What's Wrong with the 1st Generation A7?

The Worst 2012-2017 A7 Problems

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…

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 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%)
2014 A7 engine surges 1 (100%)
2012 A7 passenger air bag light flashing 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%)
2016 0 (0%)

Timeline of 1st Generation A7 News

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

By the Numbers

6 model years
Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.
10 complaints
Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.
22nd in reliability
Overall reliability rank out of 39 eligible generations.