Used Audi A7 2018-2024 reliability
Category: Coupé
The Audi A7 blends luxury car comfort and versatility with rakish style. It's a good used buy too, although reliability could be an issue.
What should I look for in a used Audi A7 hatchback?
Audi has dropped traditional physical controls for its air conditioning and infotainment systems and replaced them with a dual-touchscreen set-up. Make sure both screens work as they should and that they respond quickly to inputs and don’t freeze up all the time. If these are presenting issues, you may need to have a software update performed at an Audi workshop.
Every version comes with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, but you should still look for damage to the extremities of the car. Also, many come with enormous 20in alloy wheels (there are even 21in ones on Vorsprung models) that are susceptible to kerb damage and can be expensive to repair.
What are the most common problems with a used Audi A7 hatchback?
The Audi A7 has been subject ot the following recalls. Check with your local Audi dealer that all remedial work has been carried out.
Reason for recall
In the event of an accident requiring the vehicle�s front passenger airbag to be activated the airbag might not inflate fully.
Reason for recall
It is possible that moisture may enter the belt-driven starter-alternator.
Reason for recall
The fuel gauge may not show the drop in fuel level correctly during vehicle operation.
Reason for recall
On a small number of vehicles manufactured within a specific period it is possible that the engine control units were fitted with semiconductor components which do not meet the specifications.
Reason for recall
On certain vehicles an incorrect bracket for the side airbag was fitted in the left front seat.
Check for any other recalls here.
Is a used Audi A7 hatchback reliable?
The Audi A7 didn't feature as a standalone model in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey.
However, the Audi A6 is closely related under the skin, and that didn't do too well. In saloon form, the model finished last out of 24 cars in the executive car class. Its reliability score of 76.3% is very poor and places it below every other rival featured – the 2017-2023 BMW 5 Series and 2016-2024 Mercedes E-Class, to name but two.
The A6 was blighted by a range of electrical issues: 44% of cars we were told about had a fault, two-thirds concerning engine and non-engine electrical systems or the sat-nav/infotainment. Although 83% could still be driven, 46% took more than a week to put right. However, 97% were repaired for free, and none cost more than £200.
Audi as a brand doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability. It came in 24th place out of 31 manufacturers in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey with an overall score of just 89%. This put it above Alfa Romeo, Land Rover and Nissan, but below nearly all of its major rivals.
BMW came 16th and Mercedes finished in joint 23r
Used Audi A7 reliability: the owners' view
As part of our annual Reliability Survey, What Car? readers said that the 2018-onwards Audi A7 has had a few reliability concerns, affecting both petrol and diesel models.
Owners mentioned intermittent electrical issues, including problems with the car’s central screen and driver assistance systems. In some cases, warning lights appeared without clear explanation, leading to frustration and uncertainty about the underlying fault.
While some owners reported prompt dealer assistance, others expressed disappointment with the standard of aftercare. A few said that faults were not resolved on the first visit, or that they were left waiting for extended periods while parts were ordered. One reader noted delays caused by diagnostic confusion at their local dealership.
Overall, the A7 offers a premium ownership experience when running smoothly, but feedback suggests that a small number of reliability niggles can be let down further by inconsistent dealer support when things do go wrong.
