2018 Audi Q7 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Audi Q7, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine3824.4%
- Exterior lighting2314.7%
- Suspension1610.3%
- Electrical1610.3%
- Brakes149.0%
- Driver assistance85.1%
- Steering74.5%
- Fuel system74.5%
- Powertrain (other)74.5%
- Other / unspecified63.8%
- Seat belts42.6%
- Body & structure31.9%
- Tires & wheels31.9%
- Visibility21.3%
- Interior & seats10.6%
- Airbags10.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Start/stop malfunction failed; yes it is available for inspection. Driving down highway vehicle stopped with 2 adult passengers and 2 children. Yes 3 mechanics completed a diagnostic. Vehicle has not been inspected by insurance, manufacturer or police but by VW dealer, and two registered mechanics. No other warnings or symptoms.
My 2018 Audi Q7 3.0T Quattro is experiencing extreme oil consumption — dropping from full to minimum level in approximately 230 miles. This is approximately 14x beyond Audi's own threshold for excessive oil consumption of 0.5 quarts per 1,000 miles. Documented timeline: May 2026 (88,692 miles): Oil change required 2.2 extra quarts beyond standard 7.2qt fill. Low oil light triggered during highway travel. June 27, 2026 (90,200 miles): Authorized Audi dealer formally documented "oil consumption is very high" in their service system and scheduled an official oil consumption test. June 28, 2026 (90,351 miles): Audi MMI system showed oil near minimum after only 151 miles. June 30, 2026 (90,397 miles): Audi MMI showed oil at Stage 2 warning after 197 miles. June 30, 2026 (90,430 miles): Audi MMI showed oil at minimum line after 230 miles total. All readings documented with timestamped photographs from Audi's own MMI system. The authorized Audi dealer has documented repeated oil top-offs in their service system. Audi USA Customer Care was contacted on June 30, 2026 and denied goodwill repair citing no active recall and vehicle out of warranty. An open case has been filed with Audi USA. The engine lubrication system appears defective. Oil dropping to minimum in under 230 miles without adequate warning poses serious safety risk of catastrophic engine failure while driving at highway speeds. The authorized Audi dealer has scheduled an official oil consumption test and inspection for July 2, 2026. Results will be available upon request. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM GETTING FRONT LEFT SIDE MARKER LIGHT FAULTY PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR 2018 AUDI Q7. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND SEE IF I AM QUALIFIED TO GET THIS REPLACED BY AUDI. APPARENTLY, THE REPLACING THE LAMP ISN'T EASY BUT WOUDL REQUIRE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE LIGHTING FIXTURE WHICH COULD COST OVER $2K. THANK YOU.
Parking light defective message on dash board. Looked at the light and all lights present. Talked to a dealer and the headlight assembly to replace is 6K plus. For a small yellow side light inside of headlight that is still on, but the message on dashboard says otherwise. Was told that it isn't outputting enough light power.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I’m reporting a serious safety issue with my 2018 Audi Q7. Both rear suspension springs failed suddenly while I was driving at highway speeds 70 MPH, with no warning at all. This was extremely dangerous—I almost lost control of the vehicle when it happened. The rear of the car dropped and handling became unstable immediately. There were no prior signs, noises, or issues leading up to the failure. This kind of failure should not happen under normal driving conditions, especially on a vehicle like this. Having both springs fail at the same time creates a major safety risk not only for me but for others on the road. I had to replace both rear springs at my own expense. Based on what I’ve seen, this may be a known issue and not just a one-time occurrence. I’m asking NHTSA to look into this problem and determine if there’s a defect with the suspension system on the 2018 Audi Q7 that could require a recall or further action.
Both rear coil springs broke which the Audi shop has said is very rare to have happened
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Left Front side marker light faulty. is the warning on the dashboard - I have noticed there is a recall I believe 2017 2018 for the same part and this is on a 2019 so it's obviously the part it actually says if there's a software fix
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q7. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle at start-up, and the MMI System warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the MMI System was not fixed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
"front left" or "front right" "side marker light defective" message Rear brakes loud squeal when reversing.
Error code for right front side marker light faulty. Light seems to be working. I've had two mechanics look at the car. They can't figure out what's wrong. Error message appears randomly. Brakes are very squeaky. I took the car to Audi and they said it was normal and I should brake more aggressively.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Twice, without logically-relevant symptom or warning, when the vehicle attempted to accelerate from a low speed in the middle of a busy intersection, the AEB incorrectly activated, suddenly stopped the vehicle, startled the drivers, and nearly caused accidents. Turned out, this was known behavior caused by a design defect software bug in the "door control modules" for which a software update had been released but never publicly announced. Audi charged us $315 for the software update, but since it is a manufacturing defect causing a critical safety issue, it should be covered by a safety recall, all owners of Audi vehicles with the affected "door control modules" should be proactively notified of the software update and should receive it without cost.
Rear coil spring broke without any load on the vehicle. This condition causes some of the safety features to not work such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving on I-90 in January 2025, the steering wheel malfunctioned causing loss of control of the car. The warning message came on the dashboard to immediately stop driving. Was able to pull off to the shoulder, turn the vehicle off, and call AAA for assistance. They towed the car to a repair shop.
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front and rear wheels struck the curb causing the vehicle to spin out. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. The vehicle was brought to a stop and was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering rack had failed due to a loss of communication with the steering module. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,851.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 2018 Audi Q7 3.0T Quattro is experiencing extreme oil consumption — dropping from full to minimum level in approximately 230 miles. This is approximately 14x beyond Audi's own threshold for excessive oil consumption of 0.5 quarts per 1,000 miles. Documented timeline: May 2026 (88,692 miles): Oil change required 2.2 extra quarts beyond standard 7.2qt fill. Low oil light triggered during highway travel. June 27, 2026 (90,200 miles): Authorized Audi dealer formally documented "oil consumption is very high" in their service system and scheduled an official oil consumption test. June 28, 2026 (90,351 miles): Audi MMI system showed oil near minimum after only 151 miles. June 30, 2026 (90,397 miles): Audi MMI showed oil at Stage 2 warning after 197 miles. June 30, 2026 (90,430 miles): Audi MMI showed oil at minimum line after 230 miles total. All readings documented with timestamped photographs from Audi's own MMI system. The authorized Audi dealer has documented repeated oil top-offs in their service system. Audi USA Customer Care was contacted on June 30, 2026 and denied goodwill repair citing no active recall and vehicle out of warranty. An open case has been filed with Audi USA. The engine lubrication system appears defective. Oil dropping to minimum in under 230 miles without adequate warning poses serious safety risk of catastrophic engine failure while driving at highway speeds. The authorized Audi dealer has scheduled an official oil consumption test and inspection for July 2, 2026. Results will be available upon request. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
The crankcase ventilation valve is malfunctioning resulting in excessive oil consumption and unsafe idling. The Extended Warranty dated 5/24/19 with Number AWA-19-03 should be extended to other model years.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a serious and recurring safety issue involving my 2018 Audi Q7. The vehicle has experienced repeated drive system malfunctions that result in sudden loss of power, reduced acceleration, and warning messages on the dashboard such as “Drive System: Malfunction” and “Electrical System Failure.” These incidents have occurred while the vehicle was in motion, creating a hazardous situation for both the occupants and surrounding drivers. In my case, the vehicle unexpectedly lost power while driving at highway speeds, forcing me to maneuver to the shoulder with diminished control. This sudden malfunction is unpredictable and could easily result in a collision or serious injury, especially in high-speed or high-traffic conditions. Upon researching this issue, I found that numerous other 2018 Audi Q7 owners have reported similar problems. These complaints consistently cite the same symptoms, including sudden deceleration, electrical system errors, and power steering failure. It appears to be a widespread defect that may warrant a recall or further investigation by the NHTSA. I urge your office to investigate this matter promptly to prevent potential injuries or fatalities. I am willing to provide service records, diagnostic codes, photos, or any other documentation that may support this complaint. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety concern. I hope the NHTSA will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all drivers affected by this defect.
Bad water pump and thermostat for 2018 Audi q7 59,000 miles I see it has been a class action lawsuit on the water pumps
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED A NEW 2018 AUDI Q7 LATE JUNE 2018 WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE ALL SEASON TIRES (285/45R20). AFTER ABOUT 24,000 MILES, NOTICE STEERING WAS DRIFTING TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ROAD IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. THEN NOTICE BOTH FRONT TIRES STARTED TO "CHUNK" ON OUTER EDGES OF TIRE. REAR TIRES ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE AND WEARING EVENLY AT 7/32 TREAD DEPTH. DEALER AT FREMONT, CA ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WILL NOT REPLACE TIRES AFTER 12,000 MILES. PER DEALER REPORT, LF AND RF ARE "5+ CUPPING". DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR RECOMMENDED TO CALL GOODYEAR. CALL GOODYEAR TOLL FREE NUMBER TO FILE A WARRANTY CLAIM. GOODYEAR ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AUDI IS AWARE THIS IS AN ISSUE ON VEHICLE AND PROVIDED A WARRANTY CLAIM NUMBER. VERY SURPRISED BOTH GOODYEAR AND AUDI ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT BUT DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE TIRES UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY ESPECIALLY SINCE CAR IS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. DRIFTING COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY CREATE AN ACCIDENT.
I NOTICED ROUGH HANDLING AND ROAD NOISE AT 7,000 MILES. I CHECKED THE TIRES AND THEY WERE WORN UNEVENLY. THE DEALER SAID THEY NEEDED TO BE ROTATED AND THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT'S BEEN ANOTHER 9,000 MILES AND IT HASN'T IMPROVED. THE TIRES ARE PIRELLI SCORPION VERDE ALL SEASON RUN FLATS. THEY ARE WEARING HORRIBLY ONLY ON THE INSIDE HALF OF THE TIRES. I HAD A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE, BUT IT HASN'T HELPED THE UNEVEN WEAR. THE WEAR PATTERN IS WAVY, LIKE A ROLLER COASTER. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE TIRES. THE CAR IS A 2018 AUDI Q7.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
Brakes were firmly applied to avoid a collision, the 3rd row seatbelt did not engage and the passenger was thrust forward and hit their head on the 2nd row seat. Took the vehicle to Audi for inspection and they found the locking mechanism on the belt was faulty and replaced it.
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q7. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the seat belt on the passenger’s side the second row started to make a clicking sound and tightened independently around the contact's son. The contact’s son reported that he felt pressure on his chest and shoulder as the seat belt tightened but was not injured. The contact stated that the seat belt failure had become a constant issue and had stopped using the seat belt. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V606000 (Seat Belts). The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 8-year-old's finger was in the door frame and the door came close enough to engage the soft close feature and she tried to pull her finger out as we watched the door slowly continue closing on it. After 4 x-rays the doctor determined it was not fractured, but it is badly bruised, swollen, and was cut. This should not be possible that it doesn't sense her finger. On a car not equipped with soft closing, this incident wouldn't have occurred.
Did not have an issue until I heard an exhaust rattle today. Upon inspection, the exhaust pipe tip on the right side could be physically manipulated upwards and downwards but appeared to be rusty. The exhaust pipe extension (Audi part 4M0253682M) eventually fell off completely within 50 miles of initially noticing and fell onto the roadway, as I was pulling into a parking lot causing a hazard. Upon picking the item up, the clamp and exhaust pipe were rusted through.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
285 45 R 20 All of the treads on each tire is delaminating. The tires are not even a year old and have 90% tread heigh left. There are less than 20000 miles put on this vehicle. I went to have my tires rotated and my mechanic pointed out that the tires were dangerous and treads were cracked and delaminating on all 4 tires. you may need to blow up pictures or zoom in to see accurately
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
HVAC flap motors (2 of them) failed for the second time impairing visibility during inclement weather. The first time was under warranty. This second time is costing me $1550 plus tax. When these flap motors fail, they remain closed and do not allow the heating or AC to blow into the vehicle which results in windows fogging up completely. It is impossible to drive without windows open which is not practical in the winter cold rainy season.
Twice now, the front windshield defroster has malfunctioned. First time was late last winter and the car was undriveable due to almost no visibility out of the windshield (and it malfunctioned during my wife's daily commute). We had it repaired under warranty at the time. The same issue occurred again yesterday (2/27/2023) evening while commuting to my son's school. Due to inclement weather, visibility was extremely poor without the defroster and had to drive with the windows partly rolled down. As the vehicle is out of warranty now, the repair costs will be out of pocket. In a span of a year or less, this issue has occurred twice now.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The right rear passenger heated seat in my 2018 Audi Q7 overheated and burned through the leather and foam. Fortunately, my disabled [XXX] daughter, who normally sits in that seat, was not in the vehicle at the time. The failure occurred without warning and during normal use. This defect presents a serious safety risk and could have caused injury or fire. Request: Please investigate this issue in the 2018 Audi Q7 rear heated seats and determine whether a recall or repair campaign is necessary. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q7. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the passenger’s side seat cushion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .