Audi Q7 adaptive cruise problems

Filed Sep 19, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · CO

During summer 2026 the check-engine light on our 2019 Audi Q7 came on BEFORE its first August service/oil-change visit. The light remained on when the dealer returned the vehicle. Within days, the driver found cruise control no longer worked; it had worked before that visit. She called the dealer in mid-August to arrange a return. At the second visit, the dealer reported intake-manifold runner controls for banks 1 and 2 stuck closed and recorded: "water pump has failed internally, causing a vacuum leak". The water pump was replaced. After the second visit, around August 28, 2026, a high-pitched whining/squealing noise began. It occurred while coasting or going downhill and generally when the accelerator was not pressed, not only while braking. The driver initially suspected a brake noise. She recalls the dealer advising measures to remove excess brake material and saying it should not pose a safety risk. The noise persisted after those measures. At a third visit the dealer diagnosed a PCV/crankcase-breather issue. That repair remains outstanding. The earlier reassurance concerned a suspected brake noise before the PCV diagnosis. We request investigation of the persistent warning, cruise-control malfunction, diagnosed vacuum/intake-manifold issues and later PCV/noise complaint, including any safety implications for vehicle operation. Whether these faults are related is UNKNOWN; their timing alone does not establish that service caused them. Our specific concern is abnormal crankcase pressure from the PCV fault, including possible overpressure, oil leakage or seal damage and impaired engine operation in traffic. Actual pressure/vacuum measurements and any resulting damage are UNKNOWN; these are concerns for investigation, not confirmed events. Receipts are available. Actual fault codes, diagnostic tests, and repair records should be reviewed. Availability of removed parts for inspection is UNKNOWN.

Filed Mar 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

WHile trying to park 2025 Q7 the vehicle accelerated without warning and adaptive cruise flashed quickly then disappeared. I was the driver and had a passanger along. THis incedent repeated itself within 30 mins. I am not comfortable driving the car..

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Driver assistance · WI

The vehicle has adaptive cruise control with something called "predictive control." The occurrence happened on I-40 in New Mexico with a 75mph speed limit. I went to pass a semi and a pickup truck followed me into the passing lane. Both lanes were clear ahead for at least a tenth of a mile. As I got to the front of the semi, we reached an exit off the right lane. The Q7 slammed on the brakes - not slowed down, it literally slammed on the brakes. Luckily I reacted to hit the gas pedal to override the cruise control and the pickup truck driver reacted by slamming on his brakes. But a simple pass could have resulted in a disastrous accident solely because of the vehicle. I had some of these issues earlier in my trip, but not to the degree of the above incident. It was most common when passing near any intersection, including exit ramps and emergency vehicle cross-overs. An intersection icon showed up and the vehicle slowed down - sometimes gently, sometimes more forcefully. It appears to be operating within its design parameters. I reported the issue to the dealer, but I am currently across the country. I am awaiting a response. I found the settings to turn off predictive control and am testing the system to see if this works. But if the system is operating as designed, there appears to be a flaw if predictive control is active.

Filed Aug 22, 2025 · Driver assistance · UT

My car has suddenly tried to stop in the middle of an interstate highway. It happens when the adaptive cruise control is active. Even though the lane in front of the car is clear, a warning sign appears in the dash that the pathway is obstructed and the car tries to stop quickly. This has happened on this vehicle four times now. It happened on my previous Audi as well. At that time, the car was taken off the highway and the dealer would not return it to me for a period of six weeks. During this last incident, the dealer said that they searched the information in the car. I had provided the odometer reading and date to the dealer when it happened. I was told that there was no information found about any malfunction. Of course the car thinks that there is an obstruction there in front of me and thinks it is properly functioning and now error message is created. This creates an extreme hazard for accident on a busy highway. It is a recurring problem and should be investigated. I have uploaded a picture of the error message displayed in the instrument cluster. This is not a trivial problem.

Filed May 12, 2025 · Driver assistance · UT

My wife was driving the car with the adaptive cruise control set at 72mph on 5/11/2025. The milage on the odometer was about 37165. A car was close behind when suddenly on of the systems in my car slammed on the brakes and attempted to stop the car. There were no warning indicators to suggest why this had happened. My last Audi, a 2020 A6, did this as well. It had a number of safety systems malfunctioning around the same time. At one time, I was told by the Audi dealer that the car was unsafe to be driven and it would not return the car to me. It was impounded for about six weeks as I recall. Whatever the reason, this is a serious safety issue when an vehicle suddenly tries to stop at that rate of speed on a highway with other vehicles on the road.

Filed Apr 29, 2025 · Brakes · OH

After owning the vehicle for less than one-year (~20k) miles, the front brakes started to pulse and make noise when stopping. Stopping distance was reduced. The dealer recommended that the rotors be replaced and did so at zero cost as a courtesy. Twelve weeks later, the pulsing and noise and reduced stopping distance started again. This time they refused to pay for the repair and blamed "braking habits". Audi national customer care also refused to do anything. The car is mostly driven on the highway and most of the braking is done by the adaptive cruise control. There is no other evidence of hard driving (i.e. tire wear or low gas mileage). The problem is almost certainly the calipers which should not fail after a year. Reduced stopping distance and brake failure are a safety hazard.

Filed Apr 6, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

In correspondence with recall number 25V201, the Virtual Cockpit display would go blank while driving, hiding all driver assistance indicators/instruments. Unable to verify engine speed unless looking at the heads up display, but adaptive cruise control/forward collision warnings won’t display. Upon parking and restarting vehicle, the display would work, but will intermittently go blank after some time while resuming driving. Called local dealership and they are aware of issue but since a repair is unavailable, out of pocket costs would be incurred. There have not been any inspections but I’ve scanned the vehicle for error code B200049, documented in previous Audi TSBs related to the virtual cockpit display issue.There were no warnings or indications, prior to the event which occurred less than a week after recall number 25V201 had started.

Filed Dec 26, 2024 · Driver assistance · NC

Often brakes abruptly. the first time the car was set at 60mph adaptive cruise control when the car abruptly braked to almost a stop on a divided four lane hwy. I reported incidents to Audi Cary & put my car in for service. they did not find diagnostic conclusion. after picking up my car the problem continues.While on Adaptive cruise control set at 62 mph abruptly decelerates to 17, forcing driver to pull into right turn lane. Again on same afternoon car braked abruptly with another car following closely behind, the driver accelerated, there was a pause where braking stopped but car did not accelerate, then the car accelerated avoiding being hit from behind. The last two incidents I immediately call Audi Cary to report the problem. I now journal all episodes of malfunction.

Filed Dec 3, 2023 · Driver assistance, Suspension · RI

Rear coil spring broke without any load on the vehicle. This condition causes some of the safety features to not work such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

Filed Jun 13, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · NY

When driving into a dimly lit area the car rings and displays the message front left side marker defective. The warning stays on for some time and then goes away before returning again. This continued for a few weeks. The car then experienced a full electrical system malfunction, doors unlocking and locking randomly while driving before dinging repeatedly with multiple warnings displayed in the dash and then stalled in the middle of the road. The vehicle would not shift into park. Multiple warnings continued to ding and flash in the dash. After being turned off for 20 minutes the car was able to be started shifted into Drive and driven with no warnings displayed. The car was taken to the dealership for diagnostics which were performed, but with no electrical system malfunction displayed. The left side marker warning was still on, but the dealer said there was no fix for this. The following month the car was taken for 60,000 mile service. At this time the dealer advised the fix for left side market was replacing the entire headlamp fixture. The service was declined. When the vehicle left the dealer the cruise control was on and would not turn off. After turning off the car and turning it back on the cruise control was off. After driving a short distance the speed control warning dinged and displayed and the cruise control was back on. The orange engine light was also displayed although there was no written warning for this.