AUDI Q7 · model year

2017 AUDI Q7

388 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2017AUDIQ7 carries 388 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 6 fires, 14 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 2017 Q7 is exterior lighting with 122 filings, followed by engine (57) and electrical system (49). 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 7 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 2017 Q7. 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.

388
Complaints
9
Crashes
6
Fires
14
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

388 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

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

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EXTERIOR LIGHTING122
ENGINE57
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM49
UNKNOWN OR OTHER30
SUSPENSION30
STEERING19
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM16
SERVICE BRAKES9
POWER TRAIN8
WHEELS7
AIR BAGS6
STRUCTURE:BODY6
VISIBILITY/WIPER5
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
SEAT BELTS3

Recalls (7)

16V95500029/12/2016

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2

20V14900016/03/2020

STEERING

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles. The bolt connecting the steering shaft to the steering gear may loosen, possibly resulting in a loss of steering control.

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.

16V64800008/09/2016

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured November 11, 2015, to November 23, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the electric power steering assist control unit may short circuit resulting in a loss of power steering assist.

16V51900008/07/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to May 8, 2016. Due to a software issue within the air bag control module, the frontal air bags may deploy with more force than required in certain crashes. As such, these vehicl

16V64100006/09/2016

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to July 10, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the third row seat back may move forward under load, such as in a frontal collision. As such, the vehicles do not conform t

16V64200006/09/2016

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 TT roadster, A3 cabriolet, A3 sedan and A3 e-tron, 2016-2017 TT coupe, 2017 A4 sedan and Q7 and 2015-2017 Q3 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the sid

Recent Complaints

20260211POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact became aware of an abnormal odor. The vehicle started shaking, and the drive train malfunction indicator was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the exhaust valve had burned a hole through cylinder #1 due to a misfire. The contact notified the dealer, but assistance was declined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20260122ENGINE

Car has a burnt cylinder from excessive oil consumption due to poor piston ring design. These engines are prone to failure to do carbon buildup on the cylinders which leads to poor PCV performance to exacerbate the problem. Audi dealership has confirmed my cylinder 3 has a burnt valve and requires a new engine.

20260122EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The car is displaying "Right front marker light defective". This lessens the visibility when turning. This problem is a VIN specific recall of the 2017 Q7 and my VIN is not included, even though I am experiencing the exact same problem as the recall on the other VINs from the same year.

20260111EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Getting error message that the "Front Right Side Marker Light Defective". The light appears to be operational. Searched for this issue and Audi recalled some models but many users outside the current recall report this same issue. Please expand the vin numbers for the recall action for safety.

20260105ENGINE

Catastrophic Engine failure while driving on highway with family. System gave error codes DTC P054A, DTC P0301, DTC P0017. Vehicle was not drivable. Always serviced with oil and filter change at recommended service intervals at authorized Audi dealer. Never showed any signs of malfunction or warning lamps prior to this incidence. Brought it to a mechanic specializing in European cars and diagnosis was the Engine has failed completely and needs new engine.

20260105POWER TRAIN

Catastrophic Engine failure while driving on highway with family. System gave error codes DTC P054A, DTC P0301, DTC P0017. Vehicle was not drivable. Always serviced with oil and filter change at recommended service intervals at authorized Audi dealer. Never showed any signs of malfunction or warning lamps prior to this incidence. Brought it to a mechanic specializing in European cars and diagnosis was the Engine has failed completely and needs new engine.

20260105UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Catastrophic Engine failure while driving on highway with family. System gave error codes DTC P054A, DTC P0301, DTC P0017. Vehicle was not drivable. Always serviced with oil and filter change at recommended service intervals at authorized Audi dealer. Never showed any signs of malfunction or warning lamps prior to this incidence. Brought it to a mechanic specializing in European cars and diagnosis was the Engine has failed completely and needs new engine.

20251228EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I was driving last night and the "marker light is defective" error came on. This is a well documented defect in the Audi Q7 and many are subject to recall for this issue.

20251226EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Dash light is on saying “Front right marker light is defective”. However, the marker light appears to be fine. This seems to be a software issue.

20251209EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I have a 2017 Q7 with the "front right side marker light defective" warning THAT POP OUT ONLY WHEN THE LIGHT AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON but the lights are actually functional. Yet the local Audi still wants to charge me 5.3k to fix it. The warning only happens at night. I've asked the shop for clarification on how it was deemed inop. since it looks like it's working to me. I see a lot of posts in forums about this issue. I see that there was a limited recall for this issue with 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles, but it's VIN specific and my VIN isn't included.

20251202EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Notifications come on indicating that “Front Left side marker light defective.” Identical error message for the right side marker.

20251115EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Started receiving error message intermittently regarding front right marker light being defective on the dashboard even though the lights are working. From a brief search online, this appears to be an known issue for this make and year as many others are facing a similar issue. There has been a limited recall for only certain VINs for a similar issue. The recall should be expanded as it's impact is much broader. It is an expensive fix especially for something that is working.

20251109EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Front right & left side marker light defective. See owner's manual However my lights are not blown or out.

20251103CrashSTEERING

On Thursday, October 30, 2025, when I got seated in my car, put my seat belts on, and put the car in reverse gear to slowly get out of my parking space, it kept on going in reverse and won’t stop with break I tried to change the parking mode or drive mode but the steering column would not take any command. After 350 feet driven in reverse, it went into a ditch where it tried to turn it and the car was still in reverse, climbing out of the ditch, damaging another section of the fence, till I could turn off the engine with the ignition switch. It looks that the gear was stuck in reverse and after engine cut off it went back in drive mode. In the meantime, all four sides of the car were damaged and scratched all over, and there was damage on the bottom. Apparently it is electronic malfunction when the gear got stuck in reverse. Thank God that I was not in a busy parking lot, otherwise would have damaged dozens of cars and hurt many innocent bystanders. Will keep you posted till the Audi

20251021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side marker warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic with a failing driver's side marker. The contact was informed that the driver's side marker needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at night, the failure was a safety issue. In addition, the contact stated that the dinging from the sensor was a distraction. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V642000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

20251021EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side marker warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic with a failing driver's side marker. The contact was informed that the driver's side marker needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at night, the failure was a safety issue. In addition, the contact stated that the dinging from the sensor was a distraction. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V642000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

20251013ENGINE

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety issue I experienced with my vehicle. Shortly after starting to drive, about 2 miles from my home, while traveling at approximately 25 mph, the vehicle suddenly began to shake violently and came to a complete stop at the intersection of Crescent Street and Astoria Boulevard. At that moment, I lost all control over the steering wheel—it completely locked up. The dashboard displayed the message: “Drive System Malfunction – Contact Service.” These diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) appeared: •P2179 •P025C •P0087 •P0306 This incident posed a major safety risk, as I was unable to steer or move the vehicle in a high-traffic area. I am very concerned that this could happen again or to other drivers under more dangerous conditions. Please investigate this matter as it may indicate a serious defect that could affect others.

20251013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety issue I experienced with my vehicle. Shortly after starting to drive, about 2 miles from my home, while traveling at approximately 25 mph, the vehicle suddenly began to shake violently and came to a complete stop at the intersection of Crescent Street and Astoria Boulevard. At that moment, I lost all control over the steering wheel—it completely locked up. The dashboard displayed the message: “Drive System Malfunction – Contact Service.” These diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) appeared: •P2179 •P025C •P0087 •P0306 This incident posed a major safety risk, as I was unable to steer or move the vehicle in a high-traffic area. I am very concerned that this could happen again or to other drivers under more dangerous conditions. Please investigate this matter as it may indicate a serious defect that could affect others.

20251008EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The "right side marker light" error message comes on when headlights are on, but the marker light is operating fine. I understand that this is part of a recall on other Audi Q7 models, but my 2017 does not appear to be within that recall. I request that the recall be expanded to include my auto. It appears from online information that other owners outside of the recall are having the issue that the recall is aimed at. Thank you for your consideration. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20250930EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Front right side marker light is showing defective on 2017 Audi Q7. Light appears to be on but is still throwing error message. Safety issue as I have no visibility when driving to determine whether or not the light is properly working - anything regarding light faults should be considered a safety issue. Problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by an independent service center, but a quick online search will show this is a known issue and an astronomical cost associated with replacing the entire light assembly.

Compare 2017AUDIQ7 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2017 AUDI Q7 have?
The 2017 AUDI Q7 has 388 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 6 fires, 14 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 AUDI Q7?
The 2017 AUDI Q7 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 2017 AUDI Q7?
Yes, the 2017 AUDI Q7 has 7 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 AUDI Q7?
The most-complained component for the 2017 AUDI Q7 is EXTERIOR LIGHTING with 122 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2017 AUDI Q7 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 2017 AUDI Q7 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.