2016 Audi S7 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
44,959 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 15 complaints (73.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Engine: 11; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11339046 · 2020-07-13 (July 13, 2020)
ACCELERATED FROM A STOP TO ABOUT 20 MPH, WHEN IT WENT INTO 2ND GEAR THE ENGINE REVVED AND SKIPPED INTO 3RD GEAR. WARNING STATED "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. NO REVERSE GEAR. YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING." REVERSE NO LONGER WORKS. ENGINE REVS TO 5000 RPM WHEN DRIVING 20-25 MPH.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,740 miles reported. Look up ODI 11339046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11414578 · 2021-04-30 (April 30, 2021)
AT 40K MILES, I'VE BEEN NOTICING THE SYMPTOMS OF A DYING MECH UNIT (BANG/JERK TO STOP, SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE), ETC. THOSE SYMPTOMS HAPPENED WHEN I PULL UP FROM STATIONARY, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. CAR WILL ALSO THROW TRANSMISSION ERROR CODE ON DASHBOARD AND PUT IN "LIMP MODE" FROM TIME TO TIME. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AUDI QUOTED ME $5800 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MECHATRONIC UNIT. MANY THREADS ON THE AUDI FORUM CONFIRM THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO QUALITY CONTROL ON AUDI'S PART, AND AUDI REFUSED TO ISSUE A CALLBACK OR PAY FOR THE EXPEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403430 · 2021-03-17 (March 17, 2021)
AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE INTERSTATE TO USE THE RESTROOM, MY ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. I LOST CONTROL OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR TEMPORARILY AND ENOUGH TO PULL INTO THE GAS STATION RIGHT OFF THE INTERSTATE. I DID NOT THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG AND WENT TO USE THE BATHROOM. WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE TO THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO USE MY INSURANCE COMPANY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. THE AUDI S…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406821 · 2021-04-07 (April 7, 2021)
EXPERIENCED TURBOCHARGER FAILURE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AFTER APPROXIMATE 2.5 HOURS OF DRIVING. ENGINE DIED AS CAR SLOWED DOWN SO SUSPECT THE TURBOS FAILED WHILE DRIVING BUT RAM AIR FROM INTERSTATE SPEEDS WAS ADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN THE ENGINE UNTIL IT SLOWED DOWN. THE EXTENDED RUN TIME WITH FAILED TURBOS RESULTED IN METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE OIL SO AFTER INSPECTION, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH A USED ENGINE. THIS ENGINE HAS APPROXIMATELY 58K MILES ON IT AND I THINK THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 58 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11429704 · 2021-08-19 (August 19, 2021)
The car drove normally at highway speed for approximately 4 hours. Upon leaving the highway and attempting to accelerate onto a secondary road into oncoming traffic, the engine shuttered. The car drove erratically for about a mile with hesitation and shuttering. After stopping at a stop sign at a very busy intersection, the engine failed completely. The Electronic Power Control warning light appeared. The engine would not restart on repeated attempts. After dealing with following traffic for several minutes, a passer by assisted with pus…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11429704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11460580 · 2022-04-12 (April 12, 2022)
I have a 2016 Audi S7 that uses the notorious 7-speed DSG transmission. I started to notice some random jerking when I pull the car from the red light a month before the car completely dead on me in April 2021. One time when I was driving on the highway at 70mph it throws a "transmission malfunction" code on my dash and put my car in Limp Mode (only 1,3,5,7 gear available). I also experience gear slipping when putting the car in reverse, when putting the car in reverse, 9/10 times the R gear won't engage at all, and the onetime the R gear will…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11460580 at NHTSA ↗