Most common 2013 Audi A7 problems
Share of the 19 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A7 complaints by model year
Best A7 years: 2017, 2015, 2022. Years to avoid: 2019, 2012, 2013, 2016. Compare all years →
2013 Audi A7 recalls (5)
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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).
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The fuel line has a compression point that can weaken, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-888-237-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AR.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel hose in the engine compartment that may degrade and leak fuel.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 vehicles manufactured March 28, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles manufactured January 25, 2011, to March 19, 2013.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Fuel rail
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015.
What 2013 Audi A7 owners say
Electrical system
While attempting to parallel park, the car jumped without warning and crashed into a brand new hearse in front of a mortuary. Applied the gas pedal once with no response, applied again with a surprise surge of the car and crashed into the hearse causing extensive damage to both vehicles. I have made at least 3 inquiries of the dealer since owning the car concerning the surging. I was given three different answers, ranging from using both feet (brake and gas), faulty rug design, and something to do with the computer/electric system. As I am not an electrician, I didn't understand the reasons. I feel this car is a potential terrible accident to happen and am, frankly, afraid for my lady and myself to drive the car, as much as we really like it. …
While rolling to a stop at a left hand turn signal automatic gas saver feature turned vehicle off or defaulted prior to the vehicle coming to a complete halt. Automatic gas saver feature turns engine off at a stop to save idling emissions and fuel consumption. Vehicle froze, brakes were hard, steering locked and car very slowly rolled into vehicle in front. Air bags did not deploy possibly because vehicle was completely off. This happened three times in 22,000 miles only when the automatic gas saver feature is on. The first time no fault message/code was noted due to panic. The second and third times a fault code/message displayed on the dash stating "key not recognized". This could or could not be related. Batteries in key fob are strong/functional.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Audi A7. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal, without warning. The contact spoke to the manufacturer and was referred to an authorized dealer to have the vehicle serviced. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that the catalytic converter was defective. The mechanic was unable to provide the repair for a lack parts to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer notified the contact that the vehicle needed to be taken to an authorized Audi dealer for service. The manufacturer declined to pay for the repairs to the vehicle. The contact stated that the nearest dealer was nearly two hours away and that the vehicle was not able to be serviced at the time. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 75,338.
While stationary and driving, the check engine light appears along with the transmission and epc light which states, "transmission malfunction. Can continue to drive". Drives sluggish and "sputters" above 4000 RPM. My wife (pregnant at the time) was driving when it sputtered and had difficulty exiting our subdivision onto the highway. I took it to the Audi dealer in hardeeville, sc and concern was verified as coolant in engine/transmission harness. (see uploads) I've done extensive research to see if this was common and I found a recall on the a8 for a similar problem. Additionally, I was able to find sb-10053889-6593 which outlines the exact issue; so Audi is aware of the problem.
Steering
The contact owns a 2013 Audi A7. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not serviced. The contact took the vehicle to independent mechanic and was informed that the electronic steering unit needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired but the warning light was cleared from the system. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the diagnostic inquiry. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated on another occasion while driving 5 MPH, the steering assist warning light was illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to local dealer and was waiting to be serviced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
An alert when I started my car stated that the steering system had a fault but it was ok to continue driving. Later that evening during my drive home, and about 20 miles from the start of the trip, the car then provided an alert for a steering system failure and to stop driving. The power steering appears to have stopped working - the car could only turn the wheels with great effort.
2013 Audi A7 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 28 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Audi A7 a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 A7 rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the A7 at the same age. It is one of the A7 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Audi A7?
The electrical system — 7 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and steering (4).
How many recalls does the 2013 Audi A7 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2013 Audi A7, the most recent from June 4, 2018 (occupant classification). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi A7?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2015 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2012, 2013 and 2016. See the full Audi A7 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Audi A7 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.