2020 Audi Q7: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 AUDI Q7. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 20 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI INDIANAPOLIS LOCATED AT 4610-B E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE, AND A CASE WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11326470 at NHTSA ↗

TWO ISSUES: THE SMALL PORTABLE AIR PUMP THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WOULD BLOW THE FUSE TO THE 12V CIGARETTE LIGHTER. AFTER A NEW FUSE IS PUT IN, THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON ABOUT EVERY THIRD OR FOURTH TIME OF USING OF THE PUMP. I HAVE REPLACED ABOUT 5 FUSES ALREADY. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE SQUEAKING OF THE REAR BRAKES WHEN BACKING UP DURING COLD OR HOT. HOWEVER, IT DOES HAPPEN MORE WHEN COLD/IN THE MORNING. A FACTORY DEALERSHIP HAD LOOK AT THE ISSUE BUT FOUND NOTHING.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384175 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS THE SPEED TO THE SPEED LIMIT. ON OCCASION, WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, IT WILL PICK UP THE SPEED LIMIT FROM A CROSS STREET (OVER OR UNDER PASS). THIS HAPPENED ON A RECENT TRIP WITH THE VEHICLE SET AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 75, THEN SUDDENLY AND AUTOMATICALLY BRAKING BECAUSE IT DETECTED A 45 MPH CROSS STREET. WITH MOST TRAFFIC MOVING AT 75 MPH, THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO SUDDENLY BRAKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH PEOPLE RIGHT BEHIND US. WE CAN NO LONGER US OUR CR…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11400113 at NHTSA ↗

While driving at high speeds on the Freeway with my wife and 2 children (ages 4 & 5), an alert on the dashboard said - Electric System Malfunction. Drove straight to the near by dealership and was told not to turn off the vehicle as it might not start. Service Advisor said we were lucky it didn't stop on the freeway as it has for others. He asked us to collect our belongings as the car was not drivable due to a known electrical system malfunction. He said this was a known issue as there were many others impacted with this same issue and have be…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11497328 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q7. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V516000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the contact was informed by local dealers that parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11500134 at NHTSA ↗

Received a yellow "electrical failure" warning while driving, instructing me to call Audi for service. Audi indicated that the car remained safe to drive, and offered a service appointment greater than one month later. Driving the car the next day, the electrical failure icon converted to red and a message said to pull over immediately. The car was able to make it to a local repair shop, with electrical systems failing one-by-one (starting with heating and progressing from there). On reaching the shop, the car was no longer driveable and ha…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11505771 at NHTSA ↗

While driving, Forward Collision Warning appears without any reason. My understanding is that the car will brake itself if it senses frontal collosion and I am concerned that it might brake suddenly without my knowledge and cause an accident.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11560590 at NHTSA ↗

Emergency battery light came on with a description of power malfunction. The light went from yellow to red then shortly stopped in the road while driving with complete power outage.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11561563 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2020-10-27 (October 27, 2020)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Audi Q7 vehicles. The padding on the vehicle's C-pillar may not absorb enough impact in the event of a crash.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, an unbelted occupant's head may impact the vehicle's C-pillar padding, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the deformation element on the C-pillars, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 70H8.

Reported: 2021-02-17 (February 17, 2021)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Audi Q7 vehicles. The air bag control module may deploy the second stage of the front passenger air bag too quickly after the first stage when the seat is occupied by an unbelted child. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: During a crash necessitating the deployment of the passenger air bag, the second stage may deploy too quickly when a child is in the front passenger seat, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began March 5, 2021. Owners can contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BV.

Reported: 2022-07-20 (July 20, 2022)

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.

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Reported: 2023-03-29 (March 29, 2023)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020 Q7 vehicles. Incompatibility between the front camera control software and the heating element used for the front camera on the windshield may cause the heating element to overheat.

Consequence: An overheated heating element can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will update the control software and replace the heater element for the front camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90N7.

Reported: 2025-12-19 (December 19, 2025)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.