The Audi S7 Years To Avoid
Audi S7 by Navigator84— CC BY-SA 4.0
When it comes to luxury performance cars, Audi is undoubtedly one of the major players in the market. The German automaker offers a diverse range of models to cater to various preferences and needs. Among these offerings, the Audi S line holds a special place, and the distinction aims to bring a striking balance of practicality and performance.
Among its impressive S lineup, the Audi S7 stands out as a testament to its commitment to excellence. The S7 boasts a low-slung profile coupled with sharp lines and a distinctive front grille, giving it a commanding presence on the road. Inside, the S7 offers a luxurious cabin adorned with high-quality materials, cutting-edge technology, and ergonomic design elements you can expect from Audi.
Powered by a potent V6 engine, the S7 delivers impressive horsepower and torque, ensuring rapid acceleration and a thrilling driving experience. The adaptive air suspension and Quattro all-wheel drive system further enhance its handling capabilities, allowing for a smooth and controlled ride even in challenging conditions.
If you want to buy a used Audi S7, know that some years are less reliable than others. As such, we have made a quick guide about the Audi S7 years to avoid if you’re buying used.
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Which Audi S7 Years To Avoid?
Although luxury performance cars tend to have less reliability than traditional mainstream models, the Audi S7 is a surprisingly reliable model in general. However, some years must be cautiously approached due to reliability concerns and several consumer complaints. Below are the Audi S7 years to avoid when buying used:
- 2013 Audi S7
- 2014 Audi S7
- 2016 Audi S7
2013 Audi S7
Avoiding the initial production years when buying a used car is wise due to potential manufacturing defects that may not have been addressed until later models. Early production cars often serve as “guinea pigs,” revealing unforeseen issues and kinks in reliability. This potential lack of long-term reliability makes the 2013 Audi S7 a model year to avoid.
CarComplaints.com says the 2013 Audi S7 is the worst model year of the performance car. Although it received a relatively low number of complaints (likely because it’s not very popular), the nature of its issues is quite severe.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE AUDI S7
We rounded up the most reliable Audi S7 year, along with the ones you should cautiously approach as a used car buyer.
Engine Problems
The 2013 Audi S7 has received 14 NHTSA complaints regarding engine issues, with an average mileage of 56k miles when the problems occurred. Several owners mentioned turbocharger failures, with one explicitly pointing out that both stock 2013 S7 turbos were damaged at 38k miles due to a faulty blocked screen causing oil starvation.
Another owner reported a loss of motive power while driving, leading to the vehicle being towed. The turbocharger was replaced, but the engine eventually seized, requiring a complete replacement.
As you might expect, engine-related fixes have expensive price tags, especially for luxury models. The cost of repairs, especially for turbocharger replacements and related issues, can be high, with one owner citing a repair cost of $13k.
Transmission Issues
Although to a lesser extent, we’ve also seen reports of transmission woes for the 2013 Audi S7. Based on this forum post, the 2013 S7 may suffer from slipping transmission and rough shifting.
The original poster reported a transmission malfunction warning on their 2013 Audi S7. The warning appeared after the car was driven for a while and restarted. The user provided a list of fault codes related to the Transmission Control Module. These codes indicate various issues, including problems with the transmission fluid temperature sensor and control module.
Some forum members suggested that the issues stemmed from a low transmission fluid level or a faulty transmission fluid temperature sensor. Another suggestion was that the mechatronic unit might be the cause of the problem.
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2014 Audi S7
The 2014 Audi S7 offers improved reliability over the debut model, but it inherited many severe issues from the previous model year, including:
Engine Issues
Some owners reported that their 2014 Audi S7 unexpectedly stalled while driving. This issue occurred without any prior warning or symptoms, even when the car was in motion on highways. Meanwhile, A few users highlighted fault codes related to the Transmission Control Module. These codes indicated potential problems with the transmission fluid temperature sensor and the TCM.
However, the most significant issue to look out for in this model year is turbocharger failure. One owner experienced a “catastrophic turbo failure” on both engine banks. The suspected cause was an oil check valve filter screen, which, over time, accumulates debris and restricts oil flow to the turbos, leading to oil starvation.
Another user reported that both turbochargers in their vehicle broke due to a design flaw. The shafts of the turbochargers snapped, rendering the car undrivable.
2016 Audi S7
Last but not least, the 2016 model is one of the worst Audi S7 years to avoid. Unfortunately, it also suffered from serious engine issues, based on the complaints and recalls. CarComplaints says that the 2016 S7 has received 16 complaints and two recalls.
Turbocharger Issues (Again!)
That’s right; the 2016 S7 is yet another model that struggled with the dreaded turbocharger woes. Multiple owners experienced turbocharger failures on both engine banks due to an oil check valve filter screen accumulating debris – which again led to oil starvation. Another frustrated experienced a complete engine failure after both turbochargers broke. The owner highlighted this as a known issue with the model.
On the other hand, some owners described symptoms like the engine cutting off during the first start of the day and the vehicle dying. In one case, the Audi dealer diagnosed the issue as a turbo failure with visible scorching.
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Recalls
The 2016 S7 only had two recalls (as of this writing):
- Turbocharger Issues Leading to Engine Stall: In March 2022, it was identified that the turbocharger’s worn-out bearings might cause the engine to stall. This happens when the turbine wheel touches the housing or if the shaft breaks. This issue poses a risk as the car could suddenly stop, especially while driving.
- Airbag Deployment Issue: In June 2018, a problem was detected with the Passenger Occupant Detection System. This flaw means the front passenger airbag might not deploy as it should during an accident, increasing the risk of injuries.
For both recalls, it’s emphasized that official recalls don’t cost anything to get fixed. However, they are usually time-limited.
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