Your vehicle report
2018 Audi Q7
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 144
- Received Jan 2018 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Coil springs break and puncture tires14 complaints · 9.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Head gasket leaks coolant into engine11 complaints · 7.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine burns excessive oil between changes10 complaints · 6.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #20V658000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Audi Q7 vehicles. The padding on the vehicle's C-pillar may not absorb enough impact in the event of a crash.
- Recall #20V149000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles. The bolt connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear may loosen, possibly resulting in a loss of steering control.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Coil springs break and puncture tiresFirst signal: Sep 2023
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Jul 2024
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 14 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 34 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 14 |
| Total | 144 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coil springs break and puncture tires | 14 | 9.7% | 53× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.5% |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 11 | 7.6% | 1.9× | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 10 | 6.9% | 9.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jul 2024 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.3% |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 7 | 4.9% | – | |
| Turn signals work intermittently or fail | 7 | 4.9% | 20.9× | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 7 | 4.9% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 5 | 3.5% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 4 | 2.8% | – | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 4 | 2.8% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 4 | 2.8% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 2.1% | – | NHTSA recall #20V149000 |
| Parking brake fails to hold or release | 3 | 2.1% | – | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 3 | 2.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #20V658000October 27, 202094,144 vehicles affected
structure: body: roof and pillars
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Audi Q7 vehicles. The padding on the vehicle's C-pillar may not absorb enough impact in the event of a crash.
In the event of a crash, an unbelted occupant's head may impact the vehicle's C-pillar padding, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the deformation element on the C-pillars, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 70H8.
NHTSA recall #20V149000March 16, 2020229 vehicles affected
steering
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles. The bolt connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear may loosen, possibly resulting in a loss of steering control.
A sudden loss of loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering shaft bolt, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 36A1.
NHTSA recall #19V035000January 16, 201974,881 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.
Remedy
Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2018 Audi Q7.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN