Summary
The Audi A7 has 9 recalls spanning 2011 through 2021, with the most serious affecting 2019 models where liquid spilled on the rear seat can damage a gateway control module and cause the vehicle to suddenly lose drive power while in motion. Steering and braking remain functional if this occurs, but the unexpected power loss raises the risk of a crash. Also on 2019 models, the fuel level sender can stick and display a falsely high fuel reading, potentially causing the engine to stall without warning when the tank runs dry. A separate 2019 recall involves a brake fluid reservoir cap built to European specifications rather than North American standards, which is a labeling compliance issue with low safety significance.
The 2019-2021 model years share a passenger airbag concern where the score line in the airbag panel was not manufactured correctly, meaning the bag may not open as intended in a crash and can send plastic fragments into the cabin. The 2020 model year has a related but distinct issue where the leather-covered instrument panel lacks the correct split lines for the passenger airbag, producing the same potential outcome: an airbag that fails to inflate properly and ejects small plastic pieces toward occupants.
On 2015-2017 models, the head curtain airbags may not deploy correctly in a side impact or rollover, raising the risk of ejection for unbelted occupants. The 2015 model year also has an auxiliary heater electrical connector that can be seated incorrectly, building up heat in the connector and creating a fire risk.
Going back further, 2012-2013 models have a passenger seat sensor that may misclassify an occupant, causing the airbag to deploy incorrectly in a crash. The 2012-2013 model years are also covered by a fuel injection system recall where a leak in the fuel rail can put fuel near ignition sources and raise the risk of engine fire, a concern that extends back to 2011-2012 on related Audi and Volkswagen models sharing the same platform.
