There are 2 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2012 Audi Q7in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY RIPPED ITSELF APART AT IDLE AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED.
THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER PRESSURE LINE GOT A HOLE IN IT AND LEAKED ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS PLASTIC THAT WAS VISIBLY SEEN RUBBING AGAINST THIS METAL LINE WHICH OVER TIME WORE THE LINE DOWN SO MUCH THAT IT CREATED A HOLE ALLOWING THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR NOT WANTING TO SHIFT, DOWN-SHIT ETC WHEN I FINALLY PULLED OVER NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ONCE THE FLUID WAS JUST ABOUT OUT THE AUDI WARNING SYSTEM FINALLY NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. A TAD LATE IF YOU ASK ME. THE CAR WAS STARTING TO REV UP THE RPM'S THEN SUDDENLY IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE LINE REPLACED AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE I'M DUE FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO ALL OF THIS. THE MECHANIC EVEN STATED HE HAS NEVER SEEN PLASTIC WEAR THROUGH METAL NOR HAVE I.. I QUESTION WHAT PATHETICALLY WEAK METAL WAS USED ON A HIGH PRESSURE LINE THAT WOULD ALLOW PLASTIC TO EVENTUALLY RUB THROUGH IT ALL. I'VE ASKED THE SHOP TO KEEP THE LINE AND TO SNAP SOME PICTURES FOR ME, SO I'M HOPING I WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO UPLOAD THESE ONCE I RECEIVE THEM.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026