AUDI A7 · model year

2016 AUDI A7

18 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016AUDIA7 carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 A7 is air bags with 7 filings, followed by steering (2) and fuel/propulsion system (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2016 A7. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

18
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: Not Rated/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS7
STEERING2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
TIRES1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
ENGINE1

Recalls (3)

19V03500016/01/2019

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.

18V37000004/06/2018

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). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occ

17V29300001/05/2017

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standa

Recent Complaints

20241227AIR BAGS

When I have a passenger riding with me the passenger airbag cuts on and off the whole time while I’m driving. This is a major safety concern especially when I have passengers all the time. I’m concerned the airbag will not deploy during an accident.

20240722ENGINE

Component/System Malfunction: The engine control unit fails, causing the engine to shut off unexpectedly while driving. This component is available for inspection. Safety Risk: The sudden shutdown poses severe risks. It happened on local roads and highways at speeds over 65 mph, creating immediate danger. Reproduction and Confirmation: The problem has been reproduced but not resolved by Audi Columbus. Inspection: Inspected multiple times by Audi Columbus, but not by police or insurance. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: No warning lamps or messages before the engine shuts off; the failure is sudden. Detailed Timeline of Incidents: •[XXX]: First incident; the engine shut off on a local road. Paid $1,500 for repairs, but the issue persisted. •[XXX]: Engine shut off again, preventing going to office due to lack of loaner vehicles. •[XXX]: Engine shut off on the highway, causing extreme fear and distress. Vehicle towed to the service center. The engine shut off in a high-crime area. Res

20240410STEERING

The contact owns a 2016 Audi A7. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel stopped operating and the "Do Not Drive Vehicle, Steering Defective" message was displayed. The vehicle was pulled into a parking lot where the vehicle restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be taken to the dealer as soon as possible. The contact discovered an unknown Technical Service Bulletin however, the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an electrical power steering failure. The vehicle was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 130,036.

Mileage: 130,036

20240229VISIBILITY/WIPER

In five years I have had my windshield chip or crack four times. Replacement is a pain and expensive. It seems the design is far too susceptible to breakage and is unsafe.

20231211FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Gas smell while AC/HEATER is on and car is sitting idle. My car is not included in the 2019 safety recall 24DP although it should be.

20230402TIRES

Flat tire on highway 255/40 R19 100H. I thought it’s a nail or a sharp object. After further inspection, the tire was ripping from inside out. Please see attached picture. My speed was very low at higher speeds or could have been a complete tire blow out.

20220808ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Around 36k miles the vehicle had some dried coolant residue and required coolant topups every 2-3k miles. Two different dealerships performed comprehensive inspections between then and now and did not notify me of any problems. The residue was explained away in a service bulletin stating that it was normal for the water pump to weep some coolant. Now at 44k miles, I brought the car in when I saw dried coolant residue and it seemed to require coolant more frequently. Dealer notified me that the engine water pump has failed and requires replacement.

20220415FUEL/PROPULSION 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.

20210217AIR 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.

Mileage: 50,100

20210217STEERING

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.

Mileage: 50,100

20191001POWER TRAIN

MY 2016 AUDI A7 WITH 20,000 MILES DEVELOPED AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND AUDIBLE NOISE WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION AND TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE KANSAS CITY DEALERSHIP AND AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS BINDING OF THE FRONT QUATRO DRIVE SYSTEM IS NORMAL OPERATION. THIS BINDING AND NOISE ONLY DEVELOPED AFTER ABOUT 20000 MILES AND WAS NOT NORMAL OPERATION WHEN PURCHASED NEW AND UNTIL REACHING THE INDICATED MILEAGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SYSTEM AT A CRITICAL POINT CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY.

Mileage: 20,000

20181222CrashAIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 10,956

20181222CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 10,956

20181222CrashELECTRICAL 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.

Mileage: 10,956

20171031AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL -RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT MY CAR'S VIN CAME UP THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DROPPED OFF CAR ON JULY 13, 2017. I WAS CALLED BY AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT NO AIRBAGS COULD BE ORDERED SO I PICKED UP THE CAR. TODAY, TUESDAY, OCT 31, 2017, I CALL THE SAME AUDI DEALERSHIP, 1421 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER PA 19382 AND TALKED TO GEORGE IN SERVICE 610-455-2000, AND HE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS STILL NOT RECEIVED ANY REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS.

Mileage: 13,713

20170731AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V293000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (FLOW AUDI IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170727AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V293000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (AUDI GRAPEVINE AT 1260 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051 888-780-7923) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170721AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V293000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (AUDI ALBANY, 737 NEW LOUDON ROAD, LATHAM, NY 12110) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Compare 2016AUDIA7 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 AUDI A7 have?
The 2016 AUDI A7 has 18 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 AUDI A7?
The 2016 AUDI A7 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 AUDI A7?
Yes, the 2016 AUDI A7 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 AUDI A7?
The most-complained component for the 2016 AUDI A7 is AIR BAGS with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2016 AUDI A7 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2016 AUDI A7 has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.