This bulletin provides information when the headlights do not turn off during daylight hours.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Audi Q7 lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Audi Q7 have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Q7 | 103 |
| 2018 Q7 (this page) | 19 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting 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 information when there is a functional issue with the lights in the rear lid; B146C29.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on visual concerns with the headlight lens.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information when the exterior lights have moisture accumulation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information pertaining to when there are foreign objects inside of a headlight or taillight.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe relentless false-fault warnings in the instrument cluster claiming the left or right front side marker light is defective. The light itself functions normally—it illuminates as expected—yet the warning persists. The message triggers dozens of times per drive, accompanied by chiming sounds that owners find distracting and unsafe, especially those driving with teenage or younger passengers. Warnings appear randomly while driving, at startup, or during wet and cold conditions. Some owners report the warning disables ADAS components intermittently when it appears.
Several owners note that Audi issued recall campaign 97CB (NHTSA ID 16V642000) specifically for this fault, but their own VINs fall outside the recall scope despite exhibiting the identical symptom. Dealership repairs quote $6,000–$7,000 for complete headlamp assembly replacement plus front camera recalibration, though independent mechanics have also diagnosed the issue as a marker lamp component failure. Owners express frustration that the vehicle passes safety inspections because the light works, yet the diagnostic fault creates an ongoing safety and distraction problem that Audi has already identified in other model year instances.
Same Audi Q7 lighting reports on nearby years: 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Front side marker light false-fault warning (left or right)
Dashboard warning message reports left or right front side marker light defective, yet the light itself illuminates normally. Warning appears randomly, repeatedly, or at startup; some owners report the message triggers dozens of times per drive or makes an audible chime. The vehicle's diagnostic system incorrectly signals a fault in the marker lamp circuit despite the bulb functioning.
When: Various mileages; narrative #2 notes ~84,901 miles; no clear age pattern beyond 2018 model year
Symptoms owners cite: Orange triangle warning symbol with 'Driver's side Front Marker Defective' or 'Front right side parking light is defective' message in instrument cluster; Warning repeats multiple times per minute or continuously; Audible chime or 'ding' accompanying warning; Front side marker lamp illuminates but warning persists; Warning triggered at startup, during wet conditions, or low temperatures; Message appears randomly while driving at various speeds
Codes mentioned: 450TU (per dealership estimate in narrative #1)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repair: replacement of entire headlamp assembly (left side) quoted at $6,973.89 including $6,200+ labor or parts; independent mechanic in narrative #2 diagnosed front driver-side marker replacement needed but repair not completed; narrative #3 owner received $6,200 estimate; narrative #6 owner taken to Audi but no resolution provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi recall campaign 97CB (NHTSA campaign ID 16V642000) addresses this issue on certain 2018 Audi Q7 VINs, but multiple owners report their vehicles are not included in the recall despite having the identical fault (narratives #3, #7, #9, #10).
ADAS deactivation linked to side marker light warning
When the front side marker light defective warning appears, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) components intermittently become disabled. This occurs sporadically, not consistently, but creates an additional safety concern beyond the warning distraction itself.
When: Occurs intermittently when side marker warning triggers; narrative #8 notes low-temperature and wet-condition correlation
Symptoms owners cite: ADAS components deactivated during or after side marker light warning events
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
A very distracting warning about an issue with a front left side marker keeps popping up - on some rides multiple times in a minute! - and the only way to address it is, according to the dealership, to pay almost $7,000 to replace the entire headlamp assembly. It’s so distracting I do not permit the new teenage driver in our family to drive the car because I do not think it is safe. The visual is…
97CB (NHTSA campaign ID 16V642000. This recall address this issue on the 2018 Audi Q7. Side marker light malfunction. Does my vehicle qualify?
Error code for right front side marker light faulty. Light seems to be working. I've had two mechanics look at the car. They can't figure out what's wrong. Error message appears randomly. Brakes are very squeaky. I took the car to Audi and they said it was normal and I should brake more aggressively.
My car shows a warning message that says, right front side marker light issue. I understand Audi issued a recall for this issue but only for certain VINs which did not include my car.
The left front side marker light is defective. However, the left front side marker light is working. The vehicle keeps reporting this error. Audi recall campaign 97CB (NHTSA campaign ID 16V642000) addresses this exact issue, but this problem has always existed. Even 2018 Audi vehicles have this problem.
Audi Q7 front right parking light defective. Audi recall campaign 97CB (NHTSA campaign ID 16V642000) 16V642000 My vehicle says no open recalls but I get the error meaaage.
Right Front Parking Light Defective
Had lighting trouble with your 2018 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 lighting problem on the 2018 Audi Q7?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 19 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 84,901 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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/2018/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.