2013 Audi A7 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (4) · Power Train (2) · Engine (2)
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2018-06-04 · campaign 18V370000 · 139,249 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2017-12-06 · campaign 17V781000 · 48,693 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Audi A6 and A7 vehicles. The fuel line has a compression point that can weaken, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-888-237-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AR.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2016-09-07 · campaign 16V646000 · 28,249 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 and Audi A7 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a fuel hose in the engine compartment that may degrade and leak fuel.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the under hood fuel pump and fuel hose, free of charge. The recall began November 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BZ.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2015-12-08 · campaign 15V823000 · 21,074 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Audi A6 vehicles manufactured March 28, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles manufactured January 25, 2011, to March 19, 2013. In vehicles with heated and cooled seats, the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), used to enable the front passenger air bags, may malfunction and prevent the passenger-side air bags from deploying in a crash.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D1.
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail 2015-01-20 · campaign 15V019000 · 26,008 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers.
Service bulletins (1,450)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Structure:body 2026-09-08 · TSB_2068999_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-26 · TSB_2074436_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,450 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-05-06 · Unknown Or Other“recall completed twice but manufacturer cannot keep their information updated correctly and claims the recall is open and will not complete the recall work at any dealership!…”
2022-03-16 · Steering · 56,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 audi a7. the contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the steering assist warning light was illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. the vehicle was not serviced. the contact took the vehicle to independent mechanic and was informed that the electronic steerin…”
2021-06-29 · Steering“an alert when i started my car stated that the steering system had a fault but it was ok to continue driving. later that evening during my drive home, and about 20 miles from the start of the trip, the car then provided an alert for a steering system failure and to stop driving. the power steering appears to have stopped working - the car could onl…”
2021-05-07 · Visibility/Wiper · 100,000 mi“i have had four time windshield cracks.. there were no large impacts and it seems that the windshield material is extremely brittle and unsafe. other vehicles under the same driving route and speed have never had windshield cracks, but my audi has encountered four. this seems like a design/material defect.…”
2021-04-12 · Steering · 78,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 audi a7. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was unresponsive while in the center position and felt disconnected and unstable while turning. the driver stated that he did not always feel in control of the steering while turn in either direction from the center steering wheel position. …”
2020-11-30 · Power Train · 75,338 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 audi a7. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal, without warning. the contact spoke to the manufacturer and was referred to an authorized dealer to have the vehicle serviced. the contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that the catal…”
2019-12-17 · Power Train · 67,648 mi“while stationary and driving, the check engine light appears along with the transmission and epc light which states, "transmission malfunction. can continue to drive". drives sluggish and "sputters" above 4000 rpm. my wife (pregnant at the time) was driving when it sputtered and had difficulty exiting our subdivision onto the highway. i took it to …”
2019-08-16 · Engine · 65,402 mi“when starting the car, malfunction indicator light (mil) came on. no odd noises or smells, and the engine was running smooth. the trouble code displayed was 00196a. drove the car to an audi dealer and they diagnosed the problem as "faulty transmission cooling valve n509, coolant is getting into connector causing an open circuit fault". the dealer s…”
2019-02-03 · Steering · 33,290 mi“no power steering when starting car. " steering defective do not drive vehicle" warning on dash.…”
2018-11-13 · Unknown Or Other · 75 mi“while the car is in motion my car will sometime stop and say breaking engaged while the car is moving. this has happened to me three times. the car will stop in traffic, the windows will roll completely up, the sunroof will close and the radio will turn completely down. no one is walking near my car at the time. this will happen in the process of m…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.