Reliable Auto DB

2021 Audi RS 7 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Audi RS 7 holds 4 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 9 RS 7 years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Camera and Instrument cluster.

2014 Audi RS 7
Photo by A. Bailey, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

4

Per year

0

Recalls

2

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 4), then Engine (1) and Powertrain (1).

Next to 2018 and 2022

The 2018 RS 7 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2022 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Audi RS 7. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2025-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 25V900000
Summary 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."
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.
Recall electrical system, instrument cluster 2025-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 25V201000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Remedy Dealers will update the instrument panel module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90VC.

Complaints by component (4 total)

Electrical system
2
Engine
1
Powertrain
1
Speed control
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12023120241202512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "This website shows the wrong information. Recall was successfully repaired but it shows here as unrepaired."
    Electrical system, Speed control · filed 2026-04-10
  • "While driving, car suddenly started overheating. Warning message asked me to pull over and let the car run idle. However, I was on a free way that was under construction and all shoulders were closed. So no way for me…"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-10-02
  • "The car continues to smell like coolant and burns excessive oil. It has been taken in for service. Repairs have been attempted but problem still exists. On one occasion, service records indicate a test drive when the…"
    Engine · filed 2024-04-10
  • "The car stopped in the middle of the intersection due to a 48V issue that is back ordered worldwide. It has been in the shop five times in reference to this stopping multiple times in the road."
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2023-09-15

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Audi RS 7 4 DR AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
RS 7 4L, 8-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 15 22 17 MPG $4700

Specs and fitment

C8 RS 7, 2021–present
Body styles Hatchback
Oil 0W-40 or 5W-40 (Audi-approved; 4.0L V8) , 10.6 qt capacity
Tire size 275/35R21, 285/30R22

Known issues for this generation

Recall 21V-159 covers certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant and RS7 vehicles, among other A6/A7-family models: the passenger air-bag score line may have been manufactured incorrectly, so the bag may not deploy properly and could eject plastic debris into the cabin. Dealers inspect and repair the score line as needed. Recall 20V-749 covers certain 2021 A6 Allroad, Q7, RS6, and RS7 vehicles where an electrical connector can detach from a front-door crash sensor, delaying side or curtain air bags or pretensioners in a side impact; dealers inspect and replace sensors as needed. Recall 21V-339 covers certain 2021 SQ7, RS Q8, RS7, RS6 Avant, and SQ8 vehicles for possible cylinder-bore surface cracks that can damage the engine, stall it, or leak oil; dealers replace the engine.

Compare

See every Audi RS 7 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Audi RS 7 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Audi RS 7 holds 4 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 9 RS 7 years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Camera and Instrument cluster.

What are common problems with a 2021 Audi RS 7?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 4), then Engine (1) and Powertrain (1).

Is the 2021 Audi RS 7 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 RS 7 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2022 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Audi RS 7 been recalled?

The 2021 Audi RS 7 has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Audi RS 7?

Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2021 Audi RS 7 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Audi RS 7 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Audi RS 7 is 17 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

Which Audi RS 7 generation is a 2018 model?

C7 RS 7 (US model years 2014-2018 in this catalog).

What engine oil does a US Audi RS 7 use?

0W-40 or 5W-40 (Audi-approved; 4.0L V8) With filter, about 10.6 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US Audi RS 7?

Published US specs commonly list front 275/35R21, 285/30R22 and rear 275/35R21, 285/30R22; confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.