2016 Audi A7 Problems
- Complaints
- 15filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 20,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl AWD · 20 city / 29 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Audi A7 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2016 Audi A7. The part named most often is air bags, with 7 complaints (47% of the total), followed by fuel system (2) and steering (2). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 60% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 20,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 965 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the occupant classification and 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the fuel rail and 38 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags7 47%
- Fuel system2 13%
- Steering2 13%
- Electrical system1 6.7%
- Engine1 6.7%
- Engine cooling1 6.7%
- Body and structure1 6.7%
- Tires1 6.7%
Example complaints
Air bags: “1st problem my passenger air bag will go on and off sometime while driving even though no one is sitting there. 2nd problem the weather here was -30 for about 10 days and my car stopped working one morning when I turned it on. More precisely steering did not work. When I took it to vw dealer and they had it over night for all ice to melt they said a bunch of water came out from module when they unplugged wire harnes.”
NHTSA complaint #11396599, filed 2021-02, 50,100 milesFuel system: “I have reached a gas station and I am unable to open the fuel filler flap. Apparently this is a known issue to Audi Service departments on Audi’s of this generation not just the A7 model. The problem is apparently intermittent, and apparently worse during winter months. In the next generation vehicle the ful filler flap housing has been redesigned to solve the fuel filler flap not opening problem. Since the car cannot go with our gas, this is clearly a design error, and could leave people stranded mid-winter. Not good here in the North-East.”
NHTSA complaint #11460900, filed 2022-04Electrical system: “Going straight, passing thru a green light, another driver runs red light, t bones A7 (prestige trim) causing noticable damage to exterior on passenger side however airbags failed to deploy. Meanwhile A7 also had impact to driver side which the airbags did diploy with less impact then the passenger side. There is a known recall on other trim levels for the passenger air bag however the prestige trim was not included.”
NHTSA complaint #11163138, filed 2018-12, 10,956 milesMileage when problems were reported
60% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,713 and 50,100 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2016 Audi A7 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A7 quattro AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 20 | 29 | 24 | $3,400 |
| A7 quattro AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl · diesel | 8-speed automatic | 25 | 38 | 30 | $3,200 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 19V035000Jan 16, 2019Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Fuel railCovers: Audi A7 2016–2018, A8 2015–2018, A6 2016–2018 +1 more
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.
- 18V370000Jun 4, 2018Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classificationCovers: Audi A7 2012–2018, A6 2012–2018, S6 2013–2018 +2 more
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…
- 17V293000May 1, 2017Air bags › Side/windowCovers: Audi A7 2015–2017
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…
Recall details for the 2016 Audi A7 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 965 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038130Sep 25, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
- 11038027Sep 25, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
- 11038042Sep 22, 2026Steering. This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
- 11038024Sep 22, 2026Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
- 11038025Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
- 11038033Sep 8, 2026Body and structure. This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
- 11038026Sep 8, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides infomraiton abou the Audi frequency analysis application, which is available in the App Store for Android and Apple phones.
- 11036917Aug 26, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
- 11036911Aug 21, 2026Brakes. This bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
- 11036909Aug 21, 2026Brakes. This bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
Other model years of the Audi A7
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 1,000 | 11 | — | 29 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 43 | 4,000 | 6 | — | 25 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2016 | 15 | 20,000 | 3 | — | 24 | — | Rising |
| 2015 | 5 | 39,500 | 3 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 11 | 40,000 | 2 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 19 | 60,701 | 5 | — | 21 | — | Falling |
| 2012 | 30 | 87,146 | 5 | — | 22 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Audi A7 have?
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2016 Audi A7 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2016 Audi A7 is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 7 complaints (47% of the total), followed by fuel system with 2.
Has the 2016 Audi A7 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Audi A7 get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Audi A7 (A7 quattro, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 20 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Audi A7 reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 20,000 miles and the middle half falls between 13,713 and 50,100 miles; 60% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.