The Audi Q7 is a large family SUV capable of transporting up to seven people. This means that the Q7 is the top-end Audi SUV, at least before the Audi Q9 sees the light of day. The first Q7 was released in the 2000s, but the 2nd generation Q7 came in 2017 and was facelifted a year or two ago.
The Q7 shares many of its parts with other VW SUVs such as the Porsche Cayenne, the VW Touareg, and even the Bentley Benteyga. This should mean that all those parts are reliable, but that is not always the case with luxury SUVs which tend to be some of the most problematic cars on the market, at least as far as costs are concerned.
The Audi Q7 suffers from issues with the ignition coils, worn-out CV boots, timing chain issues, fuel tank pressurization issues, and issues with premature tire wear. Some of these issues like the ones associated with the engine timing system are capable of costing tens of thousands of dollars while others such as premature tire wear can be resolved easily.
All in all, the Q7 is a decently reliable SUV, but it needs timely and thorough maintenance. Without it, luxury SUVs don’t stand the chance of lasting as much as they can. As such, if you are interested in buying one of these, be sure to set some money aside for maintenance.
Audi Q7 – Ignition coil issues
Audi, VW, and the rest of the Volkswagen Auto Group are known to experience issues with ignition coils and spark plugs. These coils are tasked with transferring voltage from the battery in order to cause a spark that ignites the combustion process. If a coil starts failing, engine misfires are soon to become worse and worse.
No matter if one or two coils fail, you should replace them all at the same time in order to avoid this problem from happening again in the next month or two. It should cost you around $500 to replace them all the once, but you should be good for around 60,000 miles.
Audi Q7 – Worn out CV boots
The constant velocity (CV) boot is filled with grease needed to lubricate the joints. If the joints are not properly lubricated, it could cause quite a bit of damage to the powertrain. The issue is mostly down to these CV boots cracking and letting dirt and debris get inside the axle joint which could render a powertrain useless.
When this happens, the only thing you can do is to replace the boots. The good news is that this issue is fairly easy to diagnose while an experienced VW/Audi mechanic should be able to replace it in no time. The costs to fix this are also somewhere around $500, but it depends on what else needs replacing too.
Audi Q7 – Timing chain issues
German luxury cars and timing chain issues somehow seem to always be connected. The issue here is just like with any other VW/Audi product in which the timing chain tensioner becomes unable to provide enough tension to the chain which can make the chain jump around. This ultimately leads to severe engine damage, so much so that it could render an entire engine useless.
The issue here is that some customers had to pay $2,000-$3,000 for this fix because the entire engine needs to be removed to fix this. If you are looking at an example that has not had its chain replaced after crossing the 100,000-mile mark, pay close attention to it as it can cause a great deal of damage.
Audi Q7 – Fuel tank pressurization issue
If you hear a popping noise from the fuel tank area, chances are that you are experiencing issues with the fuel tank pressurization. The issue is down to a problem with a valve located on top of the intake manifold, also known as the N80 or Evap purge valve.
If the valve fails, it becomes unable to fully close which means that it becomes difficult for the pressure to build up inside the fuel tank. The only way how one can fix this is to just replace the valve entirely and you should be good for a long time.
Audi Q7 – Premature tire wear
The Audi Q7 is a heavy SUV which means that it goes through tires like nobody’s business. The issue here is that tires for the Q7 can cost $2,000 in some cases so you definitely want them to last as long as they should. Be sure to perform tire rotations, wheel alignment, and tire balancing if you want to lengthen the lifespan of the tires as much as possible.
FAQ Section
Is the Audi Q7 a good car?
The Audi Q7 is the largest and most spacious Audi luxury SUV which means that it is indeed a good car. However, cars such as these are not only expensive but are also high maintenance which means that you will need to spend a great deal of money to maintain a car such as the Q7. If you do, you will enjoy a class-leading premium experience for yourself and your entire family.
The Q7 gets all the newest and greatest optional features which means that it is advanced, safe, luxurious, spacious, practical, and can even go off-roading.
Which Audi Q7 is the best?
There is no getting around the fact that the Q7 is expensive, especially the newest Q7 model. Be that as it may, the newest Q7 model is by far the best one of them all because it is the newest, the most reliable one, and packed with all the state-of-the-art features.
The pre-facelift 2nd gen Q7 is similar, but it suffers from reliability issues a lot more frequently. The 1st gen Q7 is the worst when it comes to reliability and maintenance while the 1st gen post-facelift is a bit better.
Is the Audi Q7 a good off-roader?
4x4s are not what they used to be which means that not all of them are made to go off-road. Sure, the Q7 can hold its own in semi-challenging off-road environments, but hardly anyone is ever going to take a luxury SUV off-roading.
The reality is that these cars are way too expensive to be driven on courses that have a great deal of chance to damage them. All in all, the Q7 is no Jeep Wrangler, but it can tackle up to medium off-roading with the right equipment and tires.
