The 2020 Audi S7 with its 2.9L twin-turbo V6 (EA839 engine) is a high-performance luxury sedan that suffers from significant engine reliability issues, particularly catastrophic failures requiring complete rebuilds, plus transmission cooling and mount problems that plague the ZF 8-speed platform under high torque loads.
Catastrophic Engine Failure — Piston Ring Land Collapse and Bearing Damage
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden metal-on-metal knocking noise from engine bay, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300-P0306), White or blue smoke from exhaust under load, Coolant consumption without visible leaks, Metal shavings in oil during changes
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement required. Piston ring lands crack under heat stress, allowing combustion gases into crankcase, followed by bearing failure from oil contamination. 35-45 hours labor plus engine components. Many owners opt for factory reman long block to avoid repeat failures.
Estimated cost: $18,000-28,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure and Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under vehicle (red or brown fluid), Harsh or delayed shifting when transmission is cold, Transmission overheat warning on instrument cluster, Limp mode activation during spirited driving, Pink residue visible near front bumper area
Fix: ZF 8-speed transmission runs hot in this high-torque application, causing cooler line O-rings and heat exchanger seals to fail. Requires front bumper removal for access. 4-6 hours labor for cooler replacement, plus fresh transmission fluid flush. Sometimes requires additional cooler lines if they're corroded.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Transmission Mount Failure (Rear Mount Collapse)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration felt through shifter and center console at idle, Excessive driveline lash during throttle tip-in, Visible sagging of transmission when inspected on lift, Increased NVH during aggressive acceleration
Fix: High torque (442 lb-ft) tears apart the hydraulic transmission mount prematurely. Mount collapses internally, allowing excessive movement. Requires transmission support during replacement. 2-3 hours labor. OEM mount mandatory — aftermarket versions fail even faster.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Rear Axle Carrier Bushing Deterioration
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking from rear end over bumps or during hard launches, Rear-end steering sensation during aggressive cornering, Vibration through floor at highway speeds, Uneven rear tire wear (feathering on inside edges), Visible cracks in rubber bushings during inspection
Fix: Rear subframe bushings and differential carrier mounts degrade from torque cycling and performance driving. NHTSA recall addresses some severe cases, but many fail outside recall criteria. Requires subframe drop for proper replacement. 6-8 hours labor for complete bushing refresh. Alignment mandatory after.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Fuel Level Sensor Erratic Reading
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Fuel gauge shows empty when tank is half full or fluctuates wildly, Range-to-empty calculation shows incorrect values, Low fuel warning illuminates prematurely, Gauge reads full even after driving 100+ miles, Check engine light with P0460-P0464 fuel level sensor codes
Fix: Fuel level sending unit floats fail or wiring harness develops resistance issues (covered under NHTSA recall for some VINs). Requires fuel tank drop and sender replacement. 3-4 hours labor. Must be performed with minimal fuel in tank for safety.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Backup Camera System Failures
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Backup camera shows black screen or 'camera unavailable' message, Distorted or pixelated image when in Reverse, Parking sensors malfunction simultaneously with camera, Intermittent operation — works some starts, not others, Guideline overlay missing or misaligned
Fix: Camera module failure due to moisture intrusion or software corruption in camera control unit. Some units covered under NHTSA recall. Software update attempts first (0.5 hours), camera module replacement if hardware failed (1.5-2 hours including coding/calibration). Must use ODIS diagnostic system for proper initialization.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 40,000 miles (not 'lifetime' as Audi claims) — use only ZF Lifeguard 8 spec fluid to prevent cooler and shift quality issues
Monitor oil consumption religiously — if burning more than 1 quart per 2,000 miles, budget for engine work immediately before catastrophic failure
Inspect transmission and engine mounts annually if you use Launch Control or track the car; these mounts cannot handle repeated abuse
Extended warranty is almost mandatory for this platform — engine rebuild risk alone justifies the cost
Check for open NHTSA recalls by VIN before purchase; fuel sensor and camera recalls are simple fixes if not yet completed
Only buy if you have comprehensive warranty coverage or a $20K repair fund — the engine failure risk is real and financially devastating, making this a high-stakes ownership proposition despite the incredible performance.
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.
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BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 25V900000
2025-12-19
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 23, 2025.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · 22V861000
2022-11-21
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Audi S7, S6 Sedan, A6 Allroad, 2021-2022 RS7, RS6 Avant, 2019-2022 A7, and A6 Sedan vehicles. Liquid spilled in the rear seat may penetrate and cause the gateway control module to shut down.
Consequence: A gateway control module shutdown will suddenly reduce engine power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90V2.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE:FUEL LEVEL FLOAT/SENSOR/SENDING UNIT · 22V155000
2022-03-14
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RS6 Avant and RS7, 2020-2022 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, and S7, and 2019-2022 A6 Sedan and A7 vehicles. The fuel level sender may stick, causing an inaccurate fuel level reading to be displayed on the instrument cluster.
Consequence: An inaccurate fuel reading may cause an engine stall due to lack of fuel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new sensor in the tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 20DN.
TIRES · 22V034000
2022-01-26
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
Consequence: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
Consequence: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
AIR BAGS · 21V159000
2021-03-10
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The score line on the passenger air bag may not have been manufactured correctly.
Consequence: An incorrectly manufactured air bag may not deploy properly, and could also eject plastic debris into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger air bag score line, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall begin March 26, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 70i2.
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