2017 Audi Q7 with approximately 112K miles consuming oil at a rate of approximately 1qt per 500-700 miles. Misfire occurred on highway and then cleared overnight. Took to dealer and had them swap all coil packs and spark plugs. Approximately 500 miles later, multiple misfires in cylinders 3,5, and 6 and loss of compression while driving on highway at 70 mph. Vehicle taken to dealership where they…
2017 Audi Q7 engine problems
moderate 42 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
42
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
What stands out
Of the 10 model years of Audi Q7 we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 42.
Owners have filed 42 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Audi Q7 has a serious pattern of excessive engine oil consumption starting around 40,000–75,000 miles, leading to burnt valves, catastrophic engine failure, and $25,000+ repair bills that Audi refuses to cover. Water pump failures at low mileage (25,000–65,000 miles) are also common, costing $1,200–$1,500 out of pocket with no warranty support.
The 2017 Audi Q7 shows a clear pattern of engine oil consumption well beyond normal tolerance. Owners report needing to add oil every 500–2,000 miles, far short of the advertised 10,000-mile service interval. Consumption worsens progressively: one owner went from 9,500-mile intervals to 400-mile intervals by 100,000 miles. Audi dealers initially dismissed this as "normal for high-performance engines" or claimed it was within spec, even when consumption hit 1 quart per 1,000 miles. By the time dealers ran formal oil consumption tests, many cars already had 80,000+ miles and were out of warranty.
The oil consumption triggers secondary failures: carbon buildup on spark plugs requiring frequent replacement, engine shaking and misfire codes, and eventually burnt or broken exhaust valves in cylinders 1, 3, 5, and 6. When these valves fail, compression drops to zero in affected cylinders, and the engine requires complete replacement—repair costs cited range from $25,000 to $32,000, often exceeding the used car's value. One owner with 77,000 miles faced a long-block replacement.
Water pump failures appear independently of the oil issue, striking between 25,000 and 65,000 miles without warning lights. Owners discovered leaks during routine service or after pooling coolant under the vehicle. Repair cost $1,200 to $2,025. Multiple owners cite this as a documented defect in Audi models with pending class action litigation.
Owners also report sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds—often diagnosed as misfire, then traced to engine damage. Start-stop system failures and engine mount degradation round out the catalog of reported defects.
Same Audi Q7 engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive engine oil consumption
Engine consumes oil at abnormally high rates, progressively worsening over time. Owners report needing to add oil every 500–2,000 miles despite regular dealer servicing. Root cause cited by owners and some technicians as defective piston rings or PCV system failure. Multiple complaints indicate Audi dealers initially dismissed consumption as 'normal' or 'within spec' for high-performance engines.
When: Begins around 40,000–75,000 miles; worsens progressively to every 400–600 miles by 100,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low oil warning light illuminates well before next scheduled service interval; Visible oil burning/smoke from exhaust; Engine shaking, roughness, and hesitation during acceleration; Carbon fouling on spark plugs requiring frequent replacement; Cylinder misfires in one or more cylinders
Codes mentioned: P0300 (general misfire), P0303 (cylinder 3 misfire), P0305 (cylinder 5 misfire), P0306 (cylinder 6 misfire), P2179, P025C, P0087
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers recommended spark plug and ignition coil replacement, oil consumption tests, PCV system flush, and condenser breather installation; owners report these as temporary fixes. Long-block or complete engine replacement estimated at $25,000–$32,000+ in multiple complaints. One owner reported Audi recommended piston ring replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi service managers and dealers initially claimed consumption was normal; later refused warranty repairs citing high mileage (typically >80,000 miles). Free oil top-offs offered in some cases, acknowledging the issue but avoiding recall or permanent fix. No TSB or recall issued for this defect as of complaint dates. One complaint mentions possible class action lawsuits against Audi for this issue in other models, but Q7 not yet included.
Water pump failure
Premature water pump failure causing coolant leaks, typically without warning lights. Owners report failure at low mileage (25,000–65,000 miles) well before manufacturer warranty coverage. Multiple complaints cite use of inferior plastic internal components and note this is a documented pattern across Audi models with pending class action litigation.
When: 25,000–65,000 miles; one complaint at 42,000 miles noted as below 50,000-mile warranty threshold
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant leak discovered during inspection or pooling under vehicle; Low coolant warning light (intermittent or late arrival); Coolant smell and smoke from engine bay; Engine overheating risk if not caught early; No visible dripping on ground; leak contained within engine bay
Repairs/costs cited: Water pump replacement cost $1,200–$1,500+ per owner accounts. Some repairs included thermostat housing, thermostat, and coolant crossover pipe replacement (one combined cost cited as $2,025). Parts availability issues noted in at least one recall-related complaint; repair timeline extended by part delays.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty coverage offered in any complaint; Audi and dealers deny assistance citing vehicle being out of warranty or just beyond threshold. One complaint references class action lawsuit against Audi for same issue on other models with extended warranty relief, and owner requests similar support for Q7. No TSB or extended warranty program mentioned for Q7 water pumps.
Drive System Malfunction with power loss and limp mode
Engine enters limp mode or loses power suddenly while driving, typically at highway speeds. Complaints describe misfire, rough running, and warning lights ('Drive System Malfunction,' engine lights, oil pressure). Root causes diagnosed include active grill shutter failure (P05A000), exhaust manifold pieces breaking off, and burnt exhaust valves secondary to excessive oil consumption.
When: Occurs at various mileages (45,000–126,000 miles); two critical incidents occurred on highway at 70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while accelerating or driving at highway speed; Engine sputtering, lugging, jerking, and rough running; Multiple warning lights simultaneously: 'Drive System Malfunction,' engine light, oil light, system malfunction indicator; Rapid deceleration creating safety hazard (risk of rear-end collision); Misfire codes in one or more cylinders
Codes mentioned: P05A000 (Active Grill Shutter 'A' Stuck On), P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire), P0306 (cylinder 6 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Initial dealer diagnosis often focused on fuel injector or spark plug replacement; subsequent inspection revealed catastrophic engine damage (broken exhaust manifold, broken valves, damaged cylinder walls). Long-block replacement estimated at $32,000. One owner reports Audi TSB 2048402/3 references this issue. Spark plug and coil pack replacement attempted but did not resolve underlying engine failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi TSB 2048402/3 is referenced but Audi refuses repair citing mileage on vehicle. No recall issued despite this being documented as a 'common issue' on 2017 Q7 per owner research.
Burnt or broken exhaust valves
One or more exhaust valves burn or break due to excessive heat and carbon buildup, causing cylinder misfire and loss of compression. Owners and technicians attribute this to prolonged excessive oil consumption and poor PCV performance. Multiple complaints involve complete engine failure requiring long-block replacement.
When: Develops after extended period of excessive oil consumption; diagnosed at 77,000–123,616 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shaking or roughness while driving; Sudden loss of power or 'Drive System Malfunction' warning; Misfire in affected cylinder(s); Carbon fouling on spark plugs; Zero compression in affected cylinder(s) on diagnostic test
Codes mentioned: P0303 (cylinder 3 misfire), P0305 (cylinder 5 misfire), P0306 (cylinder 6 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Borescope inspection revealed burnt or broken valves in cylinders 1, 2, 3, and 5 across different complaints. Compression tests showed zero or very low pressure (30 psi) in affected cylinders. Long-block or complete engine replacement required at estimated cost $25,000–$32,000+. Repair determined uneconomical on cars with $25,000–$77,000 in value.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty coverage or recall issued. Dealers confirmed defect but offered no assistance or repair under warranty due to mileage.
Engine mount failure
Engine mounts fail at low mileage, allowing engine to shift excessively in engine bay. Causes clunking noise and transmission shifting issues. One complaint at 54,000 miles; owner notes Audi is aware and ignoring the issue.
When: 54,000 miles; described as 'just out of warranty'
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from engine compartment; Excessive engine movement/vibration in bay; Transmission shifting issues
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided; owner states 'costly repairs' at low mileage but does not cite labor or parts cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty coverage; Audi stated to be aware of issue and 'choosing to ignore it' per owner allegation.
Start-Stop system malfunction
Auto start-stop feature activates prematurely before vehicle is fully stopped, then fails to restart engine quickly when driver attempts to accelerate. Creates safety hazard at intersections where driver cannot proceed and risks T-bone collision. Dealer recommends disabling feature manually on every startup; same feature works correctly in other Audi models.
When: Ongoing issue; complaint does not specify mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down while vehicle still rolling or at near-stop; 2–3 second delay in engine restart when driver accelerates; Engine hesitation when attempting to proceed through intersection; Vehicle unable to clear intersection, creating traffic hazard
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted; dealer advised driver to use Sport mode or manually disable feature each startup. No permanent fix offered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged issue but offered no repair; feature functions normally in owner's 2014 Audi A4, suggesting design flaw specific to Q7.
Synthesized from 42 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Cylinder 2 began to misfire at highway speeds. Diagnosed with a burnt exhaust valve in the engine. Possibly also due to the high oil consumption of greater than 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles.
Engine mounts are leaking at 118,000 mi
Engine malfunctioned with 126,292 miles on it after always servicing it at dealer. Diagnosis was "broken valve". This was after communicating with dealer regarding excessive oil consumption and "drive system malfunction". Dealer repaired spark plugs.
Water pump failure. A very well known issue with this particular part and the same exact vehicle as mine, also with lots of other Audi models.
Had engine trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Audi Q7?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 42 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 42 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 59,634 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/2017/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.