Vehicle report
2021 Audi Q7
Free recalls, owner complaints, and NHTSA safety ratings for the 2021 Audi Q7, plus how to check this specific vehicle before you buy.
The 2021 Audi Q7 has 9 NHTSA recalls on record and 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Its overall NHTSA crash-test rating is not rated. Below is the full breakdown, plus how to check this specific vehicle by VIN before you buy in Alberta.
9
Open recalls
15
Complaints
Not Rated
Overall safety
Get the full vehicle history report
SPONSOREDAccident & damage records, liens, title brands, ownership history, and odometer verification.
Provided by our vehicle-history partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
2021 Audi Q7 recalls (9)
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
TIRES
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A6 Allroad, Q7, RS6 and RS7 vehicles. The electrical connector can detach from the door crash sensor in either of the front doors.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and as necessary, replace the crash sensors in both front doors, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BM.
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
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."
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90VC.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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."
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.
2021 Audi Q7 safety ratings
Not Rated
Overall
Not Rated
Front
5
Side
4
Rollover
Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.
2021 Audi Q7 owner complaints (15)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q7. The contact stated that the instrument cluster display had become blank and failed to operate as intended. The failure prevented the contact from viewing critical vehicle information, including the speedometer, fuel gauge, and turn signal indicators. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the instrument cluster failed and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V201000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
- LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION
Rear sensors failed for Blind Spot Warning, Parking Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Warning and possibly other safety functions have failed on this car twice now since it was purchased. This is known issue and if the car is out of warranty Audi will not cover this very expensive repair for important safety features. Quote from Go Parts website: "TSB: Rear Parking Sensor Brackets Detaching A widespread known issue for the 2020-2024 Audi Q7 is the failure of the adhesive that holds the rear parking sensor brackets to the inside of the bumper cover. Audi has issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 91 24 92 (superseding 91 22 52) to address this problem." Despite Audi being aware of this issue they only issued a TSB when a I feel a recall should have been made. Please issue a recall for this known Audi safety issue..
- ENGINE
waterpump is leaking- known issue that is currently being investigated for class action lawsuit. My car is now out of warranty.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On startup, the instrument cluster (Audi Virtual Cockpit) takes an abnormally long time to illuminate. When it does come on, the check engine light and multiple other warning indicators are illuminated. First noticed about a month ago when the panel with the speed indicator wouldn't light up or took a long time to illuminate. I took the car to three dealerships before Audi mentioned that this is a manufacturing issue. The vehicle was taken to Jim Ellis Audi, Marietta, GA (Repair Order 106862U) in August 2026. The technician's diagnostic notes recorded a fault described as "control module for instrument cluster — optical data bus — no communication." The dealer referenced an internal Technical Service Bulletin describing an intermittent hardware defect in the Audi Virtual Cockpit logic module, attributed to a manufacturing/semiconductor issue at the supplier level. Per the TSB, if the instrument cluster's production date is before February 1, 2025, the cluster must be replaced. The dealer quoted $3,093.81 to replace the instrument cluster assembly. I am aware that NHTSA recall 25V201 (Audi internal number 90VC) covers 2021 Q7 vehicles for a related virtual cockpit shutdown defect, remedied with a free software update.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
My independent repair shop has just diagnosed a coolant leak weeping from the vacuum line connection at the water pump; they referred to this problem as “coolant migration”. As documented extensively by Audi in Technical Service Bulletin 19-23-45 (2070349/2), this indicates an internal seal failure of the water pump, causing pressurized engine coolant to migrate directly into the vehicle’s vacuum system. While I understand that my vehicle is technically past its 4-year factory warranty timeline, a mechanical failure of this nature at just 43,000 miles is highly premature and points to a known manufacturer design defect rather than standard wear and tear. More importantly, this defect poses an immediate, severe safety risk. Because the vacuum system directly services the power brake booster, the migration of coolant into these lines risks catastrophic contamination of the braking system. This results in a stiff brake pedal and compromised vehicle stopping ability. I am deeply concerned about operating this vehicle with an active, manufacturer-acknowledged safety hazard affecting my brakes. At this time, I have not had this problem confirmed by the dealer, but plan to in the next week. The vehicle it available for inspection upon request.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION
My rear backup sensors have fallen out of my vehicle and the dealership wants to charge me $200.00 to diagnose the problem. All they need to do is reattach the sensors which were originally put on the vehicle with double sided adhesive tape which is a poor design. I cannot afford this $200.00. This is a big safety concern because I rely on those sensors when backing up. Can you help me?
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We were in my vehicle. An audi q7 2021 driving in the highway ([XXX]) Headed to Ohio from Florida and during a traffic jam all the sudden my car stopped and will not react and was “stucked in park” and transmission malfunction, parking brake malfunction, start/stop system malfunction codes popped up all at once. So scary and cars started to move and we couldn’t. Luckily we were able to get to safety and check battery but this shouldn’t happen to anyone as could cause irreversible damage to human life. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 - 55 MPH, the Check Engine light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed code PO299, which referred to coolant migration into the vacuum system. The contact was unable to provide the exact parts that were needed for repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer opened a case regarding the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
- ENGINE
Early fuel pump failure at 55k miles. Coolant is now leaking and the fuel pump and vac system need replacement.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety-related recall on my Audi Q7 involving the alternator. The wording of the recall is significantly underplayed, written off as an emissions issues. When in reality this is a life threatening flaw in the alternator. It is highly concerning that Audi isn’t being transparent with people who are driving these cars and risking their lives while doing so. This is not simply emissions, in reality, the car can totally malfunction while in operation. The entire electrical system fails and the car completely stops responding to the driver, fully stops and dies no matter where you are driving or at what speed. While driving on the highway, my vehicle experienced a catastrophic electrical failure caused by the recalled alternator, which caused the car to completely stop and it would not restart in any way. This created a life-threatening situation for my family and me. As a result of this electrical failure, the vehicle’s battery was damaged, and Audi has acknowledged coverage of 90% for the battery repair. However, the voltage converter, which is part of the same charging system, was also damaged during the same event. Audi is refusing coverage for the $1,600 repair of the voltage converter, despite the damage being caused directly by the alternator failure. I believe this represents a significant safety risk, as the vehicle’s sudden loss of power could lead to serious injury or death. Additionally, the recall itself caused secondary damage that is being denied coverage, which is unfair and unsafe. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter as a safety defect/recall-related failure, and ensure the manufacturer addresses all consequences of this recall-related defect, including coverage of secondary damage like the voltage converter.
- VISIBILITY,BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q7. The contact stated that the rear-view mirrors on the driver's side failed to indicate when another vehicle, person, or object was nearby the vehicle. The passenger's side rear-view mirror's audible alarm occasionally erroneously alerted the driver that there was a vehicle, a person, or an object nearby the vehicle. The infotainment screen occasionally blacked out, and the following day, the screen activated but failed to finish uploading all the systems and functions. The back-over prevention camera alarm made abnormal sounds compared to the normal sound. The infotainment center intermittently failed to display the icon indicating that the key was in the ignition after the vehicle had been started. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact was unaware that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V900000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
- POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving on the freeway and got off on an exit ramp at high speeds and began to slow down and break. As I was breaking the car became clunky and slowed down and suddenly shut off. The warning lights “transmission failure and “ESC failure” came on and I was unable to drive or put the car into gear. The car flashed “stop. Pull over” and “not safe to drive” and see “Audi dealer”. The car would not turn back on. We were stuck in the middle Of the freeway off-ramp with cars flying by us with no sidewalks or safe ways to exit the vehicle. I had my wife, dog and 2 and 4 year old kids with me. I then had to be towed to my local Audi dealer. At the Audi dealer, I told them what happened and asked for a full diagnostic. They then called me the next day and said they ran codes and nothing popped up. I said can they run a full diagnostic further and see what happened. They called me the next day and said they did a “deeper dive” and I needed to replace my transmission intake body valve and gave me a repaid quote of $8,000. My car had been serviced 2 months prior on 10/16/25 with the transmission being checked and said great.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
The vehicle was parked on a sloped driveway. After the driver exited the car, the automatic parking brake/Auto-P fail-safe failed to engage. The vehicle rolled backward unexpectedly, causing the driver-side door to strike a fire hydrant and rebound into the driver's body. There is significant property damage ($6000) and personal injury. Complete home security video footage of the incident is available [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- ENGINE
- Engine water pump failure and coolant intrusion into the vacuum system. Parts were replaced on 5 Nov 2025 and possible still at the dealer's location. - The defect poses the following safety risks: It resulted in contamination of vacuum lines; potential for sudden engine stalling or loss of power while driving; potential for catastrophic damage to engine-management systems dependent on vacuum integrity; potential for damage to emissions and combustion-control systems; potential for reduced braking system performance if vacuum supply is compromised, expensive and unexpected component failures, and possible recurrence since the cause appears related to design rather than normal wear. Any failure can create cascading hazards affecting safety-critical functions. - The problem was confirmed by an authorized Audi dealer. Dealer name and contact info can be provided upon request. - I do not know if the dealer delivered the involved parts to the manufacturer or insurance representative for inspection. Police or others did not inspect it. - There were no warning lights, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. It was identified by the Audi technician on 5 November 2025 while the vehicle was in the dealer for other services. The failure occurred at 47,855 miles which is far below the average lifespan of a water pump or vacuum system.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
An alert popped up on the dashboard. Stating driver system malfunction. This happened on the freeway and then the car shut down immediately. I've gotten this notification over 8 times and it has yet to be fixed. I'm extremely anxious and terrified when driving this vehicle, because my 3 children are in this vehicle while im driving. All services has been all done at audi oakland, they have all the records/documents. This car has been serviced over 120 days in total
Checking a used Audi Q7 before you buy
The recall, complaint, and safety data above describes the 2021 Q7 in general. To know the condition and history of the specific vehicle you're looking at, check it by VIN. A VIN check shows whether this particular Q7's recalls are still outstanding, and a full history report adds accident, title, and ownership records the data above can't show.
Before you buy a 2021 Audi Q7 in Alberta:
- Run a free VIN check on the exact vehicle for its own recalls and safety data.
- Run an Alberta Personal Property Registry lien search so you don't inherit debt.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- If it's a dealer, confirm their AMVIC licence.
See other model years of the Audi Q7, or browse more Audi models.
2021 Audi Q7 — questions and answers
Does the 2021 Audi Q7 have any recalls?+
Our check found 9 NHTSA recalls associated with the 2021 Audi Q7. Check the specific vehicle by VIN to see which remain outstanding, since some may already have been repaired. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.
How many complaints does the 2021 Audi Q7 have?+
NHTSA lists 15 owner complaints for the 2021 Audi Q7 in our results. Complaints are problems reported by owners and don't always lead to a recall, but a pattern of similar complaints is worth weighing before you buy.
Is the 2021 Audi Q7 safe?+
The 2021 Audi Q7 has an overall NHTSA crash-test rating of not rated. Review the front-crash, side-crash, and rollover ratings above, and pair safety ratings with a mechanical inspection of the specific vehicle.
How do I check a 2021 Audi Q7 VIN?+
Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN into our free VIN check to see recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for that exact vehicle, then run an Alberta Personal Property Registry (PPR) lien search before you pay.
Are recall repairs on a Audi free?+
Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no cost by a franchised Audi dealer, even for a used vehicle and even if you're not the original owner. Confirm the required parts are in stock before relying on the fix.
Get the full vehicle history report
SPONSOREDAccident & damage records, liens, title brands, ownership history, and odometer verification.
Provided by our vehicle-history partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.