EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS; TIRES
2011 Audi Q7
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Audi Q7, most frequently naming the visibility, fuel system and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1,043 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 2014 | 2 | 3 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 5 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 2017 | 1 | 7 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 8 |
| Jul 2018 | 1 | 9 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 10 |
| Dec 2018 | 1 | 11 |
| Apr 2019 | 1 | 12 |
| Sep 2020 | 2 | 14 |
| Oct 2020 | 1 | 15 |
| Nov 2020 | 1 | 16 |
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 17 |
| Jul 2023 | 1 | 18 |
| Aug 2023 | 1 | 19 |
| Oct 2023 | 1 | 20 |
| Sep 2024 | 1 | 21 |
| Oct 2024 | 1 | 22 |
| Sep 2025 | 1 | 23 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Visibility731.8%
- Fuel system522.7%
- Engine29.1%
- Electrical29.1%
- Steering14.5%
- Tires & wheels14.5%
- Interior & seats14.5%
- Brakes14.5%
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
4 campaigns cover this model year
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.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information, field experience and test data for MY 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and Touareg and Audi A3 and Q7 vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject TDI Clean Diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pumps were designed, tested and approved for use in the United States market, with substantial design margins for fuels that are out of specification.Volkswagen believes that misfueling with gasoline is the primary cause of HPFP drivetrain failures in the field.Only the Q7 vehicles were built with misfuel protection devices.In May 2013 Volkswagen initiated a service campaign to install misfuel protection devices in all MY 2009 through 2012 Jetta, Golf and A3 vehicles.Volkswagen implemented misfuel protection devices in all of the subject models beginning in MY 2013. ODI?s analysis of HPFP drivetrain failure incidents indicates that most failures do not result in engine stall while driving and, when pump drivetrain failure does result in stall while driving, it is usually preceded by numerous warning symptoms (e.g., glow plug warning lamp, chime, limp mode, and driveability symptoms).The failure data for the subject vehicles show relatively low stalling rates (less than one percent at three years in service) for each of the pump designs used in the subject vehicles.There have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities related to the alleged defect. Based on these facts, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.For additional information, see the closing report in the document file for EA11-003.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Driving on a country road with no vehicle in front of me - a loud explosion occurred and realized the front panel of the sunroof had exploded. Luckily, the screen was closed at the time and no large glass fragments fell into the occupants of the vehicle - there were five of us at the time. Arrived at a friend’s house to vacuum out the small slivers of glass pieces that fell through the screen. The outside temperature that day was approximately 80°F. The explosion sounded like gunfire and it was very scary. My [XXX] (Nephew) started crying after the incident because it was very shocking to all of us. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11686487
- Incident
- Sep 6, 2025
The Bosch CP4 High Pressure Fuel Pump failed suddenly at interstate speed (65-70mph) as I was driving up a hill in 3 lanes of traffic. The car stalled immediately and lost all motive power. I had to limp across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder right away, risking collision from passing vehicles. I could provide the damaged pump for inspection if needed. It's a common failure of the CP4 design, disintegrating and pushing tiny metal shards throughout the fuel system including injectors. The CP4 has been recalled on many vehicles previously. The problem has been diagnosed by the Audi dealership and confirmed the Bosch CP4 pump failed and destroyed the entire fuel system. The car has been dealership maintained since new and had no warning signs of failure, or lights. It was running perfectly prior to this incident. Because of the location of the incident there was a 5 hour delay in roadside assistance, in which my family sat on the side of the road.
- NHTSA ID
- 11620539
- Incident
- Oct 5, 2024
The smell of gasoline out side on the left and the right behind driver seat. Please help me. I searched on YouTube alot of car audi brand recall to fix the issue. They said cracked and leaked the cap of filter fuel pump.
- NHTSA ID
- 11612006
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2024
Passenger windshield wiper snapped off. Light rain and also driving at normal interstate speed.
- NHTSA ID
- 11549884
- Incident
- Aug 10, 2023
Driving on a Saturday evening when it started raining. Wipers automatically engaged, suddenly saw passenger side blade warp then snap off and fly off the to the side of the street causing the driver behind me to swerve almost causing an accident. I pulled over immediately, to retrieve the piece to try and determine what happened. Saw that it just snapped off and flew off without any notice.
- NHTSA ID
- 11539960
- Incident
- Apr 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Audi Q7. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic stated that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump, fuel injectors, fuel tank, and fuel filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by the dealer. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 114,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11530838
- Incident
- Jun 16, 2023
- Mileage
- 114,000 mi
2 separate occasions now, the passenger-side windshield wipers have broken off. This is apparently a common incident with some Audi vehicles due to poor manufacturing/design. Audi has not implemented a recall. This is a safety concern as the wipers have broken off while I was driving and could hit another vehicle!
- NHTSA ID
- 11494284
- Incident
- Nov 20, 2022
I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH MY WIPERS ON, SET ON LOW WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER EJECTED ITSELF AND THE WIPER ARM BROKE NEAR THE BASE. TO KEEP MY WINDSHIELD FROM BEING SCRATCHED I HAD TO TURN MY WIPERS OFF ALTOGETHER FORCING ME TO DRIVE IN THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF POOR VISIBILITY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT THE ARM WAS ABOUT TO BREAK OR THE WIPER WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF, THEY DID SO VERY SUDDENLY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11375789
- Incident
- Nov 21, 2020
- Mileage
- 102,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This bulletin provides a statement regarding the bottleneck of supply for VW approved oil types VW 504.00 and VW 507.00.
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.
POWER TRAIN
This bulletin provides inormation when the ATF pipes leak; Q7 with 0C8 gearbox.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the instrument cluster.
ENGINE
This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
This Reporting Obligation requires technicains to contact the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) in cases where the airbag/seatbelt is deployed/not deployed; general accident information; and fire and overheat damage.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 53.8 |
| 2024 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 48.2 |
| 2022 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 61.2 |
| 2021 | 69 | 9 | 0 | 62.6 |
| 2020 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 58.3 |
| 2019 | 61 | 4 | 0 | 54.2 |
| 2018 | 141 | 3 | 0 | 54.0 |
| 2017 | 317 | 7 | 0 | 55.9 |
| 2016 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 42.1 |
| 2014 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 2013 | 41 | 3 | 0 | 60.2 |
| 2012 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 52.7 |
| 2011Viewing | 23 | 4 | 1 | 54.5 |
| 2010 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 45.1 |
| 2009 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 48.4 |
| 2008 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 47.9 |
| 2007 | 95 | 3 | 0 | 47.8 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.