What's Wrong with the 1st Generation (2012–2017) A7?

A7 owners have made 10 complaints about the 2012–2017 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 22nd out of 39 Audi generations in overall reliability, with some engine and steering concerns.

Compare With Other A7 Generations

Common 2012-2017 Audi A7 Problems

Some of the worst issues 1st generation A7 owners have to deal with.

  1. 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…

    Continue reading article "Busted Timing Chains" View of engine timing chain

  2. 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…

    Continue reading article "Cheating Diesel Emissions" Cloud of emissions from a tail pipe

What 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

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

1st Generation (2012–2017) A7 Key Numbers

  1. 6 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 10 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 22nd in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 39 eligible generations.

Recent 1st Generation (2012–2017) A7 News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. 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.

    Some owners that had sold their affected vehicles before the news came out tried to file for compensation in court, but didn't get very far. That may be about to change due to an interesting court decision in California.…

    keep reading article "Judge's Decision May Open to the Door to New Diesel-Scandal Claims"