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ProblemsByVin Index / 2013-AUDI-S7 / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2013 Audi S7 owner complaints

16 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle . Listed by category, newest first within each section.

engine 14 complaints shown

14 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
10/12/2019 68,033 mi ODI #11268109.0

With 68033 miles on my Audi s7 the turbos failed and required to be replaced. The first indication of the problem was when the engine shutdown in traffic and I had a hard time starting it while stopped in a busy city traffic lane. It took 3 attempts to get the engine started but it idled very roughly almost quit running again. I was able to limp the car home, but was not sure of the engine would quit again if I let it idle.

10/11/2022 80,970 mi ODI #11488813.0

The contact owns a 2013 Audi S7. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to be serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) where the turbochargers needed to be replaced from wear and tear from the consequences mentioned in the recall. The dealer diagnosed that the turbocharger itself needed to be replaced, however, it was not covered under the recall. The turbochargers had not been replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,970.

10/05/2021 ODI #11435619.0

Due to this oil sceen being clogged, the turbos were starved for oil and subsequently failed. There was no warning for this and oil was changed regularly per the service manual. I was stranded 80 miles from home. The car began running poorly and then would not run at all. There is a service bulletin on the problem but Audi of America has not yet done anything about my repairs.

09/22/2021 ODI #11433925.0

While traveling home on the interstate from the airport, my vehicle suddenly started to run very rough and the engine felt like it was going to stall at low idle. I had decreased acceleration capability. No warning lamps illuminated, but it was obvious something was wrong. I limped the car to my local Audi dealership and left it there for an inspection the following morning. I was contacted by a service advisor the next day, who told me one of my turbochargers failed (specifically, he stated the impeller fin had too much play and was rubbing against the walls of the housing) and the other turbocharger would likely fail soon as well. I was shown a video by the technician confirming this was the issue. The service advisor told me there was a technical service bulletin produced by Audi refe

07/09/2019 82,000 mi ODI #11230589.0

Turbos failed at approximately 82,000 miles due to a clogged oil feed screen. Turbos were starved of oil causing one compressor shaft to break in half and the other to have excessive shaft play. This caused a no-run issue and resulted in both turbos having to be replaced along with the oil screen. The vehicle began running poorly at highway speed and when it came to a stop, stalled at a busy freeway interchange. After multiple attempts, the car was able to start and limp off the road where it was towed from and diagnosed at a mechanic

07/04/2019 72,000 mi ODI #11229484.0

Blown turbos resulted in catastrophic engine failure. I had to pay labor of $10,500 and warranty paid for new engine. Happened at approximately 72,000 miles. Vehicle in gear with foot on brake at a fast food drive through.

05/23/2019 81,000 mi ODI #11209458.0

Bought my car with 77,000 miles on it and when I reached 81,000 miles my turbo charger failed. This seems to be common issue with this year vehicle, so common in fact, that there's belief there may be a design flaw in the car. Below is a description of the issue. While going coming back from the grocery store (driving normally on a saturday) I noticed that the check engine light appeared. The car continued to drive ok so I went ahead and drove home and parked it. The following monday I took it to the dealer, however while on the way to the dealership, I started hearing a sporadic knocking noise whenever I stepped on the accelerator, as well and engine hesitation. After arriving at the dealership I requested that the check engine light but checked and also the new noise I was hearing tha

05/21/2019 92,000 mi ODI #11209142.0

Failure of both turbos while driving through a rural section of town. Very rough idle and subsequent stall of engine while in traffic. Unable to re-start or drive without keeping the gas pedal depressed making it very difficult to regulate speed and negotiate traffic. Later found out the turbo failure is due to defective oil feed design from the manufacturer.

04/22/2021 73,131 mi ODI #11413359.0

Initially I was driving on the interstate (I-95) and could feel the car running rough or missing. After I exited the interstate and merged onto the highway (sr405) the car stalled at a traffic light. Wouldn't start at first and after several attempts it finally started but was running really rough. Luckily I was only a mile from the house and was able to get off the highway and limp home on some back roads. I had the car towed to Audi the next day and they diagnosed the issue to be a failure of the turbos. Repair took 21 days and they had to replace the turbos and the oil screens.

04/03/2021 45,900 mi ODI #11406263.0

I heard a pop sound when accelerating and the check engine light came on and I loss a lot of power. I called the Audi dealer and they told me to drive it in. I left it with then and they told me they couldn't replicate the issue after a couple of weeks. I went to pick it up and the problem still existed. I went back and grabbed a service tech and we drove it around the block together. He asked that I accelerate at which point white smoke started pouring out of the back. We drove it back. They diagnosed it later as being a blown turbo. I had the car towed to a different shop to replace the turbos and they said the engine was destroyed and all cylinders were marked. I towed it back to Audi and they told me that because it had aftermarket parts they weren't responsible. They agreed to flush

03/17/2020 69,000 mi ODI #11318477.0

I exited the highway, merged onto a 4 lane highway, and moved to the center lane to turn left. The engine shut off and when restarting would shut off again after a couple of seconds. This made it nearly impossible to turn left off the highway. There were multiple vehicles approaching at 50 MPH. After having the car towed to the dealer I was informed that the turbos failed at 69,000 miles. I checked online and found many people with the same 4.0 twin turbo engine had this failure. My opinion is this failure is premature, dangerous, and should be recalled.

03/16/2021 71,074 mi ODI #11403268.0

The turbos blew at 71074 miles, rendering the vehicle inoperable nearly 500 miles from home.

02/15/2022 ODI #11452111.0

Both stock 2013 S7 turbos were blown/damaged at 38k miles due to being starved of oil lubrication from a faulty blocked screen. This is a known issue and has occurred in many Audi S7 and S6 vehicles with the 4.0 twin turbo engine. Audi has upgraded and changed the oil screen design and location in these models due to this problem, however Audi owners suffering this known issue have to pay for repairs on their own dime if the car is past warranty. Repairs were $13k.

01/20/2023 61,000 mi ODI #11502847.0

The contact owns a 2017 Audi S7. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the turbocharger; however, the failure recurred with the engine seizing. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V178000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

suspension 1 complaint shown

10/24/2022 ODI #11490519.0

J197 module is always falling the car is 26,000 and the suspension goes bad need readapt few times They need to check that module

electrical 1 complaint shown

07/03/2025 223,000 mi ODI #11671127.0

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2013 Audi S7. The contact purchased the vehicle from a private seller on [XXX]. The contact stated that the seller's advertisement and the odometer indicated that the mileage was 115,000. The Carfax report indicated that the odometer mileage was 220,000. The vehicle was serviced at an Audi of Charlotte in Mathew, NC on 02/27/2025, and the odometer reported 220,897. In addition, in April 2025, the Charlotte, NC Department of Motor Vehicles reported that the odometer mileage was 223,000. The seller was contacted, but declined to communicate with the contact. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-07-15. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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