Audi Q7 VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Audi Q7 you are looking at. Then check its model year against 32 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefixWA1

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Audi Q7

About the Audi Q7

Audi has sold the Q7 in the US since the 2007 model year, and there have been two generations. The 4L came first (2007–2015), and the 4M took over for 2017–2026. Across those years NHTSA lists 32 vehicle recall campaigns and 1,046 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the 4M. Its 2017 and 2018 model years alone account for 462 of them, with owners bringing up exterior lighting most often and engine and cooling after that. EPA rates the 4L at 14–22 mpg combined, while the 4M, whose lineup includes hybrid versions, gets 18–22 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2007–2026

Generations4L · 4M

NHTSA recall campaigns32

Owner complaints1,046 at NHTSA

Audi Q7 photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Audi Q7 generations

Two generations since the 2007 model year. The 4M (2017–2026) has both the most owner complaints and the most recall campaigns (25).

2 / 2

2017–20262nd generation

Photo: LuvsMG481, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20072010201520202025

2017–2026· Generation 2 of 2

4M · 2nd generation

PlatformVolkswagen Group MLB Evo

EPA combined mpg18–22

NHTSA recalls25

Engines (EPA)

2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2017–2026
3.0 L 6-cyl (supercharged) · 2017–2019
3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo, mild hybrid) · 2020–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

AWD/4WD
automatic (2017–2026)

Known issues to check

Exterior lighting (160)Engine and cooling (146)Electrical system (144)3 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 682 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · 4MWA1LAAF7?HD······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2017 Audi Q7 quattro Premium Plus, built in Bratislava, Slovakia

Check a Q7 VIN

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Q7 model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 32 campaigns on file for Q7 model years 2007–2026, and the 2021 shows up in more of them than any other year (9), ahead of the 2017 (7). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Transport Canada recalls for these model years were checked against this list; each one matches an NHTSA campaign shown here. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Audi Q7 owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2017 and 2018 hold 462 of the 1,046 complaints, or 44%. Tap any bar or generation.

1,046NHTSA complaints, 2007–2026

34mention a crash

7mention a fire

97injuries reported

Owner complaints by model year4M: 682 complaints · most for the 2017 (319)

Top complaint areas · 4M

Mentions in 682 complaints, 2017–2026.

Exterior lighting160

Engine and cooling146

Electrical system144

Suspension59

Steering41

Brakes40

Crashes 22Fires 4Injuries 24

2017–2026 (4M)

NHTSA data summary

The 2017 is the outlier. On its own it has 319 of the 4M’s 682 complaints (47%), more than any other Q7 model year. By area, nothing stands out. Exterior lighting leads with 160, with engine and cooling (146) and the electrical system (144) close behind.

What Q7 owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2017–present (2nd generation, 4M)

The 2017 draws by far the most complaints. NHTSA owners of the 2017 most often describe faults in the LED side markers built into the headlights, and others report water pump and coolant leaks, heavy oil consumption and tire problems. CarComplaints lists squealing brakes, catastrophic engine failure and oil consumption for 2017, oil consumption blamed on defective pistons, shredded tire tread and water pump failure for 2018, and a seized A/C compressor and engine failure for 2019. Recalls cover an electric power steering short, leaking fuel rails and a steering shaft bolt. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the power steering, fuel rail and steering shaft bolt recalls.
Ask for engine, oil consumption, water pump and A/C repair records.
Look for coolant leaks and check the tires for uneven wear.
On the drive, check that all headlight side markers work and listen for brake squeal.

Sources (4) and method

Sources:

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Q7 complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Hybrid and diesel Q7 versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

1,046complaints, 2007–2026

34mention a crash

7mention a fire

97injuries reported

Most complaints: 2017 (319), 2018 (143), 2007 (95)

2017 · 319 complaints

Crashes 7 · fires 3 · injuries 10

Exterior lighting133

Engine60

Electrical system53

Suspension32

Unknown or other30

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Q7 CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 40 Q7 versions for model years 2007–2026 (gas, diesel and hybrid). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 405 g/mi (2026). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

4L2007–2015

14–22 mpg · CO₂ 466–635 g/mi

4M2017–2026

18–22 mpg · CO₂ 405–479 g/mi

Model year2025

22combined MPG

405CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$3,750EPA yearly fuel cost

4/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

5/10Greenhouse gas rating

California LEV-III ULEV70 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 70Emission standard

Cleanest gas version of 2025: Q7 · Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo — 22 MPG · 405 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

GasDieselHybrid

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Q7 vs BMW X5 vs Volvo XC90

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2007–2015. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the Q7, against 42 for the BMW X5 and 6 for the Volvo XC90. Pick a range to compare.

Audi Q74M

Model years 2017–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 25
NHTSA owner complaints: 682
EPA combined mpg: 18–22
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed: turbo, supercharged, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Exterior lighting 160
Engine and cooling 146
Electrical system 144

BMW X5

Model years 2017–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 48
NHTSA owner complaints: 894
EPA combined mpg: 15–25
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L · 8-cyl 4.4 L
Also listed: turbo, diesel, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 246
Engine and cooling 218
Brakes 163

Volvo XC90

Model years 2017–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 21
NHTSA owner complaints: 383
EPA combined mpg: 21–27
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L
Also listed: turbo, supercharged, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 115
Engine and cooling 68
Brakes 47

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Audi Q7 VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Q7

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Dark grey Audi Q7 (4M facelift) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: LuvsMG481, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Q7 carries its VIN on a dashboard plate, a door jamb sticker, a B-pillar label, a cargo area sticker and an engine bay stamp. The 4M generation starts with the 2017 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (H for 2017) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Audi Q7 VIN questions

Which Audi Q7 model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2017 leads with 319, ahead of the 2018 (143) and 2007 (95). Those first two alone make up 44% of the 1,046 Q7 complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Audi Q7 had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 32 vehicle campaigns for model years 2007–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, 4M leads with 25. Then come the 4L (7), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Audi Q7 recalls are high risk?

16V-955 covers an air bag inflator module and how it deploys. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 16V-660, 18V-818, 15V-019, 17V-298, 19V-035 and 23V-212. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which Q7 generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the 4L is 2007–2015 and the 4M 2017–2026. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (H is 2017).

What fuel economy does the Audi Q7 get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2017–2026 4M at 18–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 14–22 mpg for the 2007–2015 4L (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Audi Q7 compare with the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90 on recalls?

For 2017–2026 models the Q7 has 25 NHTSA recall campaigns. The BMW X5 has 48, the Volvo XC90 21. Complaints run 682, 894 and 383 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Audi Q7 have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 Q7 5 stars overall. One version, AWD, is rated.

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Audi Q7 VIN Number Check

About the Audi Q7

Audi Q7 generations