YearToAvoid

2013 Audi Q7 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 Q7 years

The 2013 Audi Q7 has a Complaint Index of 93 and ranks 2nd-worst among 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Fuel System issues lead complaints at 35% share, with 3 recalls covering fuel pump flanges, engine vacuum lines, and axle weight labeling.

Complaints
43
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
60 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17.5 city / 24 hwy

Top 2013 Audi Q7 problems

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

  1. Fuel System15 (35%)
  2. Engine11 (26%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers8 (19%)
  4. Brakes4 (9%)
  5. Electrical System4 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain4 (9%)
  7. Airbags2 (5%)
  8. Other2 (5%)
  9. Steering2 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Brake pedal reportedly traveled to the floor at low speed, resulting in a rear-end collision.
  • Owners describe sudden electrical fires starting near the wheel area, with smoke filling the cabin shortly after starting to drive.
  • A vehicle-supplied jack reportedly failed and dropped the SUV while a wheel was removed for service.
  • Airbags did not deploy in a multi-vehicle rear-end crash, despite airbags deploying in other cars involved.
  • Sunroofs reportedly shattered while driving on flat roads in cold weather.
  • Fuel system problems caused the engine to stall and die while driving, with dealers citing possible fuel pump issues.
2013 Audi Q7 complaints: complaints filed per month5Mar 2014Oct 2017Nov 2018Sep 2019Feb 2022Aug 2023Apr 2026
54 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2014 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2026 (5).

2013 Audi Q7 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V086000Feb 15, 2023Other12,100 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2009-2015 Q7 vehicles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the certification label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims," and Part 567, "Certification."

    Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an overlay label containing the correct rear GAWR on top of the existing safety certification label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 50G5.

  2. NHTSA 17V298000May 3, 2017Fuel System240,487 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.

  3. NHTSA 14V516000Aug 26, 2014Engine1,814 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, to November 29, 2012 and equipped with a 3.0L TDI engine. In the affected vehicles, a check valve in the engine may become contaminated with plastic debris and allow engine oil to leak into the brake booster.

    Risk: If oil leaks into the brake booster, the brake booster diaphragm may rupture causing a loss of power braking assist, and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace a vacuum line, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the brake booster system for oil contamination and, if oil contamination is present, additional components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47L8.

2013 Audi Q7 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,375
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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.

2013 compared with other Q7 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Good2723419
2012Best2029419
2013Avoid9343320
2014Caution5345220
2015Good3344220

All Audi Q7 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Audi Q7 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Q7 has a Complaint Index of 93, the second-worst among 16 model years of the Q7, and is rated Avoid.
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Audi Q7?
Fuel System complaints make up 35% of reports, followed by Engine at 26% and Visibility & Wipers at 19%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2013 Audi Q7 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Q7: an incorrect axle weight rating label, a fuel pump flange that may crack and leak, and an engine vacuum line issue on 3.0L TDI models.
What mileage do problems typically show up on the 2013 Q7?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 72,000 miles across all reported issues on the 2013 Q7.
How does the 2013 Q7 compare to other years?
The 2013 Q7's Complaint Index of 93 is worse than 2010 (13), 2011 (27), 2012 (20), and 2015 (33), though not as high as 2017's 100.

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.