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2017 Audi Q7 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
41%
74 of 179 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Audi Q7 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 51% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 140 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 23%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2017 Audi Q7 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 74 of 179 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Audi Q7 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%), and the largest group is filed under engine (60). For comparison, the 2018 scores 42%. 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
74
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
319
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
7
7 crashes · 10 injuries

Complaints by component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING133 · 42%
ENGINE60 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM53 · 17%
SUSPENSION32 · 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER30 · 9%
STEERING19 · 6%

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 2017

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE03/16/2025FIRE1 INJURED
The car caught fire and burnt to to the frame. The message that came on the dash board before it caught fire was camera. I told Audi and they disregard all of that. They told me they were going to check or do investigation and the only thing I was told after looking for answer was this! These people know my insu…
ENGINE08/29/2026
The 2017 Audi Q7 Prestige was purchased on November 7,2016. Since the purchase, all service was provided by one or the other of two Audi dealerships. During this period, the Audi recommended 10K, 20K,30K, 40K, 50K, 60K, 70K, and 80K mile services had all been performed. In the almost ten years that I owned the car, …
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE07/31/2026
My 2017 Audi Q7 with the 3.0T engine has experienced repeated engine/ignition system failures. The vehicle displays a "System Malfunction" warning light accompanied by shaking and stalling. This same malfunction has occurred at least 3 separate times over the past few years. Each time, a repair shop diagnosed and repla…

Three of 74 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2017 Audi Q7 (7)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Q7, A6 and A7 vehicles, and 2015-2018 Audi A8 vehicles. The left and right fuel rails may leak fu…
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to July 10, 2016. In the affected vehi…
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicl…

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

Before you buy a 2017 Audi Q7

Questions people ask about the 2017 Audi Q7

Does the 2017 Audi Q7 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 74 of 179 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Audi Q7 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%). 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 2017 Audi Q7?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns on the 2017 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%) and the 2019 (32%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (41%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Audi Q7?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 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.

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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.