Audi 3.0 TDI: years, specs & known problems

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 4, 2026

Audi's 3.0 TDI is a 2,967 cc turbodiesel V6 sold in the US from 2009 to 2016 in the Q7, A6, A7, A8 and Q5. 2014–2016 versions made 240 hp with 406–428 lb-ft. Every US 3.0 TDI was covered by the 2016 EPA emissions settlement: 2009–2012 Q7s were bought back or modified, and later models received an approved emissions fix.

The 3.0 TDI uses a compacted-graphite iron block, an 83.0 × 91.4 mm bore and stroke, a 16.8:1 compression ratio and a variable-geometry turbocharger, with an AdBlue (diesel exhaust fluid) tank for its selective catalytic reduction system. It arrived in the 2009 Q7 TDI and spread to the A6, A7, A8 and Q5 for 2014. Audi rated it at 240 hp in every 2014–2016 application, with 406 lb-ft in the Q7 and A8 and 428 lb-ft in the A6, A7 and Q5.

In November 2015 EPA found software defeat devices on the 3.0-liter diesels, and the court approved a settlement in May 2017. 2009–2012 Q7s were eligible for buyback or an approved emissions modification; 2013–2015 Q7 and 2014–2016 A6, A7, A8 and Q5 models received approved fixes in late 2017. Confirm that the emissions modification was performed on any used example.

3.0 TDI at a glance

Audi 3.0 TDI turbodiesel 2,967 cc V6, US models 2009–2016: model years, fuel and peak Audi-published output by version
Engine	Model years	Fuel	Peak hp	Peak torque (lb-ft)	Documented problems	Recalls
Q7 TDI (2009–2015)	2009–2015	Diesel (ultra-low-sulfur)	240	406	1	1
A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016)	2014–2016	Diesel (ultra-low-sulfur)	240	428	1	0

CarWhere lists 2 documented problems and 1 NHTSA recall for the 3.0 TDI, each with a source.

Q7 TDI (2009–2015)

The first US 3.0 TDI. EPA treats 2009–2012 Q7s as 'generation 1' (buyback or approved modification) and 2013–2015 Q7s as repairable.

Q7 TDI (2009–2015) specifications

Q7 TDI (2009–2015): design facts (2009–2015)
Specification	Value
Displacement	2,967 cc (181.1 cu in)[1]
Bore × stroke	83.0 × 91.4 mm[2]
Compression ratio	16.8:1[1]
Turbocharger	GT2056 variable turbine geometry[1]
Cylinder block	Vermicular (compacted) graphite cast iron[1]

Q7 TDI (2009–2015) horsepower and torque by year

Q7 TDI (2009–2015): Audi-published horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) by model year and application
Model years	Application	Horsepower (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)	Source
2014–2015	Q7 TDI240 hp at 3,500 rpm; 406 lb-ft at 1,750 rpm	240	406	[1]

"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.

Which vehicles have the Q7 TDI (2009–2015)?

Models and model years offered with the Q7 TDI (2009–2015)
Model	Model years	Notes
Q7 TDI	2009–2015

Q7 TDI (2009–2015) problems and what to check

Emissions defeat device and court-ordered fix (2009–2016)

Major repair

EPA issued a notice of violation in November 2015 for software on Volkswagen Group 3.0-liter diesels that circumvented emissions standards, and Volkswagen later said it had been present since 2009. A partial settlement covering about 83,000 3.0-liter vehicles was approved on May 17, 2017; it required a recall and approved emissions modification, with buyback offered for 2009–2012 Q7s.[3][4][5]

Symptoms

No driving symptom; the issue is emissions compliance
Registration or inspection problems in some states if the fix was not done

Check before buying

Ask for the dealer record of the approved emissions modification
Run the VIN for open campaigns at an Audi dealer
Check AdBlue (DEF) level and warning history

Program: Volkswagen 3.0-liter Clean Air Act partial settlement (approved May 17, 2017): buyback or modification for 2009–2012 Q7; approved emissions modification for 2013–2015 Q7 and 2014–2016 A6, A7, A8, Q5

Q7 TDI (2009–2015) recalls

NHTSA safety recalls related to the Q7 TDI (2009–2015) (campaign numbers link to NHTSA)
NHTSA campaign	Reported	Vehicles	Summary
14V516	2014-08	2013 Q7 TDI built June 5 to November 29, 2012	A check valve in the engine can be contaminated with plastic debris and let engine oil leak into the brake booster.

A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016)

Audi added the 3.0 TDI to the A6, A7, A8 and Q5 for 2014, all rated at 240 hp with quattro all-wheel drive.

A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016) specifications

A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016): design facts (2014–2016)
Specification	Value
AdBlue tank	5.0 gal (2016 A6 TDI)[2]
Output	240 hp at 3,500–3,750 rpm; 428 lb-ft at 1,750–2,250 rpm (2016 A6)[2]

A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016) horsepower and torque by year

A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016): Audi-published horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft) by model year and application
Model years	Application	Horsepower (hp)	Torque (lb-ft)	Source
2014	A7 TDI	240	428	[6]
2014	A8 TDI	240	406	[7]
2016	A6 TDI	240	428	[2]
2016	Q5 TDI	240	428	[8]

"—" means we could not confirm the figure from a primary source.

Which vehicles have the A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016)?

Models and model years offered with the A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016)
Model	Model years	Notes
A6 TDI	2014–2016
A7 TDI	2014–2016
A8 and A8 L TDI	2014–2016
Q5 TDI	2014–2016

A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI (2014–2016) problems and what to check

Emissions defeat device and court-ordered fix (2014–2016)

Major repair

Symptoms

No driving symptom; the issue is emissions compliance
Registration or inspection problems in some states if the fix was not done

Check before buying

Ask for the dealer record of the approved emissions modification
Run the VIN for open campaigns at an Audi dealer
Check AdBlue (DEF) level and warning history

3.0 TDI issues by model

The same engine shows up on these known-issues pages, with model-specific details.

Audi Q7: TDI check valve can let oil into the brake booster (recall 14V516) (2013 (built June 5–November 29, 2012))

Related Audi research

Confirm a car really has the 3.0 TDI.

The engine an Audi left the factory with is part of its build record. The CarWhere Audi build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.

Audi build sheet by VIN

Frequently asked questions

Which Audis have the 3.0 TDI?

The 2009–2015 Q7 TDI and the 2014–2016 A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI.

How much horsepower does the Audi 3.0 TDI make?

240 hp in 2014–2016 models, with 406 lb-ft in the Q7 and A8 and 428 lb-ft in the A6, A7 and Q5.

Were Audi 3.0 TDI models bought back?

The 2009–2012 Q7 TDI was eligible for buyback or lease termination under the 3.0-liter settlement, with an approved emissions modification as an alternative. 2013–2015 Q7 and 2014–2016 A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDI models were recalled for an emissions fix.

Is a used Audi 3.0 TDI safe to buy?

Confirm by VIN that the approved emissions modification was completed, and check AdBlue system and service records. EPA and CARB approved fixes for the 3.0-liter SUVs in October 2017 and for the Audi passenger cars in December 2017.

Sources

Ratings are Audi-published figures as cited; descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs appear only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.

2015 Audi Q7 press kit — Audi of America
2016 Audi A6/TDI/S6 media kit (revised May 2015) — Audi of America
Learn About Volkswagen Violations — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Frequent Questions about Volkswagen Violations — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Volkswagen Clean Air Act Civil Settlement — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2014 Audi A7/A7 TDI/S7/RS 7 media kit (revised Oct. 2013) — Audi of America
2014 Audi A8/S8/W12 media kit — Audi of America
2016 Audi Q5/TDI/hybrid/SQ5 media kit (revised June 2015) — Audi of America

More Audi tools

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by AUDI AG or Audi of America. Audi, quattro, TFSI, S tronic, e-tron and the model names are trademarks of their owners.