Problems · NHTSA complaints

2017 Audi Q7 problems

Owners filed 323 complaints about the 2017 Audi Q7 with NHTSA between Oct 2016 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (135).

Complaints
323
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting135
  2. Engine61
  3. Electrical system53
  4. Suspension33
  5. Steering19
  6. Fuel/propulsion system17
  7. Power train10
  8. Service brakes9
  9. Wheels7
  10. Structure6
  11. Air bags6
  12. Visibility/wiper5
  13. Seat belts4
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)3

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
20163
201718
201812
201910
20207
202130
202232
202343
202485
202559
202624

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

Exterior lighting

135 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11772699

Engine

61 reports1 fire
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2026EngineODI 11773478

Electrical system

53 reports2 fires1 related recall
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2026Electrical systemODI 11762386

Suspension

33 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2026SuspensionODI 11769101

Steering

19 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“On Thursday, October 30, 2025, when I got seated in my car, put my seat belts on, and put the car in reverse gear to slowly get out of my parking space, it kept on going in reverse and won’t stop with break I tried to change the parking mode or drive mode but the steering column would not take any command. After 350 feet driven in reverse, it went into a ditch where it tried to turn it and the car was still in reverse, climbing out of the ditch, damaging another section of the fence, till I could turn off the engine with the ignition switch. It looks that the gear was stuck in reverse and after engine cut off it went back in drive mode. In the meantime, all four sides of the car were damaged and scratched all over, and there was damage on the bottom. Apparently it is electronic malfunction when the gear got stuck in reverse. Thank God that I was not in a busy parking lot, otherwise would have damaged dozens of cars and hurt many innocent bystanders. Will keep you posted till the Audi repair shop gives me a diagnosis”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2025SteeringCrash reportedODI 11697302

Fuel/propulsion system

17 reports
“Front right Marker light defect alert keeps pooping up and sounding an audible alarm while I am driving even through the marker light is working perfectly. Drive train alert comes on after I add oil and the vehicle starts hesitating while I accelerate.I just got a tune up which included new spark plus and a new coils. Problem came back even after the tune up within 3000 miles. Excessive oil loss. I constantly have to add a quart of oil even after I just got an oil change and tune up. Seeing oil in the cover shield that covers the entire engine. Seems like the oil is blowing out of the cap area where you add in oil. These problems are very costly for a vehicle that I ordinary love. Please advise what can be done because I can not pay for any more repairs out of pocket. There is only 80,100 mile on the vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2026Exterior lighting, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11738363
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.