I was driving down a well paved road obeying the speed limit of 35MPH when a loud bang startled me. There was nothing in the road, and I checked my rear view mirror to confirm and there was nothing in the road. The car started handling a little differently. I brought it to the dealership and they told me both rear springs had broken. The vehicle only had about 70K miles on it. It could…
2017 Audi Q7 suspension problems
moderate 30 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Audi Q7 we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 30.
Owners have filed 30 suspension 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: 2017 Audi Q7 owners report frequent rear coil spring failures between 40K and 85K miles with no warning, causing loud bangs and loss of control risk; Audi declines warranty coverage despite Volkswagen Atlas (same platform) having a recall for the same defect. If shopping used, have suspension thoroughly inspected and budget $2,000–$3,000+ for spring replacement.
Rear coil spring failure dominates complaints. Owners describe loud banging or popping noises during normal driving, with both rear springs or a single side failing unexpectedly. Mileage at failure ranges from 40K to 85K, well below typical spring life. Springs show corrosion, metallurgical defects, or rust. Multiple owners note breaks occur at identical locations on the springs. Springs frequently wedge against lower control arms and separate from rubber mounting seats. No warning lights precede failure; discovery typically happens during maintenance or inspection. One owner found both rear springs broken at 62K miles after routine service at an Audi dealer, who called it "common" but uncovered. Another's springs failed twice—both rear sides two years apart, then the front driver side nine days later—totaling $3,000+ in repairs. One owner reported a lower control arm fractured cleanly in half at 15 mph with no impact. Owners consistently cite online research showing high failure rates across 2017–2019 Q7 models and note the Volkswagen Atlas shares the same platform and received recall 18V-904 for defective coil springs from production batches with material specification or processing issues. Audi dealers uniformly deny warranty coverage, calling the failures "normal wear," despite consumer complaints treating them as manufacturing defects.
Same Audi Q7 suspension reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Rear coil spring failure
Both rear coil springs, or one or both sides, break or snap unexpectedly during normal driving. Owners report loud banging noises when failure occurs. Springs show signs of corrosion, metallurgical defect, or rust. Multiple owners note breaks occur at the same location on the spring. Springs become detached and wedge against lower control arms. Failures occur at mileage ranging from 40K to 85K miles. Owners report finding broken springs during routine maintenance or inspections with no prior warning lights or symptoms.
When: 40,000 to 85,000 miles; typically discovered during routine maintenance or after hearing loud bang; one owner reported failure at 2 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Loud banging or popping noise from rear of vehicle; Vehicle handling changes slightly after failure; Vehicle sits lower on affected side; Visible corrosion or rust on broken spring; Spring wedged against lower control arm; Clunking sound prior to discovery
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost ranges $1,997 to $3,000+; includes replacement of springs, mounting plates, and damaged suspension components (lower control arms, rubber seats). One owner replaced all four coil springs to prevent future failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi dealers claim this is normal wear and not covered by warranty or recalls. One dealer stated awareness of coil spring issues but declined coverage. Volkswagen Atlas (same platform) has recall 18V-904 for defective rear coil springs from certain production batches with material specification issues or incorrect Vanadium processing parameters; no corresponding Audi Q7 recall exists.
Lower control arm fracture
Lower control arm broke in half without impact damage during low-speed driving. Owner reports the break occurred with no explanation at 15 mph while accelerating.
When: During normal low-speed driving at 15 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Break with no external impact; Vehicle veer to one side; Drop in ride height; Tire rubbing inside wheel well
Suspension strut noise and grinding
Abnormal grinding and strut noise reported, most noticeable when turning into driveway or garage. Listed alongside coil spring and brake issues in one complaint.
When: During turning maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise; Strut noise during turns
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Rear coil spring broken- both sides water pump leaking at 70k miles
Rear passenger side coil spring broke with no reason during normal driving at about 80,000 mi. Audi said it is aware of issues with coil springs, but since there is no recall, I would have to pay $1997.04. I think it is unacceptable and there is manufacturing defect and they should correct it for free
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2017 Audi Q7?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 30 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 30 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 6,700 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.