Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 29% | — |
| 2023 | 3 | 19% | 32,000 miles |
| 2022 | 4 | 20% | — |
| 2021 | 44 | 59% | 90,000 miles |
| 2020 | 10 | 36% | 70,000 miles |
| 2019 | 9 | 14% | 6,000 miles |
| 2018 | 16 | 11% | 15,000 miles |
| 2017 | 53 | 17% | 64,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 4% | 68,000 miles |
| 2014 | 7 | 15% | 23,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 7% | 74,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 3% | 72,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 9% | 70,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 10% | 76,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 14% | 74,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 15% | 10,000 miles |
| 2007 | 34 | 36% | 64,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I described this prior in a complaint from 7/31/26 - 11407511 This was an unassisted rollaway from parking. Car was in park and started drifting I tried to get back in the car and car pinned my leg. On top of this car has had multiple ignition failures. First only one or two at a time prior to accident which would make one believe maybe they were not pressing hard enough on the start button or breaks then up to 15 failed attempts to start. Complained to dealership and then corporate. Provided video to corporate with failed ignition. Corporate technician inspected the car and said it drives fine we cannot replicate the issue. I asked for black box data and was only handled edr data which falsely claims the seat belt was buckled when I was outside the car. …
4/30/26 I came home, parked in my driveway, got out of the car and opened the left back door to get my handicapped son out of the car. He wanted his talker from his backpack(he is nonverbal), so I sat next to him on the back seat and gave him the talker. Then I got out of the car and helped him to get out, closed the left rear door and turned towards my house holding his hand. At that point my mother who got out of the house because she saw us coming started yelling that the car is moving. I jumped, opened the driver door put my right leg inside trying to stop it but by then the car had already hit my fence right where we have a gate. The gate unlatched and opened and the car got then stuck in the opening pinning my left leg which was still On the ground against the door and the car as the car itself was pinned inside the fence opening. …
The contact owns a 2023 Audi Q7. The contact stated that the MIL warning light was illuminated. There was a yellow warning light illuminated with a message to take the vehicle to the dealer displayed. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching an intersection, the yellow warning light turned red. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly independently skidded to a screeching stop. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
I drove home after shopping, opened my garage door by remote, and pulled into the garage. I placed the vehicle in park, and shut off the engine via push button. I retrieved my purse from the passenger seat and exited the vehicle. I exited the vehicle with the intent of retrieving my shopping bags from the rear hatch. As I walked towards the rear of the vehicle I noticed my next-door neighbor had stopped at the end of my driveway with the driver's window down. I did not make it to the hatch door and instead walked to the end of my driveway. [redacted] was the only occupant of the car. He was the driver. We started talking for several minutes with my back to the garage the entire time until neighbor hollered "[redacted] is going on?" The last thing I remember is my Audi Q7 slamming my body into one or both vehicles. …
While parked in my residential garage with the engine shut off and car door closed, the vehicle suffered an un-commanded rollaway incident due to a suspected defect in the electronic parking brake or automatic-park transmission software. The vehicle was completely stopped, the driver exited the vehicle and the driver's door was closed. Moments later, the vehicle shifted out of its parked state or failed to hold, rolling backward down the driveway and colliding with a basketball pole in the driveway, causing vehicle damage. No warning chimes or dashboard alerts were observed prior to exiting. The vehicle's electronic failsafe to automatically engage 'Park' upon the door opening failed to secure the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q7. The contact stated the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V201000 (Electrical System); however, the repair failed to prevent a failure from occurring. The contact stated that two days after the recall repair, several unknown warning lights illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the fuel gauge failed to provide an accurate reading for the fuel. The contact stated that the check coolant and temperature warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi 7. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle electrical warning messages would suddenly display. One while the wife was driving approximately 20 MPH the vehicle suddenly shut off in the middle of the road. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the alternator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed by the service advisor that the failed alternator was a known issue and the manufacturer had extended the warranty for the alternator and the replacement alternator was on a ten-week delay due to the high demand for the part. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the messages "Electrical Malfunction" and "Stop Vehicle" were displayed. The contact stated that moments later the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence and later examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the alternator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Software
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi Q7 years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2017 (53), 2021 (44), 2007 (34), 2018 (16) and 2020 (10) model years. Electrical complaints make up 17% of all complaints for the 2017.
Is there a recall for Audi Q7 electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 25V-201 (software, Mar 31, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Audi Q7 electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles; 41% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the alternator/generator/regulator (2 mentions), followed by the wiring (1).
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.