2012 Audi Q7

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Audi Q7 has 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: pulling out making a left turn from a stop, vehicle suddenly hesitated, power to engine was intermittent and jerky, and acceleration was poor to none. many warning lights came on (stability, tire pressure, anti-lock, etc.). steering wheel was also shaking slightly (power steering motor?). conditi.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

12 complaints

27%

• PULLING OUT MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED, POWER TO ENGINE WAS INTERMITTENT AND JERKY, AND ACCELERATION WAS POOR TO NONE. MANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITY, TIRE PRESSURE, ANTI-LOCK, ETC.). STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO SHAKING SLIGHTLY (POWER STEERING MOTOR?). CONDITI
• VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THE ODOR IS ESPECIALLY STRONG IN A CONFINED SPACE SUCH A GARAGE. THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR IS NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. LIVING IN A VERY WARM CLIMATE, I FEAR THAT A FIRE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE STRONG FUMES COMING FROM T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V660000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) WAS RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL

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

“PULLING OUT MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED, POWER TO ENGINE WAS INTERMITTENT AND JERKY, AND ACCELERATION WAS POOR TO NONE. MANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITY, TIRE PRESSURE, ANTI-LOCK, ETC.). STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO SHAKING SLIGHTLY (POWER STEERING MOTOR?). CONDITI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

8 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI AUDI Q7. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, CHECKED THE DIPSTICK, AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL BURNED FAST AND HE HAD TO ADD TWO EXTRA QUARTS. THERE WERE NO
• LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON 3,000 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE. NOTICED OIL ON GROUND UNDER VEHICLE WHERE IT IS PARKED IN GARAGE. TOOK IT BACK TO AUDI SERVICE CENTER AND THEY WENT OVER IT AND SAID THAT IT NEEDS THE PCV (PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE) REPLACED AS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE PAST ON SIMILAR ENGINES AND
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q7. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED DRIPS OF OIL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE OIL LINE TO THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI AUDI Q7. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, CHECKED THE DIPSTICK, AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL BURNED FAST AND HE HAD TO ADD TWO EXTRA QUARTS. THERE WERE NO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

4 complaints

• PULLING OUT MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED, POWER TO ENGINE WAS INTERMITTENT AND JERKY, AND ACCELERATION WAS POOR TO NONE. MANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITY, TIRE PRESSURE, ANTI-LOCK, ETC.). STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO SHAKING SLIGHTLY (POWER STEERING MOTOR?). CONDITI
• MAIN PULLEY OR SO CALLED HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE AND SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF CAUSING TO LOOSE POWER STEERING AND NOT BE ABLE TO STEER I WAS LUCKY THAT JUST MADE IT THE TURN AND I WAS ON STRAIGHT PAT AND LOW SPEED TO STOP SAFELY.
• CRANK PULLEY HARD RUBBER CORE OR SO CALLED HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE AND SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF CAUSING TO LOOSE POWER STEERING AND NOT BE ABLE TO STEER. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A HIGHWAY RAMP AND THANKFULLY OTHER CARS WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME DUE TO THE LOW TRAFFIC AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

4 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q7. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF EXPLODED INDEPENDENTLY. THE COVER TO THE SUN ROOF WAS IN PLACE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI NORTH HOUSTON (17815 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERM
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q7. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF EXPLODED INDEPENDENTLY. THE COVER TO THE SUN ROOF WAS IN PLACE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI NORTH HOUSTON (17815 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERM
• PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM BROKE COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON A MAIN STREET. IT WAS IN OPERATION AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q7. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF EXPLODED INDEPENDENTLY. THE COVER TO THE SUN ROOF WAS IN PLACE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI NORTH HOUSTON (17815 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

• THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER PRESSURE LINE GOT A HOLE IN IT AND LEAKED ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS PLASTIC THAT WAS VISIBLY SEEN RUBBING AGAINST THIS METAL LINE WHICH OVER TIME WORE THE LINE DOWN SO MUCH THAT IT CREATED A HOLE ALLOWING THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT.
• CRANKSHAFT PULLEY RIPPED ITSELF APART AT IDLE AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED.
• CRANK PULLEY HARD RUBBER CORE OR SO CALLED HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE AND SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF CAUSING TO LOOSE POWER STEERING AND NOT BE ABLE TO STEER. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A HIGHWAY RAMP AND THANKFULLY OTHER CARS WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME DUE TO THE LOW TRAFFIC AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

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

“THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER PRESSURE LINE GOT A HOLE IN IT AND LEAKED ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS PLASTIC THAT WAS VISIBLY SEEN RUBBING AGAINST THIS METAL LINE WHICH OVER TIME WORE THE LINE DOWN SO MUCH THAT IT CREATED A HOLE ALLOWING THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 44 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: PULLING OUT MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED, POWER TO ENGINE WAS INTERMITTENT AND JERKY, AND ACCELERATION WAS POOR TO NONE. MANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITY, TIRE PRESSURE, ANTI-LOCK, ETC.). STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO SHAKING SLIGHTLY (POWER STEERING MOTOR?). CONDITI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI AUDI Q7. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, CHECKED THE DIPSTICK, AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL BURNED FAST AND HE HAD TO ADD TWO EXTRA QUARTS. THERE WERE NO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: PULLING OUT MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED, POWER TO ENGINE WAS INTERMITTENT AND JERKY, AND ACCELERATION WAS POOR TO NONE. MANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITY, TIRE PRESSURE, ANTI-LOCK, ETC.). STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO SHAKING SLIGHTLY (POWER STEERING MOTOR?). CONDITI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI Q7. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF EXPLODED INDEPENDENTLY. THE COVER TO THE SUN ROOF WAS IN PLACE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI NORTH HOUSTON (17815 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)