26 of the
1,405 complaints filed about the Audi Q7
are about the airbag system —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2017.
Component/System That Failed: The airbag system failed to deploy during a frontal collision. The vehicle’s front driver and passenger airbags did not activate at the time of impact. The airbag system is still present in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. ⸻ Safety Risk: The failure of the airbags to deploy during a significant front-end collision put my safety and the safety of my passengers at serious risk. The impact was forceful enough to cause frame displacement and over $11,000 in structural damage, rendering the vehicle inoperable. Had the collision occurred at a slightly higher speed or involved another passenger vehicle, the lack of airbag protection could have resulted in serious injury or death. ⸻ Reproduced or Confirmed by a Dealer or Service Center: The issue has not been reproduced, as it occurred during a single collision event. However, an independent body shop has confirmed structural frame damage, and Audi of America was provided photos, repair estimates, and the official police report. Audi reviewed the case but denied the claim, stating the crash “did not meet the deceleration threshold” for deployment — despite the vehicle being disabled in the crash. ⸻ Inspected By: •Police: Yes – an official California Highway Patrol report was filed (Report #231220583). •Insurance Representative: Yes – damage was assessed and repairs partially initiated. •Manufacturer: Yes – Audi of America reviewed photos and documentation submitted by me but declined further inspection. •Independent Service Center: Yes – initial damage assessment and frame displacement confirmed. ⸻ Warning Lamps or Symptoms: There were no warning lights or malfunction indicators related to the airbag system before the collision. The vehicle was operating normally at the time of the incident. Post-incident, the airbags never deployed and no system alerts were generated.
NHTSA complaint #11664062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that upon a quick acceleration, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal as an unknown warning light would appear on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the warning light would disappear upon restart of the vehicle. The contact also stated that the air bag warning light had also appeared on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that the third-row seats would fail to adjust as needed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V035000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), 16V955000 (Air Bags), and 16V641000 (Seats) which the contact linked to failures. The dealer was initially notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and informed that contact that each of the recalls that were referred to was already serviced prior to the recent failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11581111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On [XXX] we were parking the car in the lot at [XXX] , when the car suddenly accelerated despite my foot being on the brake and crashed into a storefront. The fireman said the airbags deploy code was issues but the airbag never deployed, and the automatic emergency braking did not stop the car. It seemed as though the transmission was switched, but we had not touched the gas. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11577307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Audi Q7. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the passenger’s side seat cushion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11534731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q7. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11502839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hi dear. i wanna Report and make a complaint, about some defect in my Audi SUV, i bought this vehicle with those problem. 1st ) all system in this vehicle are fork up, works intermittently, Screen, back up camera, Sound audio, Battery draining, Door key doesn't work, Airbag, Electric defect, Truck back door doesn't close proprely, 4 module in this vehicle don't work. As i submit photo of all defect. I request Recall this vehicle to set up all those defect. i have already spent a lot of money for those defect, it doesn't fix.
NHTSA complaint #11496244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On expressway, rear-ended and pushed into car in front too, so hit on both ends and no airbags deployed in the Audi Q7. Four vehicles were involved and the other three cars all had airbags deploy. Both front passengers hit their heads. Driver has whiplash and passenger has forehead skin abrasion. The car was always serviced by Audi only and was not on the airbag recall list. It apparently should be on the list, something is defective and owners have a false sense of assumed security in this car.
NHTSA complaint #11495385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Purchased brand new 5/11/22. A few days later my air bag warning light came on so I made an appointment and took my car in for service. Audi service told me that the light was in error and they fixed it. After I left the air bag light came on again that same day and I took the car in again...at which time they told me the passenger side air bag was bad and does not work so they disabled it. I have complained to my Audi dealer that not having an air bag for passenger side is not safe ... they disagreed. They said an air bag is on order...no date on when it will arrive...but, it's safe to drive with a passenger. How can this be when the air bag is not working for my passenger side. I also called Audi customer service and filed a complaint with them. This has been on going since May 2022 when I purchased my brand new audi and is still not rectified and I still don't have a working passenger side air bag. In my mind, a serious safety issue! Not having an air bag for my passengers is not safe. I drive the car daily with the air bag warning light on. I call my Audi dealer daily asking when I will have an air bag and they continue to tell me they have no date. 1) passenger side air bag failure-yes it is available for inspection 2) Passengers are not safe to ride in my car 3) Yes, dealer confirms the air bag does not work 4) It's been inspected by the dealer 5) Warning lights/lamp comes on when car is started and does not go off until the car is off
NHTSA complaint #11491663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2017 Audi Q7
at 80,000 milesCollierville, TNCrash3 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while at a traffic light a second vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into the rear of the vehicle causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a third vehicle located ahead. During the incident, the front of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The driver and front passenger both sustained fractured noses and facial injuries. The driver of the second vehicle sustained a fractured femur. A police report was taken at the scene. The destroyed vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11435910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2015 Audi Q7
at 70,000 milesBroomfield, COCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2015 Audi Q7. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph, a vehicle from the opposite side made a left turn while the contact was driving straight which caused the contact to T-bone and hit that other vehicle on the front and rear passenger side. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle's front end was caved in which caused damage to the radiator and brake line. The contact had a concussion and bruises on the upper chest due to the seat belt and whiplash. There was no medical treatment at the scene, but the contact did go to the hospital the next day. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where the vehicle was later deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximate 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11431622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clockspring in the steering wheel premature failure. 2017 Audi Q7, 60k miles. The steering wheel has been making grinding noises when turning. Took the car into the dealership for the scheduled 60k service and reported the issue. They diagnosed and said that the Clockspring is going bad. It will fail, just a matter of time. Talking to other Audi owners, they are having the same issue at low mileage points. Some dealers cannot diagnose the problem, some can. It appears that when the clockspring goes, the steering wheel features fail, and that may include airbag failure.
NHTSA complaint #11420232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS LIT ON DASH BOARD, SAFETY STATION SAYS IT WILL PASS STATE INSPECTION (MASS) DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC CANNOT REMOVE THE SERVICE CODE WITH HIS COMPUTER? IT ALWAYS STAYS ON, I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON, AND IT ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED THOROUGHLY. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT'S PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG??
NHTSA complaint #11326705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT THE SAME TIME INCLUDING TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, ABS, ESP, AIR BAG AND TPMS, WHILE THESE LIGHTS ARE ON VEHICLE HESITATES AND LOOSES COMPLETE POWER, THIS CONDITION HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, HAD TO TOW THE VAHICLE HOME AND EVENTUALLY TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP. I FOUND ON LINE TECHNICAL BULLETIN SB-10053894-9766 WHICH DESCRIBES THE EXACT SYMPTHOMS MY VEHICLE IS HAVING, I STROGLY BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL RATHER THEN A TSB
NHTSA complaint #11150057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING 40-45 MPH GO STRAIGHT ON THE LEFT LANE OF TWO LANES CITY ROAD WITH 45 MPH LIMIT. ONE CAR CAME OUT FROM MY RIGHT SIDE COMMUNITY AND MAKE LEFT TURN. IT SUDDENLY APPEARED IN FRONT OF ME, I BARELY HAD TIME TO STEP ON BRAKE AND HIT HER CAR. HER CAR WAS HIT PRETTY BAD AND MY Q7 FRONT WAS MESSED UP PRETTY BADLY. THE PROBLEM IS THE AIRBAD WAS NEVER DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #11123074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I STARTED MY CAR AND SAW AN AMBER LIGHT WITH AIRBAG ICON AND GOT ALERT THAT THE "SAFETY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". THERE IS A BLINKING RED ICON THAT I GET WHILE DRIVING RELATED TO THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE. I LOOKED UP MY VIN FOR TAMARA INFLATOR BUT DOES NOT MATCH.
NHTSA complaint #11046192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
06/23/2017 TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, REPAIR FINISHED 06/30/2017 DUE TO CRACKED CONNECTOR UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT IN A WIRING BUNDLE THAT DOES NOT FLEX WITH MOVEMENT OF SEAT. CONNECTOR UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT IN A WIRING BUNDLE SHORTED ONE MONTH AFTER SEAT WAS REMOVED FOR BATTERY REPLACEMENT. DISABLING ALL AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELT MODULE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON CITY STREET WHEN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MY CONCERN IS REMOVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT OR STRESS CAN CAUSE CRACKING OF THIS SEATBELT CONNECTOR DISABLING THE AIRBAGS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11006680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH EXTREME FORCE IN A LOW IMPACT COLLISION. (IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT SPEED LESS THAN 15MPH) CAUSED SEVERE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA TO ME AND MY DAUGHTER
NHTSA complaint #10924082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.