RoadVitals

2017 Audi S7

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.
6
Latest Sep 30, 2026
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.
2
Latest Mar 23, 2022
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.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Audi S7, most frequently naming the steering, engine and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 609 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

  • Steering218.2%
  • Engine218.2%
  • Electrical218.2%
  • Suspension19.1%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Visibility19.1%
  • Driver assistance19.1%
  • Powertrain (other)19.1%

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

2 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.gov
22V178000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Mar 23, 2022
26,093 units potentially affected
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
The risk: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 21H7View 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

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Sep 30, 2026

Yesterday I drove 2 hours on the interstate for a doctors appointment. When I got finished with the doctors appointment I got in the car and turned it on. I made a phone call before I left my parking spot and pulled out of the parking lot to get back onto the interstate to travel back home. While I was on the phone call I heard a loud bursting/pop noise that startled me and saw dust coming from the right front side of the car and felt the car simultaneously lower all the way down and the warning lights then came on the dash. There were NO prior warning lights or any indication that this could suddenly happen. I got out and both sides of the front of my car were all the way down onto the tires/wheels and the suspension wouldn’t raise back up when I tried turning the car off and going into the controls to raise it. If that would have happened even 10 minutes later when I had pulled back onto the interstate I would probably be dead right now from a serious car accident on the interstate due to the air suspension blowout at 70 mph with no warning. My car would have suddenly dropped down without warning straight onto my tires going 70 mph. I panicked when I was at 0mph I know I definitely would have at 70 mph. The car is not driveable the clearance was so low that it has to be specially towed out of the parking spot to the nearest auto shop. I am thankful to be alive today. I am very shaken up and have had panick attacks on and off since thinking about the potential situation.

NHTSA ID
11768113
Incident
Sep 29, 2026
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 18, 2024

The last month I’ve been having issues with the transmission. It’s been cutting out on me, giving me warnings and causing me to stall in the middle of the road, and when I do manage to get it back on it, jerks to the point where I could crash into someone in front of me. I’ve lost power while driving three times already. I also get warnings that my lane assistance is not working and that my forward collision warning is not working. I wasn’t able to get pictures, but I can definitely get pictures next time cause I know it’s gonna happen again. I’m very positive if they did a diagnostics that the diagnostics would let them know when the engine started acting up as today (12/18/24) around 9:30 am, it happened again, on my way to a doctors appointment … but it started on November 28th, was the first time it started happening. This is SO DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID
11631369
Incident
Nov 28, 2024
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Apr 3, 2024
1 injury reported

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? blown turbos with new oil strainer from dealer. They said that they replaced it but who knows if they did. My audi had all those symptoms that pull up for this recall. (EPC light, Low oil light, and no control of the steering wheel. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car lost power and steering control out of the no where, i made a full stop on the freeway at 65mph and had to pull out the road to NOT get hit by upcoming traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I took the car to the dealer about a week later, and they had the car for about a month and the only thing they said was its either the starter or a seized engine, because the car doesnt even crank no more. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? It was inspected at the Audi Dealer here in Tucson AZ. The problem is that they have a horrible service and they only want to take money out of customers pocket. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? All warning lights showed up at once, one fallowed by the other. First light was low oil, i checked the MMI and it showed that it was full, Second light was i could REV more than 4k, third one EPC, Four light steering wheel malfunction. This whole thing happened in less than ONE minute until i fully stopped the car, i dont remember if the car shut off or i turned off the engine. I stepped out and i just saw white smoke from the side of the engine, it smelled like electrical burning, i went into the trunk to unplugged the battery and the negative terminal was SUPER HOT i had my fingers burned trying to disconnect the negative wire. PLEASE HELP ME OUT, 4 MONTHS SINCE THIS HAPPEND AND STILL NO ANSWER FROM ANYONE.

NHTSA ID
11580821
Incident
Dec 25, 2023
Electrical
Filed Jan 19, 2024

I was driving on the freeway all of the sudden the dashboard has all lights up, I stepped out of the Vehicle to see what was going on and I starter to smell like a burning electric component, I went into the battery to disconnect and the Negative terminal was SUPER HOT to the point it burned my hand. I took it to the dealer and they said it's the starter, I looked into forums and there's hundreds of people with the same issue. I looked for an open bolting or recall and it just mentions 2018 and my car 2017 has the same engine same chassis

NHTSA ID
11566547
Incident
Jan 3, 2024
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Feb 25, 2021

WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING, STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. CAUSED BY BOTH TURBOCHARGERS GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. 36,000 MILES A FEW MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI'S AND AUDI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR ANYTHING ACCORDING TO THE AUDI DEALER. $11,000 REPAIR. VERY SCARY WHEN POWER LOST AND REMAINED OFF.

NHTSA ID
11397877
Incident
Feb 20, 2021
Mileage
36,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 AUDI S7. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEWELL COLLISION CENTER OF HOUSTON (111 STAGE RUNN DR, HOUSTON, TX 77090) WHO STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF LIKELY SHATTERED DUE TO BEING STRUCK BY AN OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
11031921
Incident
Oct 2, 2017
Mileage
10,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

TSB_2070568_7

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

TSB_2080517_5

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

TSB_2075199_3

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

TSB_2082323_2

ENGINE

This bulletin provides information when the engine is not runing smoothly; all gas engines.

TSB_2022032_13

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

TSB_2021205_11

This bulletin provides information on VIN plates, Safety Certification labels, and ordering procedures.

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 S7 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025010—
2024010—
2023010—
2022030—
20213100—
2020360—
2019000—
2018010—
2017Viewing620—
2016152251.4
2015132—
2014144247.9
2013163251.4
2012000—

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.