9.5
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $19,840
- Average Mileage:
- 89,650 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 4 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace engine (3 reports)
- replace spark plugs and pistons (1 reports)
I previously had an Audi A6 sedan and traded it in at 249,000 miles and still going strong. After retiring, I traded it for this used 2018 Audi Q7 with roughly 55,000 miles, hoping it would last me for years since I no longer commute to a job. It started using an abnormal amount of oil between oil changes in the last year or so--first every 1,000 miles or so, then every 500 or so, and most recently every 250 miles or so. It is was out of Audi warranty when I purchase the car, so I took it to my mechanic who said there were no leaks he could see (non evident in my garage, either). He advised making sure I keep an eye on the oil level between changes and add a quart when needed.
That was all well and good until a couple of weeks ago when I felt the vehicle begin to rumble and seemed like it was misfiring. I managed to limp home and decided to have an Audi dealer check it out and informed them of the following notification on the car's screen: 1. Start/stop system malfunction and 2. drive system malfunction. Towed it to the dealer on July 25. I received an estimate for $481.94 for new spark plugs (bc they were oil soaked) and for $19,354.86 for new pistons. This is about the same as the car is worth and I still owe $21K on the loan!! The dealer rep suggested replacing the plugs and see how it does bc I couldn't afford to replace the pistons. We did this and it ran fine...FOR TWO WEEKS! Now I have the same problem all over again. Same rumbling/misfiring and same screen notifications. HELP!!
- Laura T., Saint Charles, US
My beautiful 2018 Audi Q7 Prestige has a bad engine. And it only has 74,000 miles on it. This should be the car's best time: fully paid off and in great condition. Instead it has a bad engine and I may need to trade it in "as-is" and buy a new car that I can't afford.
The issues are identical to everyone else's issues: #1: The car requires frequent oil top-offs between 10K mile services, #2: The staff at the Audi dealership assure me that this is normal and the cars burn oil, #3: Eventually at around 68K miles I get a cylinder misfire. It is on a remote stretch of highway and very scary. It feels like a flat tire except the flat tire is coming from the engine. I restart the car and it's thankfully working again. #4: At 74K miles I get another cylinder misfire on another remote stretch of highway. Not the "check engine" light remains on and I am nervous about driving my beautiful car anywhere beyond 10 miles from my home. No more weekend trips. #5: I am taking to a mechanic who is probably going to say a new engine is required. Ugh.... So am I supposed to just buy a new car now??? This is so insane. I am so disappointed because I love this car so much. But only 6 years of useful life??? No! Need help.
- rmardo, Lake Oswego, US
AUDI -- OIL CONSUMPTION – ENGINE FAILURE
My family’s experience with our 2018 Audi Q7 has been so horrendous, we’re now likely going to be filing a legal action against Audi and its parent, Volkswagen Group of America. Our situation is consistent with what’s been alleged in one or more putative class action lawsuits claiming that the piston rings and associated piston assemblies in various models of Audi/Volkswagen vehicles are defective, causing excessive oil consumption, engine damage, major repair costs, and often engine failure.
In one such lawsuit (that Audi/Volkswagen apparently settled), the Complaint alleges that the engine failure caused by the piston defect could result in, among other things, sudden loss of power to the engine. “It goes without saying that a sudden loss of power poses a clear-cut safety risk—it can prevent the driver from accelerating, maintaining speed, and even adequately controlling the steering wheel, engaging the brakes, all of which drastically increase the risk of collisions …” (Gonzalez v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. 1:21-CV-15026)
The problem with our Audi is consistent with the reports by plaintiffs in these lawsuits, as well as other Audi owners—including Q7s—who have shared their experience online. Starting at around 60,000 miles, our vehicle increasingly consumed oil that continued to the point that, we soon needed to add a quart of oil less than every 600 miles. And that’s despite our: 1) having followed all of the required oil change and other related maintenance standards published by Audi; and 2) having replaced the car’s CCV valve and PCV breather, which we were told sometimes corrects the problem. We’ve been advised that, at this point, in order to make the car drivable, we’d have to replace the engine which likely would cost as much as $27,000. Given what we paid for this car, and the fact that, even if we had the engine replaced, the rebuilt Audi engine might end up having the same issues, we firmly believe this recourse is wholly unacceptable.
If you are reading this note and are caught in a similar situation with your Audi vehicle, and would like to consider joining us in a lawsuit against Audi and Volkswagen of America, please send me an email at: audi.lawsuit@gmail.com. Thanks-
- Spencer D., Harvard, US


I took great care of my vehicle and conducted all routine inspections and major services at an Audi Service Center in Germany. I did most oil changes with Audi with some occasional services at other locations. During my last inspection i informed Audi in Hofhiem Germany that my car was burning about 1 liter of oil every 1000km. I was advised that this was normal for a car of my age. I was asked to monitor the situation so I returned again to inform the dealership of the continued problem. My issues were never formally documented but just informally assess.
One day I was driving to work and the vehicle showed two error message, start/stop error and Engine malfunction. The car began to shake badly so I pulled over on the highway and contacted Audi for advise. The asked if there were any notifications saying to stop driving immediately and I said no therefore I continue directly to the dealer. When I arrived they said they could not service my car because it was US Spec and their systems could not read my codes. They sent me to another dealer about 25 minutes away and they proposed an hourly rate of 280 Euros. I returned home and used my own code reader which showed 21 error messages The codes varied from electrical failures, bus communication failures and cylinder misfires. I recorded the results and returned to Audi Hofheim where I shared the results. They agreed to attempt a diagnostic. Suddenly they were able to read my vehicle codes. Rather than investigate the cause of the various codes they cleared all the codes and attempted to recommend spark plug and fuel injectors replacements.
I reminded them of the oil consumption issue which prompted an endoscopy and compression test which revealed 3 damaged cylinders that lost compression. I was told it would cost 27k Euro for the repair. I emailed the CEO of Audi Germany and USA to request a goodwill repair. I was denied twice by the local Audi dealership and Audi USA said they cannot help because i purchased the vehicle through Military Auto Source and The car is in Europe; no on feels responsible.
I have a 2006 CTS that is still running after 20 years and a Lincoln MKS that is running after 15 years. Audi has not shown a commitment to quality and doesn’t deserve recognition as a quality brand.
- Mike P., APO, NY, US