2013 Audi S7 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 2013 Audi S7, 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
- Engine1482.4%
- Electrical15.9%
- Fuel system15.9%
- Suspension15.9%
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
The contact owns a 2017 Audi S7. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the turbocharger; however, the failure recurred with the engine seizing. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Audi S7. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to be serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) where the turbochargers needed to be replaced from wear and tear from the consequences mentioned in the recall. The dealer diagnosed that the turbocharger itself needed to be replaced, however, it was not covered under the recall. The turbochargers had not been replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,970.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2013 Audi S7. The contact purchased the vehicle from a private seller on [XXX]. The contact stated that the seller's advertisement and the odometer indicated that the mileage was 115,000. The Carfax report indicated that the odometer mileage was 220,000. The vehicle was serviced at an Audi of Charlotte in Mathew, NC on 02/27/2025, and the odometer reported 220,897. In addition, in April 2025, the Charlotte, NC Department of Motor Vehicles reported that the odometer mileage was 223,000. The seller was contacted, but declined to communicate with the contact. 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.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HEARD A POP SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOSS A LOT OF POWER. I CALLED THE AUDI DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT IN. I LEFT IT WITH THEN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I WENT TO PICK IT UP AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I WENT BACK AND GRABBED A SERVICE TECH AND WE DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TOGETHER. HE ASKED THAT I ACCELERATE AT WHICH POINT WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE BACK. WE DROVE IT BACK. THEY DIAGNOSED IT LATER AS BEING A BLOWN TURBO. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DIFFERENT SHOP TO REPLACE THE TURBOS AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND ALL CYLINDERS WERE MARKED. I TOWED IT BACK TO AUDI AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE IT HAD AFTERMARKET PARTS THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE. THEY AGREED TO FLUSH THE OIL SEVERAL TIMES AND SELL IT AT AUCTION AS IS WHICH COST ME TO LOSE NEARLY $30,000. THEY WERE LIABLE FOR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAD THE CAR BEFORE THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THEY MISS-DIAGNOSED WHAT WE ALL KNOW NOW WAS A FAILURE OF THE PCV VALVE AND A CLOGGED OIL SCREEN. IT WAS ON A DRIVE WITH THEM AFTER NOT DIAGNOSING IT THAT THE TURBOS HAD A CRITICAL FAILURE AND TOOK OUT THE ENGINE. THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE HAD THEY PROPERLY DIAGNOSED THE FAILED PCV AND OIL SCREEN PROBLEM. THEY PRESSURED ME INTO SETTLING WITH THEIR PROPOSAL OR ELSE THEY THREATENED TO RETURN THE CAR TO ME AND DO NOTHING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
J197 module is always falling the car is 26,000 and the suspension goes bad need readapt few times They need to check that module
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 .