Should I Buy a Audi A7?

Complete buying guide for the Audi A7: best years, worst years, common problems, recall history, and reliability trends across all model years.

7Model Years
64Total Complaints
37Total Recalls

Overview: Is the Audi A7 a Good Buy?

The Audi A7 spans 7 model years in the NHTSA database, with 64 total consumer complaints and 37 safety recalls on record. That works out to an average of approximately 9 complaints per model year. This buying guide is designed to help you identify the best and worst model years, understand the most common problems owners report, and make a more informed purchasing decision backed by official NHTSA safety data rather than anecdotal reviews.

Best vs. Worst Years at a Glance

If you are shopping for a used Audi A7, the model years to prioritize are 2018, 2017, 2020, which have the fewest owner-reported complaints. The years to approach with more caution are 2019, 2016, 2015, which have significantly higher complaint volumes. The difference between the best and worst years can be dramatic — the worst year has 37 complaints compared to just 0 for the best year. This gap often correlates with specific manufacturing issues, design changes, or component suppliers used during those production years.

Common Issues to Watch For

Across all model years, the most frequently reported problems with the Audi A7 involve Service Brakes, Fuel Rail Recall, Water Pump Design Failure. These are the components and systems that owners have flagged most often in their NHTSA complaints. If you are inspecting a used Audi A7, have a mechanic pay special attention to these areas. Some issues may be covered under existing recalls or extended warranties, so check the recall history for your specific model year before purchasing.

Best Years to Buy

These Audi A7 model years have the fewest complaints and best reliability:

2018 — 0 complaints 2017 — 1 complaints 2020 — 2 complaints

Years to Avoid

These model years have the most complaints and known issues:

2019 — 37 complaints 2016 — 15 complaints 2015 — 5 complaints

Common Problems Across All Years

All Model Years

YearComplaintsRecallsReliability
2021 4 11 5/100
2020 2 8 5/100
2019 37 6 87/100
2018 0 2 87/100
2017 1 4 87/100
2016 15 3 82/100
2015 5 3 85/100