This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Twice in the last 2weeks the vehicle has an electrical system failure while on expressway. This is dangerous as the message tells you to immediately stop driving. On a highway this is a serious hazard.
My car first had a warning -??Electrical system: malfunction! Please contact Service.-?? I made a appointment at my Audi dealership 2 days later, but the next day i got more warnings. -??Automatic start/stop system: malfunction!-?? then my power steering was not working. I decided to drive straight to the service department that afternoon, but never made it. In rush hour traffic on a busy street, my Q7 started beeping every warning - -??Electrical system: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle-??, -??Drive system: malfunction! Stop vehicle safely-?? and the vehicle decreased speed then abruptly turned off. I was so scared that I would get hit by the traffic zooming around me. It wouldn't go into neutral and my parking brake was engaged blinking. I put on my hazard lights and called 911 for traffic assistance while sitting in my car. I was able to safely exit and after calling Audi, I could get my car into neutral and move it off the busy street with the help of some good Samaritans. I had the car towed to Audi. The service department said they have seen this a handful of times and that it's a problem with the accelerator/generator.
Car displayed electrical Issue when driving daughter to school. Let husband know but was only a yellow warning and had a full day planned. I unfortunately assumed it was just a battery issue and continued with my day, but made an appointment at Audi for repair. I drove to my next appointment and the yellow warning moved to a red warning but I was 20 minutes from home. I called my husband and warned him I-??d probably not make it all the way home, I made it another 10 miles and then it completely turned off on the freeway, I was prepared and had stayed in the right lane thinking this could be coming. Towed the car to Audi, they are ordering parts and warned it could be 4 weeks before I got my car back. The -??generator-?? needs to be replaced.
Per carfax, my preowned 2021 Q7 with 9k miles has had several visits to audi dealerships. The car was eventually used for a buy back. That said, Audi USA "fixed" the vehicle and sold it. The car is NOT fixed and as the new owner I've waited 2 weeks after buying this car to drive and possess it only to have the battery warning light back on the dashboard after taking possession today. The car was previously at an audi dealership before it was cleared to be shipped to me. It seems Audi is unable to fix this car. I will need to tow it now to another audi dealership as I'm afraid the car will lose all power during any attempt to drive it back to a dealership.
- Seaside Heights, NJ, USA
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While driving, vehicle flashed red error codes for an electrical system malfunction and indicated that the vehicle should be stopped as soon as possible. As part of this failure, the auto start/stop for the vehicle became disabled. Vehicle was towed to Audi dealer, and after sitting on the lot for a week, the dealer confirmed that the starter generator for the 48V mild hybrid system failed.
Starter Generator Failed on 10/12/2023 while the car was being driven. Warning received was "Electrical system: Malfunction! Safely stop vehicle" There are multiple reports online of people experiencing similar problems and have had recalls. We never had a recall and this could have caused a fatality. We feel Audi has been negligent.
on Sep 17 2023 my wife was driving her Audi Q7. which has 25,780 miles. She drove to a parking lot for a hiking trip, pressed on the brake and the car instead of stopping accelerated. She kept trying to press the brake, however the car did not stop until it hit a tree. The car has been towed to our house and it is not driveable. The car has not been inspected yet. I plan on calling the Audi dealer on Monday, Sep 18th. No lights appeared before the incident.
While driving with my 4 year-old daughter a notification appeared on the driver display that there is an -??Electrical Malfunction-?? and to call the service department. A few minutes later, while actively driving on the same busy road in my town, the vehicle completely turned off, including the power steering and ABS breaks. I was stuck in the middle of a busy intersection with no hazard lights and no ability to even shift the vehicle into neutral to move it. I was genuinely concerned for my safety and the safety of my daughter, as we were stranded in the middle of a busy intersection during rush hour. It was a harrowing experience to say the least. Eventually we had the vehicle towed. When I called Audi, they informed me that they suspected it was the -??starter generator-?? and that they were aware of the issue, but this was the first I had heard of it. They subsequently confirmed that it was the starter generator and are less than accommodating.
Multiple warnings indicating to contact dealer (Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, electric system malfunction, steering malfunction) then a few minutes later transmission failure and engine failure imminent.... attempted to move out of traffic. Luckily, I made it to the right lane before the steering shut down, then the transmission failed (stepping on the gas caused the engine to rev, but no power was delivered to the wheels), and last the car completely died. Had to have it towed to dealership. Dealership confirmed that the starter/generator failed.
While driving the vehicle, error messages began appearing on the in-panel dashboard display. At first, a yellow/orange battery icon appeared with the message "Electrical system: malfunction! Please contact Service". Within an hour, the car experienced another electrical system malfunction (red battery icon appeared with the message "Electrical system: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle") along with a host of other error messages (Brakes: malfunction, Steering: malfunction, Parking brake: malfunction, Vehicle lights: malfunction, Stabilization control (ESC/ABS): malfunction, Drive system: malfunction, Transmission: malfunction). The car was undrive-able at this point, coasted to a stop and could not be restarted while on an active roadway. The car had to be towed to the dealership, where it still remains today. * Components or systems malfunctioned: Electrical system, brakes, steering, parking brake, vehicle lights, stabilization control (ESC/ABS), drive system, transmission. It is available at the Audi dealership service location for inspection * My safety was put in significant danger due to the car shutting down on an active roadway with no control over the vehicle. * The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. * The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership service center but not by police or insurance representatives. * Many warning lamps and messages appeared within an hour of the car becoming inoperable.
At approximately 3:15pm CST on Friday, January 13, 2023, several electrical system warnings appeared, and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. We were able to restart the vehicle twice, but only able to drive it about 10 feet to move it out of the middle of the street. We then had the vehicle towed to the dealership for repairs. The dealer has told us that the electrical generator failed and needs to be replaced. It should be available for inspection, if needed. No other party, such as police or insurance, has inspected the vehicle. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk, because the vehicle died in the middle of the street with little warning and could only be moved a short distance from there. Pictures of some of the warnings are attached.
Electrical failure indicator lit up. I was on my way to the dealership service center. Within 10 minutes of driving, the car completely shutdown right at a busy intersection and before an active railroad crossing. Tow truck was called by the police as the car was not starting and therefore undriveable.
Was driving around 30 MPH. Audi Q7started showing malfunctions on the dashboard, stabilization control malfunction, transmission malfunction, startup system malfunction, backup system malfunction, drivers assist malfunction, tire pressure malfunction, drive system malfunction. The vehicle started to brake on it own, fishtailed and then started to accelerate on its own
I pulled out of the gym after using my key FOB to unlock and start vehicle. Got a warning asking if Key was in the car, it was, and warning went away. A 1/4 mile later, while the car was in drive and idle at a red light, the car completely shut/locked down and alarm started blaring saying there was no key. The key was in the car (it had just unlocked and started the car less than 4 minutes earlier). The car defaults to ON of an auto/on function (gas saving feature?), and I believe that becuase the car was waiting at the light, prompted the computer to misfire functions. I was stuck in traffic and could not get the car to start for over 3 lights length of time. I also found I had no control of the hazard lights. I was able to eventually get it to turn on, alarm persisted. I then drove it home with alarm still blaring and got my spare key, the alarm shut of briefly and then turned back on. I then drove it to Audi servicing while alarm blaring. They assessed the vehicle over the past 10 days and simply told me it was due to the key FOB battery dying. Meaning: they are telling me that this is normal and will continue to happen every time my battery dies. This is very dangerous. I don't know how/if they actually confirmed the battery was dead or simply changed it out. The key FOB battery dying should NOT cause a car, while in drive, to completely shut/lock down. This is a huge safety issue. Someone could have not seen me and rear ended me. Or if I was in traffic on the freeway and my FOB battery dies, then I would really be in trouble. I have other Audis and a FOB key dying has never caused a lock down. Once the car is in motion, the ability of the key fob to affect the ignition or engine should be zero. I believe this issue needs to be looked into and am not getting good response or action from AUDI. I do not feel safe driving a car that will lock down while in drive, and my concern extends to other people who may find themselves in this situation.
Upper dashboard display (MMI) loses power, upon reboot, audio volume comes on full power momentarily. This loud noise is both startling and distracting to the driver. The failure is sporadic and Audi has been unsuccessful in resolving the issue.
- Issaquah, WA, USA
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rye , NY, USA