Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Audi Q7 problems

Owners filed 23 complaints about the 2011 Audi Q7 with NHTSA between Apr 2013 and Sep 2025. The most-cited component is visibility/wiper (7).

Complaints
23
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility/wiper7
  2. Fuel/propulsion system4
  3. Electrical system2
  4. Engine2
  5. Fuel system, diesel1
  6. Steering1
  7. Service brakes1
  8. Seats1
  9. Tires1
  10. Wheels1
  11. Air bags1
  12. Other / unknown4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20131
20142
20151
20161
20173
20183
20191
20204
20210
20221
20233
20242
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Visibility/wiper

7 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2023Visibility/wiperODI 11539960

Fuel/propulsion system

4 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11620539

Electrical system

2 reports
“I PURCHASED A NEW AUDI Q7 S-LINE IN 2011. MULTIPLE REPAIRS AND RECALLS DURING AND AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. ELECTRICAL IS PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC. CHANGED FIRST SENSOR DOOR HANDLE IN 2014, UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, WITH JUST OVER 70,000, ALL FOUR HANDLES FAILED, HAD TO REPLACE NEW BATTERY AND ALL FOUR HANDLES, TOTAL COST OVER $2,500. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND IF YOU SEARCH YOU'LL FIND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, SO I CALLED AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS DEALER-MAINTAINED AND REPAIRED, WITH ALL RECORDS, BUT THEY'VE BEEN "RESEARCHING MY INQUIRY" FOR OVER A MONTH NOW WITH NO DECISION. NOT WHAT I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED OF A "PREMIUM" CAR BRAND. RECOMMEND THEY ISSUE A TSB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2018Electrical systemODI 11163117

Engine

2 reports
“THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO AUDI'S ADBLUE (NOX) SYSTEM. THE NOX SENSOR FAILED, WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING OR STATIONARY. THE WARNING ALERT STATES THE CAR WILL NOT START WITHIN 600 MILES. THE NOX SENSOR MUST BE REPLACE; OTHERWISE, THE CAR WILL NOT RUN DUE TO THE SOFTWARE LOCK OUT TRIGGERED BY THE SENSOR. I AM FORCED TO REPAIR THE CAR DESPITE THE FACT THE TDI ADBLUE SYSTEM NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AS ADVERTISED BY VW/AUDI. IN MY VIEW, VW/AUDI SHOULD REPLACE THE SENSOR OR VW/AUDI SHOULD OFFER A REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY COST RELATED TO THE TDI ADBLUE SYSTEM THAT OCCURRED WHILE THE COURT CASE IS PENDING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2016EngineODI 10905910

Fuel system, diesel

1 report
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2023Fuel system, dieselODI 11530838

Steering

1 report
“TODAY I HEARD A THUMPING SOUND FROM MY BRAKES AND IT CAUSED MY BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. AND MY STEERING IS ALSO GOT HARDENED A BIT. IS THERE A RECALL CAMPAIN FOR MY 2011 Q7 CAR FOR BRAKE AND STEERING ISSUE? I'VE FOUND OUT THAT 2012 2013 AND 2017 MODELS HAD RECALLS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2020Steering, Service brakesODI 11362330
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.