Generation-specific owner insights from 24+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy a 2010–2018 A7?81
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2010–2018
24
recall campaigns
air bags
most-complained area
Our take, from owner reports
Owners overwhelmingly describe the 3.0T supercharged V6 as one of the most reliable engines Audi has built, with multiple reports of trouble-free operation well past 100k miles and one at 208k.
20 problems reported (7 recurrent, 13 isolated) · high confidence
The 3.0T supercharged V6 paired with the ZF automatic is the consensus pick. Owners repeatedly call this combination "bulletproof" and "rock solid." The 2016-2018 model years (C7.5) are generally viewed as more refined, but the 3.0T engine itself is praised across all years. The TDI diesel is also mentioned favorably for fuel economy and reliability, though with less owner data.
Owners compare it most often with the Audi A6 (C7), Infiniti Q50, 2019+ Audi A7 (C8) and Honda Civic.
Is a 2010–2018 A7 right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
Owners overwhelmingly describe the 3.0T supercharged V6 as one of the most reliable engines Audi has built, with multiple reports of trouble-free operation well past 100k miles and one at 208k. The car is praised for its looks, hatchback practicality, and smooth driving dynamics. However, owners consistently warn that this is still a 10+ year old German luxury car, meaning maintenance costs and age-related failures are inevitable and can be expensive. Early model years (2012-2013) show more reported issues than later ones, though the core powertrain is viewed as solid across the generation.
Owners cross-shop the A7 against the A6, noting the A7's better looks and hatchback versatility justify a price premium, though some argue the A6 offers similar mechanicals for less money. The Infiniti Q50 is mentioned as an alternative but owners who chose the A7 express no regret. Against the newer C8 A7, owners of the C7 3.0T strongly prefer the supercharged engine's reliability over the newer turbocharged unit, which they describe as having expensive issues. Some owners advise keeping a reliable daily driver like a Civic rather than taking a risk on a questionable A7.
Owners recommend the 3.0T supercharged engine as the safest choice. The 2016 A7 TDI receives positive mentions for excellent highway fuel economy (40+ mpg post-fix) and strong reliability. For the 3.0T, a stage 1 tune is widely considered safe and transformative, with multiple owners reporting zero issues after tens of thousands of tuned miles. The Competition package (2017-2018) is praised for its seats but carries a costly sports rear differential that owners warn about. Base models are considered less desirable than Premium Plus or Prestige trims due to inferior headlights and interior features.
Owners recommend buying the 3.0T for its proven reliability, but strongly advise checking maintenance records before purchase. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent Audi specialist is repeatedly recommended. For high-mileage cars (90k+), owners advise budgeting for major services like timing chains, catalytic converters, and transmission fluid changes. Model years 2012-2013 show more reported issues (mechatronic, valve cover gaskets, fuel injector campaigns), while 2014+ appears cleaner. Owners warn against buying crashed or salvage-title examples regardless of mileage. Finding a good independent shop is emphasized as essential, with owners noting it saves "literally thousands" versus dealership pricing.
Owners frequently note the car attracts compliments from strangers, with one saying they "never got a compliment on a car before this beast." The 2015 model year is direct injection only, and owners recommend "Italian tune-ups" (spirited driving) to mitigate carbon buildup. FCP Euro's lifetime warranty is highly recommended for parts. Several owners mention the car feels like a "trophy" and is hard to let go of, even when maintenance costs mount. Analysis based on approximately 24 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 4 | service brakes |
| 2016 | 15 | 3 | air bags |
| 2015 | 5 | 3 | service brakes |
| 2014 | 11 | 2 | fuel/propulsion system |
| 2013 | 19 | 5 | electrical system |
| 2012 | 30 | 5 | air bags |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
2018 · fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel railcampaign 19V035000
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.
2018 · air bags:sensor:occupant classificationcampaign 18V370000
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 Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
2017 · fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel railcampaign 19V035000
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.
2017 · air bags:sensor:occupant classificationcampaign 18V370000
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 Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
2017 · seat belts:pretensionercampaign 16V955000
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 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.
2017 · air bags:side/windowcampaign 17V293000
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 Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
2016 · fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel railcampaign 19V035000
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.
2016 · air bags:sensor:occupant classificationcampaign 18V370000
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 Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
2016 · air bags:side/windowcampaign 17V293000
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 Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
2015 · electrical system:wiringcampaign 18V862000
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi A6 Sedans and 2015 Audi A7 vehicles. The auxiliary heater electrical connector on these vehicles may have been incorrectly inserted into the auxiliary heater, possibly resulting in increased electrical resistance.
2015 · air bags:sensor:occupant classificationcampaign 18V370000
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 Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
2015 · air bags:side/windowcampaign 17V293000
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 Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
4 more recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.