2018 Audi Q7: engine failure

Filed Sep 12, 2026 · Engine · IL

Vehicle began displaying low engine oil level warnings between scheduled oil changes beginning in 2021, at approximately 50,000 miles. Condition was reported to the authorized Audi dealer on multiple occasions. Dealer added oil each time and stated there was no visible oil leak. No oil consumption test was performed and no repair order documenting the concern was provided. Oil loss worsened progressively through 2024. Engine failed in January 2026 at approximately 101,000 miles. Estimated repair cost $18,000–$22,000.

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

My 2018 Audi Q7 3.0T Quattro is experiencing extreme oil consumption — dropping from full to minimum level in approximately 230 miles. This is approximately 14x beyond Audi's own threshold for excessive oil consumption of 0.5 quarts per 1,000 miles. Documented timeline: May 2026 (88,692 miles): Oil change required 2.2 extra quarts beyond standard 7.2qt fill. Low oil light triggered during highway travel. June 27, 2026 (90,200 miles): Authorized Audi dealer formally documented "oil consumption is very high" in their service system and scheduled an official oil consumption test. June 28, 2026 (90,351 miles): Audi MMI system showed oil near minimum after only 151 miles. June 30, 2026 (90,397 miles): Audi MMI showed oil at Stage 2 warning after 197 miles. June 30, 2026 (90,430 miles): Audi MMI showed oil at minimum line after 230 miles total. All readings documented with timestamped photographs from Audi's own MMI system. The authorized Audi dealer has documented repeated oil top-offs in their service system. Audi USA Customer Care was contacted on June 30, 2026 and denied goodwill repair citing no active recall and vehicle out of warranty. An open case has been filed with Audi USA. The engine lubrication system appears defective. Oil dropping to minimum in under 230 miles without adequate warning poses serious safety risk of catastrophic engine failure while driving at highway speeds. The authorized Audi dealer has scheduled an official oil consumption test and inspection for July 2, 2026. Results will be available upon request. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

Filed Apr 13, 2026 · Engine · VA

I am reporting suspected odometer fraud on my 2018 Audi Q7 3.0T Prestige (VIN: [XXX] ). Between May 8 and June 13, 2025, while I was the sole driver of the vehicle, Audi dealership service records show an odometer increase of 5,282 miles (from 78,260 to 83,542). However, independently verified GPS trip data from the Audi Connect system confirms I drove only approximately 2,103 miles during this period — a discrepancy of approximately 3,178 miles. The vehicle was serviced at two Penske-owned dealerships: Audi of Arlington (3200 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204) and Audi of Chantilly (14839 Stonecroft Center Ct, Chantilly, VA 20151). Only authorized dealer diagnostic equipment can alter odometer values. This manipulation resulted in the wrongful denial of my extended warranty coverage and a $37,567.16 out-of-pocket engine replacement. I have a fully documented demand letter with ten supporting exhibits including service records, Audi Connect trip data, and a detailed timeline. The dealerships did not respond to my demand letter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · Engine · CA

The car has always (including during warranty period) required addition of engine oil in between scheduled maintenance interval, and problem got worse as function of age/miles. Audi has diagnosed this issue and it has been determined that the engine consumes excessive oil and requires new piston skirt. The cost of the labor is not something Audi is willing to pay for and there is a class action lawsuit. Audi has sent an email/letter to certain owners of the vehicle. My VIN for some reason wasn't included but now Audi has verified, but not willing to pay for the cost to replace the engine or fix it.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Engine · NJ

Catastrophic engine failure, this occurred 2 weeks after a service appointment where nothing was detected. The car only had 86,000 miles and it is unrepairable. We have now found that this could be due to a design flaw in this model which we were unaware of.

Filed Nov 18, 2025 · Engine · PA

I am reporting a progressive oil consumption defect that led to a catastrophic engine failure in my 2018 Audi Q7. The vehicle was purchased Certified Pre-Owned (CPO). I reported the excessive oil use to an Audi dealer. The dealer attempted to address the issue by performing an engine cleaning/flush, but the engine failed shortly afterwards. Over time, the vehicle required frequent top-offs between service intervals. Eventually, the engine suffered a mechanical failure, resulting in a broken exhaust valve and internal engine damage while driving on the highway. The Audi dealer provided a repair estimate of approximately $12,000. Audi of America offered 40% assistance to make the repair, but does not recognize the underlying excessive oil consumption issue. Furthermore, the proposed repair only replaces the damaged valve and related components, but does not address the underlying excessive oil consumption that caused the failure. This means the vehicle may still: •unexpectedly run low on oil, •lose power while driving, •suffer additional internal damage, or •again experience sudden engine failure while driving. These conditions can cause dangerous drivability issues, including loss of acceleration and potential stalling at highway speeds. This appears to be a serious safety-related defect involving lubrication failure, component breakage, and potential loss of power. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this issue to determine whether similar failures are occurring in other Audi Q7 vehicles with the 3.0T engine.

Filed Mar 5, 2025 · Engine · GA

The vehicle developed a misfire on cylinder 1. The dealership ran a 3 hour diagnostic that included using a borescope on all cylinders. One of the valves on cylinder 1 was identified as bad. The dealership indicated the only solution was to replace the engine and suggested trading the vehicle in for a new car.

Filed Nov 13, 2024 · Engine · MI

Valve three burnt causing engine failure and replacement

Filed Sep 23, 2024 · Steering · 64,851 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front and rear wheels struck the curb causing the vehicle to spin out. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. The vehicle was brought to a stop and was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering rack had failed due to a loss of communication with the steering module. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,851.

Filed Jul 2, 2024 · Engine · OR

I have received two "cylinder misfire" notifications. The first occured in December 2023 on a remote stretch of freeway. The second occured in June 2024 on a remote stretch of highway. In both cases, I immediately lost power and put myself and cars around me at risk because I had to pull over onto the side of the road to re-start the car. After the second incident, I now have no confidence in taking my car, only 6 years old and with 74K miles on it, out of the city and into the countryside. The symptoms of this issue include frequent oil burn / oil top-offs. My car requires a quart of oil every 200-300 miles. There are no leaks in my driveway. The leaking all seems to be coming from the cylinders. I am taking my Q7 into a mechanic, again, next week and I am concerns the solution will be "new engine" which costs more than the car is worth.

Filed Jan 26, 2024 · Engine · MA

We have had major problems with our 2018 Audi Q7 that are consistent with allegations made in various lawsuits against Audi and Volkswagen Group of America for alleged defects with Audi piston rings and piston ring assemblies. The defects have purportedly caused excessive oil consumption, engine damage, and engine failure. As noted in one such lawsuit (that apparently settled), the engine failure caused by the defective Audi piston ring and piston assemblies could result in sudden loss of power to the engine. “It goes without saying that a sudden loss of power poses a clear-cut safety risk—it can prevent the driver from accelerating, maintaining speed, and even adequately controlling the steering wheel, engaging the brakes, all of which drastically increase the risk of collisions …” [XXX] v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. {XXX]) The problem with our Audi is consistent with the reports by plaintiffs in these lawsuits, as well as other Audi owners—including Q7s—who have shared their experiences online. Starting at around 60,000 miles, our vehicle increasingly consumed oil until eventually, we needed to add a quart of oil less than every 600 miles. And that’s despite our: 1) having followed all of the required oil change and other related maintenance standards published by Audi; and 2) having replaced the car’s CCV valve and PCV breather, which we were told sometimes corrects the problem. Most recently, in December 2023, I was driving with my children in the vehicle, and the engine started sputtering and laboring. Then the check engine light appeared. I was able to drive the car home but have been advised that, in order to make the car drivable, we’d have to replace the engine. Obviously, even if we have the engine replaced, the rebuilt Audi engine could have the same problems. Given the risk that the affected Audi engines will fail in vehicles traveling at high speeds on U.S. highways, the federal safety agency should investigate this matter immediately. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (

Filed Feb 1, 2023 · Engine · IL

Water pump failure. This can lead to catstrophic engine failure if not addressed. Dealer has confirmed the failure. No fault codes appeared in any scans. Only warning signs were rapid coolant loss & the smell of burning coolant.