2021 Audi A7: Problems & Reliability
TOO FEW REPORTS2021 Audi A7: TOO FEW REPORTS — 6 owner complaints; top issue: engine (3 complaints).
The verdict engine has only 7 complaints for the 2021 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
6
NHTSA complaints
12
Model years compared
1,251
Service bulletins
11
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2021 Audi A7 problems
Engine dominates the record — 50% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2021 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 50% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 33% |
| Backup camera / back-over prevention | 1 | 17% |
| Speed control / throttle | 1 | 17% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2021 Audi A7 recalls
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021, reported between Mar 10, 2021 and Dec 20, 2025.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V900000 | Dec 20, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 25V201000 | Mar 31, 2025 | Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel |
| 23V842000 | Dec 13, 2023 | Electrical system › Propulsion system › Charging › Cable/cord › Onboard |
| 23V601000 | Aug 25, 2023 | Service brakes, hydraulic › Fluid |
| 22V861000 | Nov 21, 2022 | Electrical system |
| 22V742000 | Oct 5, 2022 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Display function |
| 22V155000 | Mar 14, 2022 | Electrical system › Instrument panel › Fuel gauge › Fuel level float/sensor/sending unit |
| 22V034000 | Jan 26, 2022 | Tires |
| 21V606000 | Aug 5, 2021 | Seat belts › Rear/other › Retractor |
| 21V295000 | Apr 26, 2021 | Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly |
| 21V159000 | Mar 10, 2021 | Air bags |
2021 Audi A7 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,251 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2021 — more than the 924 of the median A7 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (477), structure (101), steering (62). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2021 vs. the year before and after
From the 2020 to the 2021, owner complaints jumped 3.0× (2 → 6). The 2022 that followed fell by more than half (6 → 0), so the 2022 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 A7 | TOO FEW REPORTS | 2 | 1,283 | 8 | — |
| 2021 (this page) | TOO FEW REPORTS | 6 | 1,251 | 11 | — |
| 2022 A7 | TOO FEW REPORTS | 0 | 1,021 | 6 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Audi A7 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2021 Audi A7
Engine (3 complaints on the 2021): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Electrical system (2 complaints on the 2021): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Backup camera / back-over prevention (1 complaint on the 2021): shift into reverse several times and make sure the camera image comes up quickly and clearly.
Speed control / throttle (1 complaint on the 2021): check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
Recalls: confirm all 11 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2021 Audi A7 — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
- DealDrive AI negotiator reads any dealer quote and writes your counteroffer
- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
Found a 2021 Audi A7 for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
Is the 2021 Audi A7 reliable?
2021 Audi A7: TOO FEW REPORTS — 6 owner complaints; top issue: engine (3 complaints). The verdict engine has only 7 complaints for the 2021 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
What are the most common 2021 Audi A7 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2021 Audi A7 are engine (3, 50%), electrical system (2, 33%), backup camera / back-over prevention (1, 17%). The manufacturer has 1,251 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 Audi A7 have?
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021 Audi A7, most recently 25V900000 (Dec 20, 2025, backup camera / back-over prevention); 25V201000 (Mar 31, 2025, electrical system); 23V842000 (Dec 13, 2023, electrical system). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2021 Audi A7 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2021 Audi A7 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.