2018 Audi Q7 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Audi Q7 most often describe engine-related trouble, especially oil consumption that starts between routine oil changes and in some reports worsens until engine damage occurs. A second frequent theme is the warning message that a front marker or parking light has failed even though the light still works. Other repeated reports involve sudden automatic emergency braking, broken rear coil springs, brake noise, and infotainment or instrument-cluster glitches.

1. 1
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption and engine damage

   • 19 complaints (13%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the low oil warning coming on well before the next scheduled change, often with the dealer topping off the oil and reporting no visible leak. In several reports the oil use worsened over time and was later linked by the dealer to piston, valve or ring problems, with some owners told the engine needed replacement. Owners also mention that the added oil fouled plugs, coils or sensors and that drive-system or malfunction messages appeared alongside the oil warnings. Reports cluster from roughly 50,000 to 100,000 miles, with some owners noticing the first low-oil warnings closer to 60,000 miles.

   Recall 19V0350003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the oil-change history and whether any oil consumption test was run. Check the oil level and look for a fuel or oil smell, and ask whether the engine has already had consumption-related service.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “#1 cylinder lost compression causing car to almost immediately stop while driving 78mph on the interstate. Car was towed back to manufacturer where I bought the car. The car 2018 Audi Q7 has 68,000 miles, all servicing of vehicle was done at dealership where I bought the car. Never any problems with engine except the occasional need for engine oil requiring being topped off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11672505, filed 2025-07

   “This vehicle developed low oil alerts within 6 weeks of me receiving it with normal city driving. Multiple testing visits and comprehensive consumption testing later, it continued to have the low oil alerts very frequently and various random malfunction alerts like parking brake alert etc. For each complaint I took it to the dealership and did whatever they recommended but no eventual resolution was found. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700557, filed 2025-11
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Marker or parking light warning with light still working

   • 24 complaints (17%)
   • median 84,901 mi at 8.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe a dash message saying the front side marker or parking light is not working while the light itself still appears to be lit. Owners report the warning and chime recurring, and that the fix quoted involves replacing the whole headlight assembly. Some owners note the cost is high relative to the small lamp involved. Reported across a wide mileage range, from shortly after delivery up to about 90,000 miles; the warning is usually intermittent.

   What to check: Switch on the lights and check for any warning on the dash, and ask whether a headlight assembly has already been replaced on either side.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We had a warning light go on on the dash advising there was an issue with the driver's side side marker lamp. In looking at the lamp, it is still illuminating, just not as bright as normal. This is a known issue with Audi - several complaints have been made already and there is even a recall on certain vins. My vin was not included in this so the cost is falling on me (in the form of $6200 not including tax) despite this being the exact same issue in the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11659517, filed 2025-05

   “Warning light comes on stating front left side marker light is not working. However, light is on. Warning continues to come and ding non-stop despite the light working correctly. Searching the internet shows that this has happened to thousands of people. Audi is trying to charge over $5K for a known defect. Dangerous to have these lights not connected properly to the car's system.”

   NHTSA complaint #11580217, filed 2024-03
3. 3
   Brakes

   Automatic emergency braking engaging unexpectedly

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 13,500 mi at 1.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners describe the pre sense system applying the brakes on its own — at low speeds, in turns, or when accelerating from a stop in traffic — with no obstacle in the way. Some report repeated dealer visits without a resolution and say the system re-arms every time the car is restarted. Owners also connect the behavior to the stop-start system hesitating near a full stop. Mostly reported at low mileage, from a few thousand miles up to about 20,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, ask the seller to demonstrate the driver-assist settings and check the vehicle settings menu for the pre sense sensitivity and any software updates performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At times, the stop-start system seems to falter when the vehicle has slowed to almost a full stop, but not quite. If I try to accelerate I get a few seconds when nothing happens. I feel that it is either a transmission caught between shifts or an engine falter. I have mentioned this to the dealer, but was told that that's how it is .”

   NHTSA complaint #11406681, filed 2021-04, 20,000 miles

   “When attempting to crossover a busy intersection, and trying to determine the distance between the oncoming traffic and myself, the 2018 Audi Q7, has a hesitation before the vehicle starts it acceleration. I have had two occasions where the vehicle just would start a slow acceleration but would hesitate before engaging at its higher acceleration. This causing the oncoming vehicles nearly hitting my vehicle. I have taken this to the local Audi dealership and said that is normal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11093960, filed 2018-05, 11,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Broken rear coil springs

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 6.5 yrs old
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe a loud pop followed by the rear of the vehicle sitting low, with the dealer confirming a cracked or broken rear coil spring. Owners report corrosion at the lower spring mount, and in some cases leaking shock absorbers found at the same time. Many say there was no warning message beforehand and that it happened while driving normally. Reported from about 60,000 miles upward, often around 65,000 to 95,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the rear springs and their lower mounts for cracks or corrosion, and check for leaking rear shocks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “67,000 miles and broken rear right coil spring. Very serious issue as it can cause an accident while driving. No warnings or messages. Heard loud pop and rear right was sagging. Many other people with this model Q7 have had the same problem. A part like this should not be failing at 67,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11573723, filed 2024-02

   “The rear passenger side suspension spring coil broke while driving. The possibility of this failure puncturing a tire, dislodging from the vehicle into traffic, or causing control/stability issues of the vehicle is significant. The vehicle has been towed and is sitting until a fix is determined. No warnings were given before the incident. It happened on a smooth, flat, straight road at the time of occurrence.”

   NHTSA complaint #11672328, filed 2025-07
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake squeal, mainly when reversing

   • 5 complaints (3%)
   • median 23,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2024

   Owners report a loud squeal from the brakes when backing up or using light braking, sometimes described as present since a few thousand miles. Some say the dealer called it normal or advised pad and rotor replacement, while others describe being told there was no applicable bulletin. A few note the noise is loud enough to draw attention. Mostly reported under about 30,000 miles, often from new or within the first two years.

   What to check: Listen for squealing during a slow reverse maneuver and ask whether front pads or rotors have been replaced already.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Loud squeaking noise when backing up/on reverse coming from front brakes. Advised Audi dealership at rocherst hills, mi for the issue when the car was less then 2 years old and with only 20,000 miles on it, but service adviser said there was no bulletin TSB, service campaig or recall for the the issue. I should pay out of my pocket for the service. After speaking to an Audi representative directly, I was advised that there was a TSB for the car and my car it should be serviced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11377373, filed 2020-12, 20,000 miles

   “The brakes have squealed since 3k miles. No matter the weather conditions may be. We have been told that is normal, but I am researching otherwise. At 5am leaving the home, the brakes squeal, at 2pm squealing, 5pm squealing, midnight squealing. For being a luxury vehicle I love and trust, this makes me extremely nervous and embarrassed when neighbors are out and hear this squealing. The brake foot pedal does not glide when being used. The steering wheel has a locking motion when being used on turns.”

   NHTSA complaint #11144662, filed 2018-11, 3,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection is worthwhile on this model year, with attention to oil consumption records, rear springs and mounts, and any active lighting warnings on the dash. Ask for the full service history and whether software updates or engine oil-consumption work have already been done.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.