RoadVitals

2013 Audi A7

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest May 6, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Jun 4, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

Overview

Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Audi A7, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and steering categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1,437 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical722.6%
  • Engine516.1%
  • Steering412.9%
  • Powertrain (other)39.7%
  • Other / unspecified26.5%
  • Brakes26.5%
  • Airbags26.5%
  • Visibility13.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V370000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Jun 4, 2018
139,249 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
The risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 74D5View on NHTSA.gov
17V781000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Dec 6, 2017
48,693 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The fuel line has a compression point that can weaken, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-888-237-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AR.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 20ARView on NHTSA.gov
16V646000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Sep 7, 2016
28,249 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel hose in the engine compartment that may degrade and leak fuel.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BZ.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 24BZView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 19
Filed May 6, 2025

Recall completed TWICE but manufacturer cannot keep their information updated correctly and claims the recall is open and WILL NOT COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK AT ANY DEALERSHIP!

NHTSA ID
11659223
Incident
Apr 17, 2025
Engine
Filed Apr 6, 2024

Internal engine oil leak

NHTSA ID
11581472
Incident
Feb 25, 2024
Steering
Filed Mar 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Audi A7. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not serviced. The contact took the vehicle to independent mechanic and was informed that the electronic steering unit needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired but the warning light was cleared from the system. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the diagnostic inquiry. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated on another occasion while driving 5 MPH, the steering assist warning light was illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to local dealer and was waiting to be serviced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

NHTSA ID
11456921
Incident
Mar 4, 2022
Mileage
56,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2021

An alert when I started my car stated that the steering system had a fault but it was ok to continue driving. Later that evening during my drive home, and about 20 miles from the start of the trip, the car then provided an alert for a steering system failure and to stop driving. The power steering appears to have stopped working - the car could only turn the wheels with great effort.

NHTSA ID
11422768
Incident
Jun 28, 2021
Visibility
Filed May 7, 2021

I HAVE HAD FOUR TIME WINDSHIELD CRACKS.. THERE WERE NO LARGE IMPACTS AND IT SEEMS THAT THE WINDSHIELD MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY BRITTLE AND UNSAFE. OTHER VEHICLES UNDER THE SAME DRIVING ROUTE AND SPEED HAVE NEVER HAD WINDSHIELD CRACKS, BUT MY AUDI HAS ENCOUNTERED FOUR. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN/MATERIAL DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
11415507
Incident
May 4, 2021
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 12, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNRESPONSIVE WHILE IN THE CENTER POSITION AND FELT DISCONNECTED AND UNSTABLE WHILE TURNING. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE DID NOT ALWAYS FEEL IN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHILE TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION FROM THE CENTER STEERING WHEEL POSITION. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO MOMENTARILY CEASED BEFORE RESPONDING WHILE TURNING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
11407727
Incident
Nov 1, 2020
Mileage
78,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 30, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR FOR A LACK PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NEAREST DEALER WAS NEARLY TWO HOURS AWAY AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SERVICED AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,338.*BF*JB

NHTSA ID
11377117
Incident
Nov 1, 2020
Mileage
75,338 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 17, 2019

WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND EPC LIGHT WHICH STATES, "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE". DRIVES SLUGGISH AND "SPUTTERS" ABOVE 4000 RPM. MY WIFE (PREGNANT AT THE TIME) WAS DRIVING WHEN IT SPUTTERED AND HAD DIFFICULTY EXITING OUR SUBDIVISION ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE AUDI DEALER IN HARDEEVILLE, SC AND CONCERN WAS VERIFIED AS COOLANT IN ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HARNESS. (SEE UPLOADS) I'VE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH TO SEE IF THIS WAS COMMON AND I FOUND A RECALL ON THE A8 FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS ABLE TO FIND SB-10053889-6593 WHICH OUTLINES THE EXACT ISSUE; SO AUDI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11289667
Incident
Jul 18, 2019
Mileage
67,648 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB_2082846_1

This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.

TSB_2073282_1

STRUCTURE:BODY

This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.

TSB_2028985_13

POWER TRAIN

This bulleitn procides informaiton when tehre is a transmission warning mssage in the instrument cluster; P074100 is stored in the TCM.

TSB_2028902_5

POWER TRAIN

This bulletin provides informaiton when the transmission warning message appears in the cluster; P074100 stored in the TCM.

TSB_2074729_3

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of vehicle in dynamic mode.

TSB_2059335_7

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the instrument cluster.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi A7 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025010—
2024010—
2023010—
2022060—
20216110—
2020280—
2019436054.0
2018320—
2017140—
2016153045.7
2015530—
2014112049.6
2013Viewing195052.7
2012305052.0
2011000—
2010000—
2009100—
2008000—
2007200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.