YearToAvoid

2015 Audi A7 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

54/100

#7 most-complained of 14 A7 years

The 2015 Audi A7 has a Complaint Index of 54 and ranks 7th worst out of 14 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 5 complaints and 3 recalls, with brakes being the top problem area at 40% of complaints.

Complaints
5
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
21 city / 33 hwy

Top 2015 Audi A7 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes2 (40%)
  2. Airbags1 (20%)
  3. Engine1 (20%)
  4. Steering1 (20%)

What owners report

  • Brake rotors warp easily, causing vibration felt through the pedal, with issues reported around 19,000 miles.
  • Some owners describe brake pedals sinking to the floor with delayed stopping, even after front brake replacement.
  • Engine oil warning lights appear between scheduled services, requiring added oil, alongside power loss or stalling tied to a timing chain tensioner defect at 90,000 miles.
  • Steering columns produce a squeaking noise when turning left or right, linked by owners to a Takata-related recall.
  • Passenger seat airbag sensors cycle on and off repeatedly even with an adult seated, despite owners being told the vehicle isn't covered by a related recall.
2015 Audi A7 complaints: complaints filed per month1Mar 2018Aug 2018Jun 2019Jun 2020Dec 2025
5 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2018 to Dec 2025; peak Mar 2018 (1).

2015 Audi A7 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V862000Dec 5, 2018Electrical System845 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    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.

    Risk: The extra resistance can cause the connector to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the auxiliary heater connector, replacing the auxiliary heater and connector, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 82C1.

  2. NHTSA 18V370000Jun 4, 2018Airbags139,249 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 17V293000May 1, 2017Airbags17,694 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window

    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."

    Risk: If the head curtain airbag does not deploy properly in the event of a crash, an unbelted passenger has an increased risk of injury.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected head curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 29, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 69R2.

2015 Audi A7 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,525
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Diesel
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other A7 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid7719521
2014Caution6911225
2015Caution545325
2016Avoid8515327
2017No verdict311424

All Audi A7 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Audi A7 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 A7 has a Complaint Index of 54 and ranks 7th worst of 14 model years, giving it a Caution verdict rather than Avoid or Good.
What problems does the 2015 Audi A7 have?
NHTSA lists 5 complaints for the 2015 A7, with brakes as the top problem area (40% of complaints), followed by airbags, engine, and steering issues at 20% each.
Does the 2015 Audi A7 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 A7, covering the auxiliary heater electrical connector, airbag seat wear (PODS system), and head curtain air bags that may not deploy properly.
How does the 2015 Audi A7 compare to other years?
The 2015 A7's Complaint Index of 54 is lower than the 2012 (92), 2013 (77), 2016 (85), and 2019 (100) model years, all rated Avoid, making 2015 a relatively less problematic year.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Audi A7?
EPA rates the 2015 A7 at 25 mpg combined (21 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,525.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.