Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, acceleration and cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Audi Q7: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/6
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 Audi Q7. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | AWD | 21 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cylHybrid | AWD | 20 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Audi Q7, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Front brakes pulse, make noise, and take longer to stop, sometimes within the first year. New rotors fixed it only briefly before the pulsing came back, and later repair requests were refused. Other reports describe a brake pedal that randomly stops responding. When that happens, the car will not start or shift out of Park, and the brake lights stay dark. Dealers could not reproduce that fault. Another report describes a yellow warning light turning red before the car skidded to a hard, unprompted stop at about 32,000 miles.
The rear cross-traffic system can mistake heavy rain for a pedestrian and hold the car stopped against the driver's will for minutes. A dealer described this as a known issue. Another report describes a malfunction warning followed by the engine being capped at 1,200 rpm, which cut speed to about 11-13 mph shortly after a morning start. Both faults take control away from the driver. A sudden power cut at highway speed carries a clear crash risk.
Automatic braking engages when nothing is in the way. Reports describe the brakes clamping fully while reversing in the rain with no objects nearby, then doing it again over several tries. The Pre Sense system also brakes hard without warning on freeways and local roads. Warning lights flash, and the car can be briefly immobilized. Complaints say there is no permanent way to turn the feature off. Sudden hard braking in traffic raises the risk of a rear-end collision.
The MMI screen goes blank. In one case the whole car shut down in traffic and would not restart for 20-30 minutes. Dealers declined to act once the screen came back on. Other reports list a string of faults: parking sensors warning of objects that are not there, no-start conditions, Bluetooth that will not connect, a liftgate that does not work, volume that cuts out, and remote key batteries that keep dying. A shutdown while driving can leave the car stranded in traffic.
Excerpts from complaints Q7 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Vehicle displayed a “malfunction” warning followed by a notification the engine RPM would be limited to 1,200 and decelerated rapidly to 1,200 rpm and would not go past it. Vehicle would only drive at about 11-13 mph afterwards. Incident occurred on a downhill 5 minutes after starting driving in the morning. If this had happened on a highway at high speeds it could have been a very dangerous situation
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
Sensors go off that I will hit something when not there Remote batteries have dies three times in two years Car won't start Bluetooth doesn't connect Trunk liftgate doesn't work Volume turns off.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 7 Q7 years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any Audi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.".
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the occupant detection system (ODS) control module may loosen and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
Risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69GU.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023-2024 SQ8, RSQ8, Q8, Q7, and 2024 SQ7 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection.".
Risk: An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GA.
Cars shoppers compare with the Audi Q7, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
