YearToAvoid

2020 Audi Q7 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 Q7 years

The 2020 Audi Q7 has a Complaint Index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Q7 years. NHTSA lists 28 complaints, 5 recalls, 1 crash, and 1 fire tied to this year, with Electrical System issues the top problem area at 36% of complaints.

Complaints
28
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
18 city / 22 hwy

Top 2020 Audi Q7 problems

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

  1. Electrical System10 (36%)
  2. Engine9 (32%)
  3. Brakes3 (11%)
  4. Other3 (11%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain3 (11%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (7%)
  7. Fuel System2 (7%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report a sudden power loss followed by unexpected brake engagement while driving at low speed, in one case causing a rear-end collision.
  • Owners describe an abnormal noise from the rear of the vehicle paired with an inability to accelerate past 20 mph early in ownership.
  • Several owners report an "Electric System Malfunction" warning appearing at highway speed, sometimes escalating to a red alert instructing the driver to pull over immediately.
  • Owners note the Forward Collision Warning or automatic cruise control triggers unexpected braking after misreading speed limit signs on cross streets or overpasses.
  • Some owners report a recurring "Parking Brake: malfunction" warning on the speedometer that dealerships were unable to diagnose.
  • Owners describe delays in obtaining fuel pump recall parts after receiving notice of NHTSA Campaign 22V516000.
2020 Audi Q7 complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2020Dec 2022Dec 2023Jun 2024Sep 2024May 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2023 (3).

2020 Audi Q7 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V900000Dec 19, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras356,894 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 23V212000Mar 29, 2023Collision Avoidance & Cameras19 vehicles

    Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: camera

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020 Q7 vehicles. Incompatibility between the front camera control software and the heating element used for the front camera on the windshield may cause the heating element to overheat.

    Risk: An overheated heating element can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the control software and replace the heater element for the front camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90N7.

  3. NHTSA 22V516000Jul 20, 2022Fuel System49,443 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi Q8, and 2020-2021 Audi Q7 vehicles. A component inside the fuel pump may break, causing the fuel pump to fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DR.

See all 5 recalls for the 2020 Audi Q7 →

2020 Audi Q7 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,125
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.

2020 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
2018Avoid87142321
2019Caution6762421
2020Good4728519.5
2021Avoid8074920.5
2022Caution6018321

All Audi Q7 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Audi Q7 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Q7 has a Complaint Index of 47 and ranks 9th worst of 16 model years, giving it a "Good" verdict compared to other Q7 years.
What problems does the 2020 Audi Q7 have?
NHTSA data shows Electrical System complaints made up 36% of reports, followed by Engine at 32% and Brakes and Transmission & Powertrain each at 11%. The median mileage at failure for electrical complaints was 42,850 miles.
Does the 2020 Audi Q7 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2020 Q7, covering the rearview camera software, front camera heating element, fuel pump, airbag control module, and C-pillar crash padding.
How does the 2020 Q7 compare to other years?
The 2020 Q7's Complaint Index of 47 is lower than the 2017 (100), 2018 (87), 2013 (93), and 2021 (80) model years, all rated "Avoid," making 2020 a relatively better choice among Q7 years.

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.