2017 Audi Q7

"Front Right Side Marker Light Defective" Error

NHTSA ID

11774097

Incident

Oct 15, 2026

In XXX, my 2017 Audi Q7 3.0T unexpectedly lost engine power while traveling approximately 70 mph on a highway in [XXX]. A "Drive System Malfunction" warning appeared. The driver pulled over, shut off the engine, and restarted it; the vehicle then drove normally. The sudden reduction in power at highway speed created a risk of collision with surrounding traffic. The precise cause is UNKNOWN. I reported the highway-speed loss of power and warning to Audi Wilmington. At its XXX visit (102,255 miles), the dealership documented the warning and multiple engine misfire codes. It identified a vacuum leak at a broken oil-fill pipe neck, replaced the pipe, cleared codes, and reported no issue during its test drive. The intermittent power loss did not recur during that visit. The vehicle also had recurring excessive oil consumption. In XXX (104,261 miles), Audi Wilmington found it approximately 1.5 quarts low and documented possible piston-and-ring replacement if proposed treatments failed. Those proposed repairs were not performed. In XXX (approximately 109,320 miles), the vehicle again showed a Drive System Malfunction warning and check engine light. Maguire Audi documented multiple misfires and a persistent cylinder #2 misfire after service, and suspected internal engine damage. The vehicle has been out of service since then. Independent testing in XXX confirmed cylinder #2 had 35 PSI compression and 100% leak-down, with part of an exhaust valve missing and oil on the piston. The connection, if any, between the XXX power loss and later engine damage is UNKNOWN. Authorized Audi dealers and an independent shop have inspected the vehicle; I am unaware of any inspection by police, insurers, or the manufacturer. The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11773478

Incident

Nov 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, an inoperable passenger’s side front headlight assembly warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the headlight was functioning properly even though the warning light was displayed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The contact expressed concerns that the warning failure posed a safety risk because the contact might not be alerted if the headlight failed. The approximate failure mileage was 54,921.

NHTSA ID

11772699

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

Mileage

54,921 mi

I was backing out of a retail shopping parking lot and heard a loud bang, then a horrible noise from the front driver side. The car went on a lock down - was useless. The front driver wheel was pushed out and we could see control arms. broken underneath. I had no warning, no indicators on the dash- this was catastrophic. I was stopping traffic from passing and required police assistance. The car had was towed via flatbed to a Firestone repair shop. As mentioned, no warning - I am certainly glad I was just backing out and not driving on the highway.

NHTSA ID

11769101

Incident

Oct 3, 2026

The vehicle has a recurring electrical failure involving the camshaft position sensor circuit (DTC P0365). The sensor itself is functional, but the wiring harness leading to the sensor develops internal copper fatigue due to a design flaw in the factory routing. The harness is bent tightly behind the passenger-side cylinder head, causing vibration-induced internal wire breakage that is invisible externally. This failure is well known to Audi dealers and has been reproduced and confirmed by multiple service centers. The problem is not caused by the sensor, plug, or engine components. It is caused by the wiring harness design, which repeatedly fails in the same 6–10 inch section. The defect causes intermittent loss of camshaft signal, illumination of the check engine light, and inability to pass emissions. Repair requires cutting open the harness and splicing in new wire, costing approximately $700–$1,200 each time. This is a repeated electrical defect caused by poor harness routing and inadequate wire durability. This issue affects safety indirectly because the vehicle cannot reliably report camshaft position to the ECM, and the failure is unpredictable. The defect is widespread among vehicles using the same engine and harness design.

NHTSA ID

11762386

Incident

Sep 5, 2026

The 2017 Audi Q7 Prestige was purchased on November 7,2016. Since the purchase, all service was provided by one or the other of two Audi dealerships. During this period, the Audi recommended 10K, 20K,30K, 40K, 50K, 60K, 70K, and 80K mile services had all been performed. In the almost ten years that I owned the car, the oil and oil filter were changed 11 times at one or the other of the two dealerships. The mileage interval between oil changes was 6,383 miles on average with a maximum interval on 8,177 miles; the time interval between oil changes was 320 days on average with a maximum of 399 days. The engine oil cooler valve had shorted out internally and was replaced in April 2025 at 58,225 miles. By the end of August 2026, the car had travelled 71,375 miles. From 60,000 miles on, oil consumption has gradually increased to alarming levels:1-quart every 700 miles. On August 22, while driving at highway speed on the Pennsylvania turnpike near Pittsburgh, I experienced a sudden loss of power, rapid deceleration, rough running of the engine, and a “Drive System Malfunction “indicator. Fortunately, I was able to slow the vehicle and safely move off the highway. The car was towed ($396) to an Audi dealership. The technician reported that the diagnostic scan showed a misfire code for cylinder #2; and, upon inspection, the #2 spark plug was found to be excessively oil-fouled. When the technician swapped the coils and spark plugs from cylinders #2 and #3, the misfire remained on cylinder #2. A compression test on cylinder #2 showed 120 psi – below normal, but not low enough by itself to definitively condemn the engine. The cost for this analysis was $500. I declined to invest in further teardown of the engine. Audi purchased the vehicle for $4,000. My experience appears similar to others with the 2017 Audi Q7 with the 3.0 engine. Exceptionally poor engineering and total lack of customer care!

NHTSA ID

11760564

Incident

Aug 22, 2026

My 2017 Audi Q7 with the 3.0T engine has experienced repeated engine/ignition system failures. The vehicle displays a "System Malfunction" warning light accompanied by shaking and stalling. This same malfunction has occurred at least 3 separate times over the past few years. Each time, a repair shop diagnosed and replaced faulty ignition coils, and the vehicle ran normally for a period of time before the identical malfunction returned. The vehicle is currently inoperable due to the most recent occurrence. This creates a safety risk because the stalling and shaking can occur while driving, with no clear warning beyond the malfunction light appearing at the same time as the symptoms begin. A stall or loss of power while in motion, especially in traffic or on a highway, could lead to a collision. The problem has been confirmed and repaired multiple times by an independent European auto repair specialist, who stated this is a known, recurring issue with this engine/model. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer directly. Separately, the vehicle has also developed excessive oil consumption, requiring approximately 2 gallons of oil added roughly every 6 weeks, with the frequency increasing over the last 2 months. I am uncertain whether the oil consumption and the recurring coil/ignition failures share a common root cause, but both issues are ongoing and unresolved. The vehicle and its components are available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11754079

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

On my 2017 Audi Q7 with 93169 miles, I am getting the error message along with a warning lamp that states: "Front right side marker light defective." The light actually works however I am getting this message. If the light were to actually go out it would affect the safety of my vehicle. I hear this is a common issue with the 2017 Audi Q7s and is very costly to fix at the dealer because the entire headlight assembly is usually replaced by the dealer. My vehicle is available for inspection if needed.

NHTSA ID

11748055

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

This bulletin provides informaiton on the use of the PICO-NVH tool (VAS 611 015).

This bulletin provides information when the air spring symbol is illuminated; DTC U112100 or C1260F0.

This bulletin provides information when the starter battery is discharged or malfunctioning.

This bulletin proides service information when there is a prompt to take over the steering wheel (hands off detection).

This bulletin provides information when there is an Audi pre sense warning, warning jolt, or brake intervention.

This bulletin provides information to aid in diagnosing the vehicle locking system.