The 2016 Audi RS 7 has 3 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (2 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints6filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger
NHTSA recall 22V178000 · Mar 23, 2022 · 26,093 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
Risk: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
NHTSA recall 18V370000 · Jun 4, 2018 · 139,249 vehicles
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) control module to malfunction.
Risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
Equipment › Other › Labels
NHTSA recall 18V096000 · Feb 7, 2018 · 3,543 vehicles
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Audi S7 and 2016-2018 RS7 vehicles. The tire information label on these vehicles incorrectly lists the combined maximum weight as 1146 lbs/520 kg, when the correct combined maximum weight is actually 992 lbs/450 kg. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: If the operator were to load the vehicle based on information on the tire information label, they could overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tire information label, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44N9.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2016 Audi RS7 4 DR AWD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
RS 7
18mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine
2
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Air bags
1
0
0
0
—
Electrical system
1
0
0
0
—
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Dec 1, 2021Visibility/wiper The front driver and passenger windows started delaminating. Rear side glass is fine. Audi of Van Nuys took pictures. Audi paid for the glass but charged me $1100 for labor.
Sep 1, 2021Engine turbo failure
Nov 4, 2020 · 78,588 milesElectrical system AS I WOULD COME DRIVE ON THE CITY ROADS AND COME TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP OR MAKE A SIGNAL TURN THE AUTO STOP WOULD COME ON BEFORE MAKING A COMPLETE STOP AND SHUTS THE CAR OFF WHILE STILL IN MOTION. CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LOCK AND I WOULD HAVE TO STOP THE CAR PUT IT IN PARK AND PUSH THE START/STOP BUTTON TO ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE AGAIN.
Jun 7, 2019 · 33,000 milesEngine IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, BUT MY CONCERN IS GROWING AS AUDI HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. PER AUDI TSB 2044640 AND BENTLEY TSB 20520851 VOLKSWAGON GROUP IS AWARE OF TURBOS FAILING ON THEIR 4.0T ENGINES. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE OIL SCREEN RUNNING TO THE TURBOCHARGER'S (CLOGGING), AS WELL AS THE OIL SEPARATOR FAILING/CRACKING. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY OWN SAFETY AS I LIVE IN A STATE WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 80 MPH - IF MY TURBO BLOWS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT 80 MPH I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CAR IS GOING TO REACT. NOT ONLY THAT BUT A FAILED TURBO IMPELLER CAN BE FED BACK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE, AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD BE A…
Jun 11, 2018Air bags TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI RS7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V370000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI MEMPHIS, 1825 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128, (888) 482-5202) WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PROVIDE THE PART BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF AN OPTION FOR A LOANER VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Nov 9, 2016Unknown or other CPSC: 2016 AUDI RS7 QUATTRO - ISSUE WITH THE SEATBELTS IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS. THEY WOULD NOT PLUG INTO AND STAY FULLY CLICKED IN - THEY WOULD GO IN BUT NOT LOCK - HAD TO PUSH REALLY HARD HAD TO PUSH REALLY HARD AND THEY FINALLY LATCHED, BUT THEN COULDN'T GET IT TO RELEASE. THIS OCCURRED ON ALL OF THE SEATBELTS. UPDATED 04/14/2017*JS
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA22001 · opened Apr 4, 2022 · closed May 26, 2023Engine Stall - Turbo Failure On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE 21-009) after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7 equipped with the 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported the vehicles would stall with no warning while driving at highway or city traffic speeds. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints alleged the major contributing factor to the engine stalling was the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints cited the turbocharger failure was a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making servicing the component difficult. The oil strainer…
PE21009 · opened Mar 29, 2021 · closed May 27, 2022 · led to recall 22V178000Engine Stall - Turbo Failure On March 29, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 21-009 after the agency received 58 reports alleging engine stalling in 2013-2016MY Audi vehicle models A8, S6, S7, S8 & RS7. The subject vehicles are equipped with 4.0L, twin-turbocharged engine. Complainants reported that the vehicles stall suddenly with no warning while driving on the highway or in city traffic. Several of the complainants alleged an inability to restart. The complaints allege the major contributing factor to the engine stalling is the failure of the turbochargers. The complaints further allege the turbocharger failure is a result of oil starvation due to a clogged oil strainer.The location of the oil strainer in the turbocharger oil supply line is in the inner valley of the engine. It is not easily accessible, making regular service difficult. The oil strainer removes…