The 2019 Audi S7 with the 2.9T V6 is a sophisticated high-performance sedan that suffers from a critical engine defect affecting early production units, plus typical Audi driveline vulnerabilities that emerge with age and performance driving.
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 miles), Blue smoke from exhaust under acceleration, Misfires and rough idle as rings fail completely, Metallic knocking when bearings starve from oil loss, Check engine light with low oil pressure codes
Fix: Early 2.9T engines had defective piston ring sealing and cylinder bore finish. Once oil consumption starts, it accelerates rapidly. Requires complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. 20-30 labor hours for short block swap, more if internal damage has occurred. Audi extended warranty coverage on some VINs but most 2019s are now out of coverage window.
Estimated cost: $15,000-25,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid mixing with coolant (strawberry milkshake in expansion tank), Transmission slipping or erratic shifting, Overheating warnings on both engine and transmission, Loss of drive or limp mode
Fix: The ZF 8-speed's internal oil cooler develops leaks allowing cross-contamination. Requires complete transmission fluid flush, cooler replacement, and often transmission rebuild if contamination circulated. If caught early (just cooler), 8-10 hours labor. If trans is damaged, add 15-20 hours for rebuild.
Estimated cost: $2,500-9,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration through chassis during hard acceleration, Excessive drivetrain movement visible from outside during launch, Gear selector feels notchy or resistant
Fix: Upper transmission mount deteriorates from the torque of the twin-turbo V6, especially with performance driving. Rubber separates from metal housing. Replacement requires supporting transmission and removing multiple subframe bolts. 3-4 hours labor with proper lift access.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Intermittent long crank or no-start condition, Loss of power under boost (limp mode), Fuel pressure codes P0087 or P0088, Rough running when cold, smooths out warm, Metallic ticking from engine bay (pump internals failing)
Fix: The cam-driven high-pressure fuel pump develops internal wear, can't maintain rail pressure for direct injection under boost. Requires removing intake manifold and timing components for access. Often catches shops off-guard with labor complexity. 6-8 hours labor plus expensive Bosch pump assembly.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,500
Turbocharger Oil Supply Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil spots under vehicle after sitting, Burning oil smell from engine bay, Low oil warnings between changes, Visible oil weeping from turbo area, Whistling or whining from turbo on cold starts
Fix: Oil feed and return lines to turbos develop leaks at crimp fittings and rubber sections. V-configuration makes access difficult. If turbos are oil-starved, bearing damage occurs requiring turbo replacement. Line replacement alone is 4-5 hours per side. If turbos are damaged, add 8-10 hours each.
Estimated cost: $1,200-6,500
Carbon Buildup on Intake Valves
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle when engine is warm, Hesitation or stumble during light acceleration, Misfires under load (codes P0300-P0306), Reduced fuel economy, Failed emissions testing in strict states
Fix: Direct injection means no fuel washing intake valves. Carbon accumulates from blow-by and EGR. Requires walnut blasting (media blasting) of intake ports with intake manifold removed. 6-8 hours labor. Should be done preventively every 60-80k miles on these engines.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Owner tips
Check production date and VIN against Audi's engine warranty extension - some 2.9T engines have coverage to 10yr/120k miles for piston ring defect
Monitor oil consumption religiously from day one - start worrying if you're adding more than 1 quart between 10k service intervals
Use only VW/Audi 508/509 spec oil - off-spec oil accelerates carbon buildup and turbo failure on these engines
Budget for walnut blasting every 60-70k miles as preventive maintenance
Avoid tuning or performance modifications until certain the engine doesn't have the ring defect - added boost accelerates failure
Transmission fluid and filter service every 40k miles prevents cooler contamination damage
Buy only if you can verify engine build date is post-recall production or has already had short block replacement under warranty - the piston ring defect is a financial time bomb that can total an otherwise excellent car.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Battery located under rear cargo floor; AGM required for start-stop system
As an Amazon Associate, OLP earns from qualifying purchases — how we link. This never changes the specs we publish.
Every control module on the 2019-2026 Audi S7 — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Memory positions lost; reprogramming via user interface
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2019 Audi S7 2.9L Twin-Turbo V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.