This bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000 km.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Audi Q7 engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Audi Q7 have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Q7 | 6 |
| 2013 Q7 | 6 |
| 2014 Q7 | 3 |
| 2015 Q7 (this page) | 10 |
| 2017 Q7 | 42 |
| 2018 Q7 | 31 |
| 2019 Q7 | 3 |
What stands out
Engine accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides informaiton when the engine is not running smoothly, misfiring.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on VIN Plates, Safety Certification labels, and the ordering procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on the use of the Audi frequencly analysis app, and where the application can be downloaded.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information regarding UV leak additive for finding oil leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten 2015 Q7 owners describe a range of engine problems. The most common complaint is abnormal oil consumption—several owners report adding oil every 500 miles or needing multiple top-offs within a week, with no visible leaks and black residue in the tailpipe pointing to burning. Others report engine knock alongside severe oil loss despite repeated dealer oil changes.
Glow plug light faults appear in one account with five separate incidents over six months, causing limp mode and dangerous power loss on the freeway; the dealer could not replicate the fault but the problem recurred immediately after "repair." ECM failures show up as intermittent check engine lights that vanish before diagnosis, with one owner citing multiple report numbers suggesting a pattern.
One driver experienced sudden complete throttle loss when intake pipe bolts backing out dislodged the pipe between the intercooler and turbo—a safety hazard caught mid-highway. A catalyst converter fault tied to DEF system malfunction triggered a warranty dispute: the dealer confirmed coverage, but Audi Corporate delayed a decision for over a week, raising owner suspicion of intentional stalling until warranty expired. Finally, secondary air port fouling triggered a check engine light that dealers deemed critical but the extended warranty refused to cover.
Same Audi Q7 engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Oil burning/excessive consumption
Engine burns oil at an abnormal rate, requiring frequent top-offs and leaving black residue in tailpipe. Owners report consuming a quarter quart every 500 miles in one case, needing oil added three times within a week in another, and needing top-offs so frequently that the oil light comes on within a day of service in a third case.
When: After 80,000 miles in one case; occurs on vehicles with relatively low mileage (50,000-80,000 miles documented)
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Black residue in tailpipe; Rapid oil consumption requiring frequent top-offs; Oil pressure light activation
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; owners report ongoing consumption despite dealer service and oil changes
Glow plug indicator light / limp mode
Glow plug indicator light illuminates, triggering limp mode and severe power loss. This occurred five times in six months on one vehicle. Twice resulted in complete vehicle breakdown; twice Audi could not replicate the error code. Most recently, power loss occurred immediately after the vehicle was returned from dealer repair, creating a safety hazard during freeway merge.
When: Five incidents over 6 months; last incident immediately after dealer repair
Symptoms owners cite: Glow plug indicator light activation; Limp mode engagement; Severe loss of power (unable to exceed 35 mph in one incident); Complete vehicle breakdown (2 occurrences); Error code intermittent and non-replicable by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Audi was unable to replicate the error code on multiple attempts; vehicle returned from repair only to exhibit the fault immediately
Faulty Electronic Control Module (ECM)
Check engine light comes on intermittently, vanishing before diagnostic appointment. Owner reports multiple vehicles with faulty ECM documentation (report numbers 251149, 185124, 180866) at roughly 50,000 miles and 6 years of age. Owner concerns manufacturing defect.
When: At approximately 6 years age and 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent check engine light (on, then off before appointment); Faulty electronic control monitoring
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple NHTSA report numbers cited showing faulty ECM diagnosis
Catalyst converter / DEF system fault
Catalyst converter malfunction related to DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) gases not being cleaned properly. Check engine light illuminates; part confirmed under warranty by dealer, but Audi Corporate delayed repair decision for over a week, citing miscommunication between dealer and corporate. Owner suspects intentional delay to allow warranty to expire.
When: Warranty expiring in 60 days at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on; Engine light remains on
Codes mentioned: P20EE00
Repairs/costs cited: Catalyst converter replacement required; part under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi Corporate delayed repair approval; dealer verified warranty coverage but corporate did not respond to dealer requests
Intake pipe bolt loosening / dislodgement
Intake pipe between intercooler and turbo consists of two pieces joined by two bolts. Both bolts backed out during operation, causing pipe dislodgement and disrupted air flow. Resulted in sudden complete throttle unresponsiveness while on highway; driver forced to coast to shoulder with no throttle control.
When: Mid-operation; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete throttle unresponsiveness; Loss of throttle control while driving; Intake pipe dislodgement
Repairs/costs cited: Service technician confirmed both bolts backed out; pipe dislodged mid-operation. Video documentation provided to service.
Engine knock / oil leakage and consumption
Engine knocking accompanied by excessive oil consumption and leakage. Despite multiple oil changes and top-offs, vehicle continues to leak and consume massive amounts of oil.
When: Timing not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knocking; Excessive oil consumption; Oil leakage; Ongoing consumption despite multiple oil changes
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple oil changes and top-offs performed without resolving the issue
Secondary air port fouling / inadequate warranty coverage
Secondary air ports require cleaning, triggering check engine light. Audi technician deems the condition critical, but Audi dealership and extended warranty provider (Fidelity Warranty) deny coverage, classifying cleaning as maintenance rather than a parts failure.
When: Warranty period; cleaning denial occurred during coverage
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Secondary air port fouling
Repairs/costs cited: Cleaning of secondary air ports required but denied as warranty-covered repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi dealership and Fidelity Warranty denied coverage, citing that cleaning is not considered a parts failure
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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 warranty and Audi Corporate is delaying the fixt because the do not wish to pay…
Had engine trouble with your 2015 Audi Q7?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2015 Audi Q7?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 84,904 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Audi/Q7.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.