The Lane Check

Cars › Audi › Q7 › 2015

2015 Audi Q7 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
50%
19 of 38 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Audi Q7 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 65% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
Share this car

Looking at a specific Q7?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.

Check a VIN

Does the 2015 Audi Q7 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 19 of 38 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Audi Q7 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%), and the largest group is filed under engine (12). For comparison, the 2014 scores 54%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
19
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
44
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
1 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE12 · 27%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6 · 14%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4 · 9%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 9%
POWER TRAIN4 · 9%

The years either side

2010
48%
14 of 29
2011
too few complaints
2012
70%
19 of 29
2013
60%
24 of 43
2014
54%
22 of 45
2015
50%
19 of 44
2016
too few complaints
2017
41%
74 of 319
2018
42%
48 of 143
2019
32%
18 of 62
2020
43%
12 of 28
2021
30%
22 of 75
2022
64%
14 of 25
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2015

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM08/21/2025
Warranty will be over in 60 days; the Catalyst Coverter is going back, the Audi dealer and Audi Corporate are delaying the fixture do to some mis communication between dealer and corporate. The problem has to do with DEF gases not being cleanup. The error code is P20EE00 and the engine light is on. The part is under …
ENGINE05/02/2025
Engine started knocking. Excessive use of oil in vehicle. Even after putting oil in and getting the oil changed several times, the vehicle constantly leaks and is consuming massive amounts of oil.
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM04/20/2023
Audi Denied Emissions Warranty for covered item.

Three of 19 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2015 Audi Q7 (2)

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 f…
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, …

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2015 Audi Q7

Questions people ask about the 2015 Audi Q7

Does the 2015 Audi Q7 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 19 of 38 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Audi Q7 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Audi Q7?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2015 Audi Q7. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Audi Q7 years are better?

Among the Audi Q7 years we track, the 2021 (30%), the 2019 (32%) and the 2017 (41%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (50%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2015 Audi Q7?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2015 Audi Q7 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

Check a VIN

Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.