How Reliable is the Audi A7?

The 3 Most Common A7 Problems

We've pulled together a list of the most widespread problems that A7 owners have to deal with.

Busted Timing Chains

Audi's EA888 2.0-liter engine has a history of tensioner problems in its timing chain. The loose chain is to blame for multiple occurances of catastrophic engine failure. Audi was forced to offer settlement offers, including an extended war…

Start-Stop Defects

There are multiple problems with Audi's start-stop technology that outweigh the modest fuel efficiency gains. Owners complain that the system will shut off the power steering and brake systems at dangerous times and cause the accelerat The …

Cheating Diesel Emissions

Audi was caught cheating on its diesel emissions with defeat devices. Twice. It started with the widespread dieselgate story for 2.0L 4-cylinder engines and was followed with a lesser known cheat for vehicles with the ZF 8-speed transmiss…

What A7 Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

2012 A7 steering defective warning 1 (100%)
2013 A7 premature tire wear 1 (100%)
2017 A7 brakes make a squealing noise 1 (100%)
2019 A7 mmi screen failures 1 (100%)
2014 A7 engine surges 1 (100%)

Worst Topics

Engine 5 (100%)
Steering 1 (20%)
Airbags & Seat Belts 1 (20%)
Wheels 1 (20%)
Fuel System 1 (20%)

Worst Years

2012 3 (100%)
2013 2 (67%)
2014 2 (67%)
2015 2 (67%)
2017 1 (33%)

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

A7 Generations

Generations are groups of model years where few, if any, changes were made to the vehicle which means their model years tend to break in similar ways. The A7 has 2 generations available in North American markets.

2nd Generation A7 (2018–2020)

PainRank^™: 0.28
Complaints: 1
Reliability: 10th out of 66

1st Generation A7 (2012–2017)

PainRank^™: 1.23
Complaints: 10
Reliability: 22nd out of 66

By the Numbers

11 complaints
Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.
1,665 service bulletins
Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.
9 recall campaigns
Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Timeline of Recent A7 News

For the third time in three months Audi has been sued for failing to do something about their dangerous start-stop defects. It's almost as if owners don't appreciate suddenly losing access to their power steering and brakes while slowing down or not knowing whether their vehicle will accelerate through a busy intersection.
Posted on
September 6, 2020
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
carcomplaints.com
A Virginia based lawsuit says Audi's start-stop system suffers from defects that cause delayed acceleration or lurching that can put occupants in danger. The plaintiffs say that Audi HQ and dealerships will just tell owners to deactivate the start-stop system if they don't like it, but the system starts up automatically each time the ignition is pressed and must be manually deactivated by pressing a separate burden. Something the case refers to as a inconvenience and mandatory burden that is not disclosed to the Class Members ar the time of the sale.
Posted on
August 26, 2020
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
carcomplaints.com
Start-stop technology shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a complete stop in order to save on fuel consumption and emissions. That's a good thing. But it also disables the power steering and brakes way too early. And it is a little slow to re-engage those systems when the vehicle starts moving again. That's a really bad thing.
Posted on
July 13, 2020
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
carcomplaints.com
When
Volkswagen agreed to a multi-district settlement for selling polluting engines marketed as clean diesel, it did so knowing it’d have to pay billions of dollars to customers that owned or leased an affected vehicle when the news about the scandal broke.
Posted on
October 8, 2018
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
vwproblems.com
There appears to be a settlement on the horizon for Audi owners who have either had or are concerned about timing chain damage. According to the terms, reimbursement amounts will be determined based on the age of the vehicle, how many miles are on the odometer and if the timing chain tensioner, timing chain or engine was replaced.
Posted on
May 18, 2018
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
carcomplaints.com

See All A7 News