Audi Q7: common problems, best years and what to check
Large seven-seat premium SUV. Covers 2008–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Audi Q7 a good used buy?
Best buy
4M 3.0 TDI
Avoid
4L with chain rattle
Who it suits: Large families wanting a luxurious seven-seater.
What's good
- Seven proper seats
- Refined
- Strong diesels
- Quality
What's not
- Very expensive to run
- Air suspension faults
- Heavy depreciation
- Large to park
By the numbers
- #139 most common model on UK roads, with about 48k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2016: 4.6k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 14% better than comparable cars of that year.
- 2016 cars survive 6% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- The most expensive common fault: Timing chain (rear) (up to £4,000).
Audi Q7 common problems by generation and engine
Audi Q7 4L (2006–2015) · 7-seat SUV
How to spot it: 08 plate to 15 plate. Huge, rounded SUV.
3.0 TDI (CASA, diesel, 2006–2015)
- Timing chain (rear)£2,000–£4,000100k+
- Air suspension£800–£2,500any
Audi Q7 4M (2015–) · 7-seat SUV; e-tron
How to spot it: 15 plate onwards. Sharper, lighter body; 2019 facelift with octagonal grille.
45 / 50 TDI (EA897, diesel mild hybrid, 2015–)
Strong
- Air suspension£800–£2,500any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Audi Q7 years
How many Audi Q7s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
Years that outlast similar cars: 2008. Years that fall off the road faster: 2016 — check these harder.
Audi Q7 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
Audi Q7s pass their MOT first time 8 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (83% vs 75%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 72% | 57% | 140k miles |
| 2009 | 73% | 58% | 136k miles |
| 2010 | 76% | 59% | 126k miles |
| 2011 | 78% | 61% | 119k miles |
| 2012 | 80% | 63% | 113k miles |
| 2013 | 82% | 66% | 107k miles |
| 2014 | 81% | 69% | 100k miles |
| 2015 | 83% | 72% | 93k miles |
| 2016 | 81% | 75% | 85k miles |
| 2017 | 83% | 78% | 77k miles |
| 2018 | 85% | 81% | 67k miles |
| 2019 | 86% | 84% | 56k miles |
| 2020 | 90% | 86% | 47k miles |
| 2021 | 89% | 87% | 39k miles |
| 2022 | 90% | 89% | 30k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Diesel
Petrol
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.09 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut2.45 per 100
- Coil spring: fractured or broken1.89 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.82 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed1.81 per 100
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.6 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.35 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.04 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm26.46 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.56 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.82 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.92 per 100
- Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine7.21 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt5.96 per 100
- Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn4.38 per 100
- Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm4.01 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Audi Q7 have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 TDI | chain | check from 100k | £2,000–£4,000 |
Audi Q7 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Audi Q7 ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Audi Q7 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi Q7 | 48k | 43–50 | 770 l | 4M 3.0 TDI |
| BMW X5 | 87k | 40–50 | 650 l | 2019+ G05 xDrive30d |
| Volvo XC90 | 79k | 33–48 | 680 l | 2016+ D5 AWD |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | 57k | 42–50 | 630 l | 2019+ V167 300d |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport | 125k | 41–50 | 489 l | 2018–2022 L494 SDV6 with warranty |
| Land Rover Discovery | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Audi Q7
- Air suspension and chain
Audi Q7 FAQ
›Is the Audi Q7 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 4M 3.0 TDI. Avoid: 4L with chain rattle.
›What is the Audi Q7 MOT pass rate?
83% of Audi Q7s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (41,254 tests), better than the 75% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
›What are the most common Audi Q7 problems?
The costliest known faults are Timing chain; Air suspension. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Audi Q7 have a timing belt or chain?
3.0 TDI: chain.
›What is the best year Audi Q7 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2008, 2010, 2014 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Audi Q7 cost to run?
Real-world economy: 3.0 TDI 34–40 mpg. Insurance groups 43–50. A minor service is about £320–£450 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Audi Q7?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Audi Q7 ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.