Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Audi S7 problems

Owners filed 15 complaints about the 2016 Audi S7 with NHTSA between Dec 2018 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is engine (11).

Complaints
15
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine11
  2. Electrical system3
  3. Power train3
  4. Fuel/propulsion system1
  5. Service brakes1
  6. Steering1
  7. Vehicle speed control1
  8. Other / unknown1

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 27, 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
20181
20190
20202
20217
20223
20230
20241
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

Engine

11 reports1 fire
“Carvana sold me a 2016 Audi S7 (VIN [XXX] ) with what was later discovered to be an odometer discrepancy. I submitted a formal complaint to the Ohio Attorney General, and Carvana subsequently issued a refund. However, after refunding me, I learned that Carvana resold the vehicle at auction without disclosing the odometer issue or branding the title as required under federal law. Play also did disclose the damage that was done to the engine, turbo chargers, or from the car catching on fire. This raises serious concerns about odometer fraud and title washing, and I believe it warrants federal investigation under 49 U.S. Code § 32705. I request NHTSA open a case on this matter and audit Carvana’s practices relating to odometer disclosures and resale.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2025Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11673598

Electrical system

3 reports1 fire
“The car was driving perfectly fine until last week heading to drop my kids to school and the vehicle stopped on the middle of the street. I had no previous issues or notice. I had multiple warnings on the dashboard and now the car won't crank. I have seen several post with people with this same issue and can't find a clear answer. I had to push the vehicle out of the road with traffic behind”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2024Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11576319

Power train

3 reports
“I have a 2016 Audi S7 that uses the notorious 7-speed DSG transmission. I started to notice some random jerking when I pull the car from the red light a month before the car completely dead on me in April 2021. One time when I was driving on the highway at 70mph it throws a "transmission malfunction" code on my dash and put my car in Limp Mode (only 1,3,5,7 gear available). I also experience gear slipping when putting the car in reverse, when putting the car in reverse, 9/10 times the R gear won't engage at all, and the onetime the R gear will only engage when the gas pedal is pressed way down, resulting in the car shooting backward and potentially putting anyone behind the car in danger. One time I almost got rear-ended when the car suddenly stalled at a crossroad when pulling from a red light, because the car decided to shift in neutral instead of 2nd gear. I had to restart the car couple of times to drive it in Limp Mode and created a traffic jam at a very busy crossroad. After I did some extensive search on this issue, I believe the mechatronic unit has design flaws that after some miles (in my case 40000 miles) are bound to fail. And since the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2022Power trainODI 11460580

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report1 fire

Service brakes

1 report

Steering

1 report
“AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE TO USE THE RESTROOM, MY ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. I LOST CONTROL OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR TEMPORARILY AND ENOUGH TO PULL INTO THE GAS STATION RIGHT OFF THE INTERSTATE. I DID NOT THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG AND WENT TO USE THE BATHROOM. WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE TO THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO USE MY INSURANCE COMPANY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. THE AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A TURBO FAILURE. THERE WAS SCORCHING PRESENT WHEN THE SR TECH VIEWED THE TURBO WITH A BORESCOPE. THE CAR IS KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE AND HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. THERE ARE 2 TSBS THAT ARE RELATED TO TURBO FAILURE FOR THESE CARS, TSB2044640/9. THANK GOODNESS I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WILL HAVE 2 NEW TURBOS, A NEW OIL SCREEN AND PCV DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND THAT IS A 5 FIGURE COST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2021Steering, EngineODI 11403430
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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