Fuel System complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 | 5% | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2019 | 9 | 14% | 51,000 miles |
| 2018 | 7 | 5% | 93,000 miles |
| 2017 | 19 | 6% | 21,000 miles |
| 2015 | 8 | 18% | 59,000 miles |
| 2014 | 18 | 39% | 65,000 miles |
| 2013 | 15 | 35% | 82,000 miles |
| 2012 | 12 | 41% | 83,000 miles |
| 2011 | 5 | 22% | 114,000 miles |
| 2010 | 15 | 52% | 51,000 miles |
| 2009 | 9 | 43% | 124,000 miles |
| 2008 | 18 | 55% | 94,000 miles |
| 2007 | 29 | 31% | 105,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I am writing to report on the results of a call on 08-01-22 to Audi USA regarding the current recall on Audi Q7 automobiles. I asked if the car was safe to drive and the representative could not answer the question. Her comment was that Audi has not issued a Stop Drive Action. The recall notice states ". . .there may be a sudden loss of engine power or the vehicle may break down without a warning appearing beforehand." This would seem to indicate that it is not safe to drive the vehicle. Our vehicle meets all the criteria mentioned in the recall as being effected. However, the Audi USA representative instructed me to contact my dealer to get the car assessed. The dealer was contacted and we were told they are waiting on guidance from Audi USA and there was no reason at this time to bring the car in for evaluation. …
Driving on highway at 70 mph and high engine temp light came on. Said to pull over and continue to run car until temp decreased. I got over as quickly as I could ( no more than 1/4 of a mile) and sat on side of PA turnpike as engine cooled. I was at bottom of an exit ramp. I slowly proceeded up the ramp and warning came on again and red temp light reached again. I pulled right into the gas station at top of TP exit ramp. It still said to continue to run the car. I sat with my son in the car and ran the car in the shade. The temp was decreasing and then all my electrical lights came on, yellow battery warning light on and then suddenly the red battery light and all systems failed. Car turned off. Called AAA to take to my mechanic as Audi was a 3 hour wait for a tow and 3 weeks for service appointment with no loaners available. My certified mechanic said water pump completely dislodged. …
The contact owns a 2019 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the message "emergency vehicle malfunction" displayed and the vehicle began to sputter and hesitate before stalling. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.
In the first 10K miles the motherboard had to be replaced. Then the volume dial twice. Then the fuel sensor broke and because of its placement the entire gas tank had to be replaced. Next up at 45K the Medtronic (brains of the transmission had to be replaced and then the differential was having problems and they were debating working on it. I went to sell it at 48K miles before the warranty expired and during the inspection it was noted the two engine mounts were leaking and needed to be replaced. After I sold it to an Audi dealer, different than the Audi dealer I had purchased the car from and where I had all the warranty work done, I found out the CARFAX report showed NONE of the repairs made by the original Audi dealer to the car. Seems fradulent to me by the original Audi dealership who did all the major repairs.
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q7. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle at start-up, and the MMI System warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the MMI System was not fixed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.
The problem: I was driving and noticed a high remaining fuel range, or a fuel gauge that appears to be stuck at a specific level, I ran out of gas while in motion, and my engine stalled almost causing a crash on the highway. My vehicle was towed to the Kansas City Audi dealer and they have identified the same issue in the recall in the NHTSA campaign number: 22V155. Audi's own number for this recall is 20DN. The dealer has quoted $5,000 to make the repair (My vehicle is currently at the dealer). My 2018 Q7 has the same engine as the 2018 A7 where there is a recall regarding the same reported issue. "The fuel level sender, which is located inside the vehicle's gas tank, may get stuck on the gas tank's ventilation pipe, leading the dashboard display to show an incorrect gas level and remaining range level."
The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that upon a quick acceleration, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal as an unknown warning light would appear on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the warning light would disappear upon restart of the vehicle. The contact also stated that the air bag warning light had also appeared on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that the third-row seats would fail to adjust as needed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V035000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 16V955000 (Air Bags), and 16V641000 (Seats) which the contact linked to failures. The dealer was initially notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. …
On my way to drop my child off at school, I stopped to refuel my Audi Q7. Upon inserting the nozzle to refuel the car, gasoline immediately began jetting out of the fuel door before the auto-shutoff kicked in, covering myself as well as my vehicle. Thankfully, the hot exhaust did not ignite the liquid or fuel vapor potentially causing a deadly fire. Despite having no fuel remaining, I was able to take the vehicle to our local mechanic where they discovered a TSB denoting this specific issue. The TSB was initially released 04/28/2016 for Model Year 2017 Audi Q7s. It was subsequently updated to include Model Year 2018 Q7s as well. This is a documented factory safety defect that denotes if this issue is to occur, to replace the whole fuel tank. …
Related recalls (6)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi Q8, and 2020-2021 Audi Q7 vehicles. A component inside the fuel pump may break, causing the fuel pump to fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DR.
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Fuel rail
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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Audi Q7 and 2009-2012 Audi Q5 vehicles, previously repaired under NHTSA recall 16V-660. These vehicles were previously repaired with an interim repair of installing butyl tape to the fuel pump flange, until replacement remedy parts became available.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange and install butyl tape, free of charge. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Audi Q5, and 2007-2012 Audi Q7 vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel pump flange on the affected vehicles may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the flange, replacing any flanges that are cracked. If the flange is not cracked, dealers will clean the pump flange and install a butyl rubber band to protect the pump.
Show 1 more recall
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.
NHTSA investigations
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf and Audi A3 TDI vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by Volkswagen as part of its response to PE10-034.During EA11-003, ODI analyzed design information,…
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi Q7 years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (29), 2017 (19), 2008 (18), 2014 (18) and 2010 (15) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 31% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Audi Q7 fuel system problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 22V-516 (fuel pump, Jul 20, 2022); 19V-035 (fuel rail, Jan 16, 2019); 18V-818 (fuel pump, Nov 19, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Audi Q7 fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery › fuel pump (2 mentions), followed by the delivery › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (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.