The most-documented Audi Q7 problems are fuel pump flange recalls 16V660, 18V818 and 17V298 on the first generation, coolant pump leaks on 2009–2011 3.0 TFSI and TDI models (Service Action 19H1/F1) and fuel rail recall 15V019. Second-generation Q7s have C-pillar padding recall 20V658, fuel pump recall 22V516 and a V6 coolant pump bulletin.
CarWhere lists 12 documented Q7 issues, including 8 NHTSA safety recalls, each with affected years, powertrains, symptoms, pre-purchase checks and a source.
Q7 generations at a glance
Audi Q7 generations and the known issues listed for each
Fuel pump flange can crack and leak (recalls 16V660 / 18V818) (2007–2012)
Safety recall
Generation:
4L (2009–2015)
Years:
2007–2012
Powertrain:
Gasoline engines
The fuel pump flange on 2007–2012 gasoline Q7s (and 2009–2012 Q5s) can crack and leak fuel. 16V660 replaced cracked flanges and taped the rest as an interim fix; 18V818 then replaced the taped flanges.
Symptoms
Fuel smell inside or under the car
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Confirm 18V818 is closed if the car had the interim 16V660 repair
Fuel pump flange can crack and leak (recall 17V298) (2013–2017)
Safety recall
Generation:
4L (2009–2015)
Years:
2013–2017
Powertrain:
Gasoline engines
Audi recalled 2013–2017 gasoline Q7s and Q5s because the fuel pump flange can crack and leak fuel. Dealers replace cracked flanges and apply protective film to the rest.
Symptoms
Fuel smell inside or under the car
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Audi’s Service Action 19H1/F1 letter says a seal inside the coolant pump can wear early and leak on a limited number of 2009–2011 Audi vehicles with the 3.0 TFSI, 3.0 TDI and 3.2 FSI engines (the letter is VIN-specific; on the Q7 this means 3.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI models). Dealers replaced the pump free of charge, and Audi extended the powertrain warranty to 5 years or 100,000 miles for the then-current owner (non-transferable).
Symptoms
Coolant System Malfunction light
Coolant loss
Check before buying
Ask an Audi dealer whether Service Action 19H1/F1 was completed on the VIN
Check the coolant level and look for leaks at the front of the engine
Fuel injection system can leak (recall 15V019) (2011–2012)
Safety recall
Generation:
4L (2009–2015)
Years:
2011–2012
Powertrain:
See recall for engine applicability
Volkswagen recalled 2011–2012 Q7s (with S4, S5, 2012 A6 and 2012–2013 A7) because the fuel injection system may leak and create a fire risk. Dealers replace the fuel rails and seals.
Symptoms
Fuel smell from the engine bay
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
On 2013 Q7 TDIs built June 5 to November 29, 2012, a check valve can be contaminated with plastic debris and let engine oil into the brake booster, which can rupture its diaphragm and cut power brake assist. Dealers replace a vacuum line and inspect the booster.
Symptoms
Hard brake pedal
Reduced braking assist
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Audi bulletin TSB 2039995 covers a 1–3 second rattle from the timing chain drive after the first start of the day on 2011–2014 vehicles with the 3.0 TFSI, which here means the 2011–2014 Q7 3.0 TFSI. Audi says the noise comes from an upper chain tensioner and does not lead to damage; the fix is improved tensioners on both banks.
Symptoms
Brief rattle from the back of the engine on the first cold start of the day
Check before buying
Listen to a true cold start
Ask whether both upper chain tensioners were replaced under TSB 2039995
Third-row seat back may move forward in a crash (recall 16V641) (2017)
Safety recall
Generation:
4M (2017–present)
Years:
2017
Powertrain:
All
The third-row seat back on 2017 Q7s built August 30, 2015 to July 10, 2016 may move forward under load such as a frontal crash, failing seating standard FMVSS 207.
Symptoms
No symptoms in normal use
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
MMI reboots and blank CarPlay screen (MIB2 High bulletin) (2017)
Minor
Generation:
4M (2017–present)
Years:
2017
Powertrain:
All (MIB2 High infotainment)
Audi bulletin TSB 2059383 is a software update for the MIB2 High infotainment system on 2016–2017 A4, A5, A6, A7 and Q7 with MIB2 High. It lists fixes for the system rebooting while driving, no audio, a blank Apple CarPlay display, the myAudi PIN not being accepted and Google Earth maps not working.
Symptoms
MMI screen reboots while driving
No audio from the MMI
CarPlay display goes blank
Check before buying
Test the MMI, navigation and CarPlay on the test drive
Ask whether the MMI software has been updated under TSB 2059383
Steering shaft bolt may loosen (recall 20V149) (2017–2019)
Safety recall
Generation:
4M (2017–present)
Years:
2017–2019
Powertrain:
All
The bolt joining the steering shaft to the steering gear on some 2017–2019 Q7s and 2019 Q8s may loosen, possibly causing a loss of steering control. Dealers inspect and replace the bolt as necessary.
Symptoms
Clunk or play in the steering
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
C-pillar padding may not absorb enough impact (recall 20V658) (2018–2020)
Safety recall
Generation:
4M (2017–present)
Years:
2018–2020
Powertrain:
All
The padding on the C-pillars of 2018–2020 Q7s may not absorb enough energy if an unbelted occupant’s head strikes it in a crash. Dealers replace the C-pillar deformation elements.
Symptoms
No symptoms in normal use
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Fuel pump component can break and stall the engine (recall 22V516) (2020–2021)
Safety recall
Generation:
4M (2017–present)
Years:
2020–2021
Powertrain:
Gasoline engines
A component inside the fuel pump of 2020–2021 Q7s and 2019–2021 Q8s may break and cause the pump to fail, stalling the engine. Dealers replace the fuel pump.
Symptoms
Hard starting
Engine stall
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Audi bulletin TSB 2070349 covers coolant loss traced to the coolant pump on V6 TFSI engines, listing 2020–2024 Q7 along with other V6 TFSI Audis. The revision notes that in some cases a P0299 underboost code is logged because coolant from the leaking pump contaminates a switch valve. Outside warranty the bulletin is informational only.
Symptoms
Coolant warning lamp
Coolant level dropping with no obvious puddle
Check-engine light, sometimes with an underboost code
Check before buying
Check the coolant reservoir level cold
Ask for records of any coolant-pump replacement
Have a pre-purchase inspection pressure-test the cooling system
Owners filed 942 complaints about the Audi Q7 with NHTSA for the model years below, the most for the 2017 model year (323). The components cited most often are engine, electrical system and exterior lighting. Counts are raw filings, not rates: newer and higher-volume years naturally collect more, and a complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.
NHTSA owner complaints for the Audi Q7 by model year (all US body styles and S/RS variants, de-duplicated by NHTSA complaint number), as of November 2026
Model year
Complaints
Crash or fire reported
Injury reported
Safety-critical component
2026
2
0
0
1
2025
19
2
3
6
2024
3
0
0
0
2023
16
0
1
7
2022
20
2
2
13
2021
81
3
4
35
2020
31
2
2
19
2019
63
5
0
33
2018
144
3
3
70
2017
323
10
7
112
2016
2
0
0
0
2015
46
1
1
29
2014
46
3
1
32
2013
44
4
1
33
2012
29
1
0
24
2011
23
1
1
9
2010
29
0
0
20
2009
21
1
1
13
Most-cited components across these years: Engine (199) · Electrical system (173) · Exterior lighting (168) · Unknown or other (101) · Fuel/propulsion system (100) · Suspension (67). A complaint can name more than one component.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints database, queried by CarWhere for every NHTSA model name filed for this nameplate (AUDI Q7, Q7, SQ7). “Safety-critical component” counts complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or death, or name the engine, power train, steering, service brakes or fuel system.
Related Q7 research
This page explains specific mechanical issues and recalls. Which model years drew the most owner complaints relative to the rest of the model’s history is answered in the years-to-avoid research where CarWhere publishes it.
Engine, transmission and packages decide which of these issues apply. 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.
First-generation Q7s have fuel pump flange recalls 16V660, 18V818 and 17V298, fuel rail recall 15V019 and coolant pump leaks covered by Service Action 19H1/F1. Second-generation Q7s have C-pillar recall 20V658, fuel pump recall 22V516 and a V6 TFSI coolant pump bulletin.
Does the Audi Q7 3.0T have coolant pump problems?
Yes. Service Action 19H1/F1 replaced leaking coolant pumps on some 2009–2011 3.0 TFSI and TDI models and extended powertrain coverage to 5 years or 100,000 miles for the then-current owner. TSB 2070349 covers coolant pump leaks on 2020–2024 Q7 V6 TFSI engines.
Is there a fuel leak recall on the Audi Q7?
Yes. 16V660 and 18V818 cover cracked fuel pump flanges on 2007–2012 Q7s, 17V298 covers 2013–2017 models and 15V019 replaced the fuel rails on 2011–2012 3.0 TFSI models.
Does the Audi Q7 have MMI problems?
Audi bulletin TSB 2059383 is a software update for 2016–2017 MIB2 High systems, including the Q7. It fixes reboots while driving, no audio and a blank CarPlay screen.
How do I check a used Audi Q7 for open recalls?
Enter the 17-digit VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup or ask an Audi dealer. Recall repairs are free regardless of mileage or owner.
Sources
Issue descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs are shown only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.
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.