOLLOWED UP BY A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. AFTER YOUR TEAM ASSESSED THE ISSUE AND ALLEGEDLY RESET THE SYSTEM, I CHECKED OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, ONLY TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME TECHNOLOGY ISSUE AS I WAS DRIVING OFF THE LOT. YOUR TEAM PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. ASIDE FROM CONTINUED REBOOTS OF THE AUDI COMPUTER SYSTEM OR MMI SYSTEM, THE CAR WOULD FLAG AUDI PRE SENSE WARNINGS AND FORCE THE CAR TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS, MID TURN. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS ESTIMATED AT 150 YARDS FROM THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE CAR JAMMED TO A STOP. THE SENSORS APPEAR TO STOP THE CAR AFTER IDENTIFYING A FALSE READ. THE CAR IS THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION CAUSING SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. AUDI REPLACED THE MMI SYSTEM AND THE FUEL TANK AFTER IDENTIFYING A FAULTY VALVE. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. AUDI WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE ISSUE AND CLAIMED THAT THE PRE SENSE SYSTEM SENSORS WERE SET TO A HIGH SENSITIVITY. THEY ALSO CLAIMED THAT A POTHOLE OR A BIRD COULD SET OFF THE SENSORS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. BY THE WAY, I WAS DRIVING A LOANER CAR FOR OVER THREE MONTHS WHILE THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX MY VEHICLE AND FALSE PRE SENSE WARNINGS ARE COMMON.

NHTSA ODI #11084005

Official recalls

3

20V658000 · Structure:body:roof And Pillars

Oct 27, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, an unbelted occupant's head may impact the vehicle's C-pillar padding, increasing the risk of injury.

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.

20V149000 · Steering

Mar 16, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A sudden loss of loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.

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.

19V035000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Jan 16, 2019

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.