Is the 2021 Audi A7 reliable?

The 2021 Audi A7 has 6 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.3x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: excellent. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Audi A7?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (2 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (2 complaints, avg repair $500); SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Audi A7?

Yes, there are 11 recall(s): SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR, TIRES, AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT, BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:CABLE/CORD:ONBOARD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. Contact any Audi dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2021 Audi A7?

The 2021 Audi A7 has an EPA rating of 27 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2846. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Audi A7?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Audi A7 is approximately $2,847/year (ev-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2021 Audi A7 qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2021 Audi A7 may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2021 Audi A7

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2021 Audi A7 has 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 18. The most common issue is electrical problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: the virtual cockpit (dashboard) went completely black except for an exclamation point. speed, warning symbols, engine temp etc were not visible. dealers has confirmed the issue and is currently trying to remedy the situation. the danger was not knowing how fast i was traveling.. There are 11 recalls issued for this model year.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 4 of 4)

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

33%

• The virtual cockpit (dashboard) went completely black except for an exclamation point. Speed, warning symbols, engine temp etc were not visible. Dealers has confirmed the issue and is currently trying to remedy the situation. The danger was not knowing how fast I was traveling.
• At first, the yellow electrical system malfunction warning light came on. After a short time of driving, the light turned red, and very shortly after than (within five minutes as I was trying to drive the vehicle to the dealership for repair), all of the electrical systems in the vehicle failed. I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“The virtual cockpit (dashboard) went completely black except for an exclamation point. Speed, warning symbols, engine temp etc were not visible. Dealers has confirmed the issue and is currently trying to remedy the situation. The danger was not knowing how fast I was traveling.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (11)

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR05/08/2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).

Charging Cost Calculator for 2021 Audi A7

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$2,820

Per month

$235

Per mile

23.5¢

kWh/mi

1.25

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Audi A7

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$2,847

Full coverage / month

$237

Liability only / year

$816

vs US avg

+70%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-luxury)1.62x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$2847

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Audi A7 Service Intervals

Oil change

10K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

10K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

40K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

60K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

40K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

40K mi

Long-interval service (LongLife) uses fully-synthetic oil. Some engines have timing belts (check owner's manual).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Audi New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

4 yr / 50K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

12 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

4 yr / unlimited mi

Corrosion coverage is unlimited miles for 12 years

These are the terms for a new Audi. If you're buying a used 2021 A7, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Audi dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2021 Audi A7

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 6 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: The virtual cockpit (dashboard) went completely black except for an exclamation point. Speed, warning symbols, engine temp etc were not visible. Dealers has confirmed the issue and is currently trying to remedy the situation. The danger was not knowing how fast I was traveling.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: Water pump design failure caused a leak of coolant into vacuum lines preventing coolant from cooling engine and causing immediate overheating. Known issue previous class action lawsuit.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: The contact owns a 2021 Audi A7. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that the speed control software needed to be reprogrammed. The software was updated.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The virtual cockpit (dashboard) went completely black except for an exclamation point. Speed, warning symbols, engine temp etc were not visible. Dealers has confirmed the issue and is currently trying to remedy the situation. The danger was not knowing how fast I was traveling.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 11 recalls have been completed — free at any Audi dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)