Audi A7 Best and Worst Years (2012–2025)
The Audi A7 years to avoid are 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2019, each flagged Avoid based on NHTSA complaint volume and recalls. 2019 ranks worst overall with a complaint index of 100 and 43 complaints, driven mostly by electrical issues. No year in this range earned a Best rating.
- Model years
- 14
- 2012–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 135
- Recall campaigns
- 24
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 3
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
A7 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Audi A7 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Avoid | 92 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Engine | 22 | — |
| 2013 | Avoid | 77 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 5 | Electrical System | 21 | — |
| 2014 | Caution | 69 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Fuel System | 25 | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 54 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Brakes | 25 | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 85 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | 27 | — |
| 2017 | No verdict | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Brakes | 24 | — |
| 2018 | No verdict | 46 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Brakes | 23 | — |
| 2019 | Avoid | 100 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Electrical System | 25 | — |
| 2020 | No verdict | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | Electrical System | 24 | — |
| 2021 | Caution | 62 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 11 | Engine | 26.5 | — |
| 2022 | No verdict | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | 25.5 | — |
| 2023 | No verdict | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 24 | — |
| 2024 | No verdict | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 25 | — |
| 2025 | No verdict | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 25 | — |
A7 years to avoid: what went wrong
2019 Audi A7 Index 100 · 43 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2019 A7 has the highest complaint index of all years at 100, with 43 total complaints, making it the worst-ranked year. Electrical System issues make up 56 percent of complaints, with a median mileage of just 18,500, including reports of blank instrument screens and malfunctioning backup cameras. Engine complaints, often near 2,400 miles, describe delayed throttle response after auto stop-start and unexpected braking from driver-assist systems. Six recalls apply to this year, including brake fluid cap and software-related lane departure and camera issues.
2012 Audi A7 Index 92 · 30 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2012 A7 carries a complaint index of 92 and ranks second-worst of all years. Engine problems lead the complaints, including a reported case of smoke and fire after driving, with median mileage at failure around 102,000 for engine issues. Airbag and electrical complaints also appear, along with steering concerns near 105,000 miles. NHTSA lists five recalls for this year, covering airbags and two separate fuel line or fuel hose defects that could lead to leaks.
2016 Audi A7 Index 85 · 15 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2016 A7 has a complaint index of 85, ranking third-worst. Airbags dominate the complaints at 47 percent, with a median mileage near 13,713 miles, including a report of airbags failing to deploy properly in a side-impact crash. Owners also reported transmission vibration and noise when accelerating from a stop, and intermittent fuel filler flap problems. Three recalls cover this year, addressing fuel rail leaks and head curtain airbags that may not deploy correctly.
2013 Audi A7 Index 77 · 19 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2013 A7 has a complaint index of 77 and ranks fourth-worst. Electrical System complaints top the list at 37 percent of issues, with a median mileage around 30,000. Owners also reported engine and steering problems, plus a case of unexpected acceleration while parking. A fuel system complaint described a fire following a fuel-related warning message. Five recalls apply to this year, including the same fuel line and fuel hose defects seen in 2012 plus the shared airbag seat recall.
Most common Audi A7 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Electrical System44 (33%)
- Engine40 (30%)
- Fuel System18 (13%)
- Steering18 (13%)
- Airbags17 (13%)
- Other17 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain16 (12%)
- Brakes12 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (6%)
- Structure & Body7 (5%)
Frequently asked questions
- What Audi A7 years should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint and recall data, the 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2019 Audi A7 are flagged as years to avoid. The 2019 has the highest complaint index at 100 out of all model years.
- Is the 2019 Audi A7 reliable based on owner complaints?
- The 2019 A7 has the most reported problems of any year in this range, with 43 complaints and a complaint index of 100. Over half of its complaints involve the Electrical System, often reported around 18,500 miles.
- Which Audi A7 model years are the best?
- No A7 model year from 2012 to 2025 earned a Best verdict in this data. Years like 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022-2025 show very low complaint counts and lower complaint index scores compared to the flagged Avoid years.
- Does the Audi A7 have a lot of recalls?
- Across all covered years, NHTSA lists 24 recall campaigns for the Audi A7. The 2019 model year alone has six recalls, including brake fluid cap and camera/lane departure software issues.
- What are the most common Audi A7 problems reported to NHTSA?
- Across all years, Electrical System complaints account for 33 percent of the 135 total complaints, followed by Engine at 30 percent, and Fuel System and Steering each at 13 percent.