2017 Audi A7 problems
The Audi A7 is an executive five-door liftback coupé produced by Audi since 2010. A luxury car, it features a sloping roofline with a steeply raked rear window and integrated boot lid (forming the Sportback), and four frameless doors. It is also available as a three-box, four-door saloon in China since 2021.
Audi Sportback concept (2009)
The Audi Sportback concept is a concept vehicle powered by a 3.0-litre V6 TDI clean diesel engine rated at 225 PS (165 kW; 222 hp) and 550 N⋅m (406 lbf⋅ft) of torque. It features a 7-speed S tronic transmission, quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system, five-link front suspension, continuous damping control shock absorbers, electromechanical steering, ceramic brake discs (380 mm front and 356 mm rear), front 6-piston monobloc aluminium brake calipers, rear floating-caliper brakes and 21-inch wheels. A preview of the facelifted 2015 A7 Sportback, the vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
First generation (Type 4G8; 2010)
Initial release
The A7 is in essence a four-door fastback version of the C7-series Audi A6, based on the Volkswagen Group MLB platform. The A7 was released before the more conventional A6 saloon/estate. Both cars share the same core structure, drivetrain, chassis, dashboard and interior, whilst the A7 has its own unique exterior panelwork. It also differs from the A6 in that it uses aluminium for much of its front body structure. The A7 was also the first fastback to appear within the Audi C-platform series since the Avant version of the C2 Audi 100, which was discontinued in 1982. The vehicle was unveiled in Pinakothek der Moderne art museum in Munich on 26 July 2010, and later at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, 2011 New York Auto Show, and Wörthersee Tour 2011 (in Misano Red).
The vehicles went on sale in autumn 2010. Early models include 2.8 FSI (204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp)) with multitronic, 3.0 TFSI quattro (300 PS (221 kW; 296 hp)) with seven-speed S tronic, 3.0 TDI quattro (245 PS (180 kW; 242 hp)) with seven-speed S tronic; followed by 3.0 TDI (204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp)) with multitronic.
The 2011 model year A7 introduces FlexRay high speed databus that controls all the driver assistance systems from the A8, but it adds head-up display and active lane assist. Full LED headlamps with Automatic high beam switching or Audi adaptive light (Xenon) with variable headlight range control. US models went on sale 2012 model year vehicles. Early models include 3.0 TFSI quattro (310 PS (228 kW; 306 hp)) with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
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Common 2017 Audi A7 problems
Common Problems with the Audi A7 2017
- Remote Control Key Issues
One of the most common problems reported by owners of the 2017 Audi A7 is related to the remote control key. Initially, the issue was that the key would say that the batteries were lost, and changing the battery would only provide a temporary solution. Later, the key would become unrecognizable, and the door locking mechanism would need to be reprogrammed
- Brakes Problems
The 2017 Audi A7 has been reported to have brakes problems, which are considered the worst complaints by owners. The brakes can malfunction, leading to potential safety issues.
- Electrical Issues
Electrical issues are not very common in the 2017 Audi A7, but they can happen. It is essential to ensure that the latest software updates are done to the car when buying it to prevent bugs in the media system and other electrical issues
- Engine Oil Consumption
The 2017 Audi A7 has been reported to have issues with engine oil consumption, particularly in the tfsi engines. Some owners have claimed that the car consumes one liter of oil every thousand kilometers, which is too much for a performance engine. This issue can lead to problems with the timing chain, especially in engines built after the face left in 2014
- Carbon Buildup
The tfsi engines in the 2017 Audi A7 can suffer from carbon buildup over time. Using premium gas and blasting it down the highway from time to time can help prevent this issue. However, if the car is only used for short trips, carbon buildup can still occur
- Injector Failure
The diesel engines in the 2017 Audi A7 can suffer from injector failure, which can be quite pricey to replace. The life cycle for diesel injectors is usually around 100,000 kilometers or more, but replacement can be expensive
- Gearbox Flushing
Audi claims that the gearboxes in the 2017 Audi A7 are sealed for life. However, flushing them out every 100,000 kilometers can extend the life of the gearbox and prevent potential problems from getting out of hand
- Rattles from the Trim Surrounding the Gear Lever
Some owners of the 2017 Audi A7 have reported rattles from the trim surrounding the gear lever. This issue can be a minor annoyance, but it can also be a sign of a more significant problem with the car's interior.
- Mildly Noisy Centre Diff
Some owners of the 2017 Audi A7 have reported a mildly noisy centre diff. This issue can be a sign of a more significant problem with the car's drivetrain, and it is essential to have it checked out by a professional.
- Stone Chips and Bodywork Damage
The 2017 Audi A7 is a motorway monster, capable of eating up the miles. However, this can lead to stone chips on the front of the body and the windscreen, as well as bodywork damage picked up in city centre car parks and kerb damage to the alloy wheels.
In conclusion, the 2017 Audi A7 has several common problems reported by owners, including remote control key issues, brakes problems, electrical issues, engine oil consumption, carbon buildup, injector failure, gearbox flushing, rattles from the trim surrounding the gear lever, mildly noisy centre diff, and stone chips and bodywork damage. It is essential to be aware of these issues and have them checked out by a professional to ensure the safety and longevity of the car.
Is the Audi A7 a reliable car?
As of March 2024, the original Audi A7 holds a poor Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 55%. It earned decent media reviews and running costs are reasonable for a large and expensive car, but very poor reliability lets it down.
Is Audi A7 high maintenance?
An Audi A7 will cost about $9,824 for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service. This beats the industry average for luxury sedan models by $2,137. There is also a 26.81% chance that an A7 will require a major repair during that time.
Are Audi A7 expensive to repair?
The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Audi A7 Quattro is $1,251, compared to an average of $976 for luxury fullsize cars and $652 for all vehicle models.
What is Audi A7 known for?
The Audi A7 is an executive five-door liftback coupé produced by Audi since 2010. A luxury car, it features a sloping roofline with a steeply raked rear window and integrated boot lid (forming the Sportback), and four frameless doors. It is also available as a three-box, four-door saloon in China since 2021.
How reliable is the Audi A7 2017?
Is a used Audi A7 hatchback reliable? It certainly is if our 2023 used car reliability survey for cars between six and 20 years old is anything to go by. Respondents said the Audi A7 was the most reliable used luxury car on the road, and awarded it a 90.1% rating.
Is the Audi A7 a reliable car?
As of March 2024, the original Audi A7 holds a poor Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 55%. It earned decent media reviews and running costs are reasonable for a large and expensive car, but very poor reliability lets it down.
Is Audi A7 high maintenance?
An Audi A7 will cost about $9,824 for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service. This beats the industry average for luxury sedan models by $2,137. There is also a 26.81% chance that an A7 will require a major repair during that time.
Which is the best Audi A7 engine?
In a similar vein there's also a petrol V6: the 335bhp 3.0-litre 55 TFSI. It's quicker than the 50 TDI (claimed 0-62mph takes 5.3sec), but you have to rev it harder to extract all its performance. We reckon the engine that strikes the best balance between costs and performance is the 242bhp 2.0-litre petrol (45 TFSI).
2017 Audi A7 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Audi A7 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Engine problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2017 Audi A7 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2017 Audi A7 complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2017 Audi A7.
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2017-08-08
- VIN: WAU22AFC6HN
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: THE AUTOMATIC START/STOP FUEL-SAVING ENGINE FEATURE ENGAGES PREMATURELY, BEFORE THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN ARTIFICIALLY AND AGGRESSIVELY APPLIED TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE THE START/STOP ENGINE FEATURE OTHERWISE SHOULD HAVE ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, FOR VEHICLES FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND, THE EFFECT WILL BE THAT THE AUDI VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM WILL APPEAR TO LURCH TO A STOP, THUS CREATING A RISK OF A REAR-END COLLISION. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS EACH AND EVERY TIME THE START/STOP FEATURE IS ACTIVE, AND TYPICALLY INVOLVES ARTIFICIAL AND PREMATURE BRAKING/STOPPING AT LOW SPEEDS AS THE VEHICLE IS APPROACHING WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE ITS NATURAL STOPPING POINT BASED ON THE DRIVER-APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL.
2017 Audi A7 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 2017 Audi A7.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fuel.
- Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase risk of a fire.
- Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the left and right fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24DP.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
- Consequence: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have head curtain air bags that may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
- Consequence: If the head curtain airbag does not deploy properly in the event of a crash, an unbelted passenger has an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected head curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 29, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 69R2.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Negative 2017 Audi A7 car reviews
Positive 2017 Audi A7 car reviews
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This is my 4th Audi. Despite some issues with rattling, squeaking, grinding, and pinging, I am confident that the problem can be located and resolved.
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Fantastic car! It's very well-mannered and does exactly what you ask it to do.
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This is by far the most attractive car I've ever owned!
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We're so glad we found our new/used 2014 Audi A7! It feels like a luxury sports car and we couldn't be happier. Thank you, Edmunds.com, for posting it when no other auto websites had it. It was a great find!
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Best car ever!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2017 Audi A7 problems:
2017 Audi A7 Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2017 Audi A7? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
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Louie Purdy 2024-11-22
This is a spectacular looking car that feels great on the road. However, the leather seats started fading within a few years only. MOST importantly, as I just passed 100k miles, it started burning oil and the exhaust system needed major work. Therefore, I would not recommend keeping it after the lease is up. It’s a great looking car if you're leasing it, but if you're looking to put over 100k miles, then go get a Lexus.
Ross Casper 2024-11-17
The car experienced some issues within the first 24 hours of driving it off the lot, including a faulty O2 sensor and an issue with an actuator. The start-stop feature was also inconsistent, and there were some problems with the cruise control and climate control. Despite these initial setbacks, the car has a sleek and attractive appearance. After filing a lemon law complaint, the car was eventually replaced with a new one, which has had some minor issues but is overall much better than the first. While the car has a high MSRP, the quality has not always matched the price. However, Audi has acknowledged and addressed some of the issues, and the service is comparable to other car manufacturers. Overall, the car has its flaws but is still a decent option for those looking for a stylish ride.
Noel Mann 2024-02-10
I am confident in the quality of my vehicle's maintenance. Although I had to replace my second alternator after only 20k miles, I trust that the issue has been resolved. Additionally, I have had my headlights, brakes, AC, and tires serviced as needed to ensure optimal performance.