Short answer
Among Audi Q7 model years through 2024, 2016 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2021 has the most (9). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Audi Q7: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 20 (2007–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 32
- Fewest recalls
- 2016 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (9)
- Most recalled system
- Fuel system, gasoline (22)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2018, 2019, 2024 and 2 more years
Audi Q7 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts |
| 2024 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2023 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Back over prevention |
| 2022 | 3 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2021 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2020 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance |
| 2019 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Steering, Structure |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering, Structure |
| 2017 | 7 | Not rated | Steering, Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2016 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2015 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2012 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment |
| 2011 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
| 2007 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Structure |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20252 recalls
- 20243 recalls
- 20233 recalls
- 20223 recalls
- 20219 recalls
- 20205 recalls
- 20194 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20177 recalls
- 20161 recall
- 20152 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20124 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20103 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20083 recalls
- 20073 recalls
Audi Q7: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Audi Q7 recalls are fuel system, gasoline (22), air bags (9), back over prevention (9), equipment (8) and structure (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 5 of these 20 model years, and 2018, 2019, 2024 and 2 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Audi Q7 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Audi Q7?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2016 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Audi Q7 model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 9 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Q7", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy