MODEL
Audi A7
NHTSA safety across every Audi A7 model year we cover.
Across the 7 model years of the Audi A7 we cover (2019 to 2025), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2025 at 99 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2021 at 89. 34 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Audi A7 is a sleek, fastback-styled luxury sedan competing in one of the most demanding segments in the market. Spanning the 2019 through 2025 model years in our coverage, it targets affluent buyers who want executive-class refinement without sacrificing a distinctly athletic silhouette. With its four-door coupe proportions and premium badge, the A7 positions itself squarely against rivals like the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo and Mercedes-Benz CLS.
The Audi A7 earns some of its strongest marks in our safety index on the 2023 model year, where it posts a 99 out of 100 NHTSA Safety Index score, landing firmly in the Exceptional band. Side-crash protection is a genuine highlight, with a 5 out of 5 star rating in that discipline for the best-performing year we cover. Frontal and rollover star ratings are listed as not rated in our data, which means shoppers cannot draw a complete crash-test picture from federal testing alone and should weigh that gap carefully before buying. The recall count across the 2019 to 2025 span is a real concern: 34 recalls is a substantial figure for a six-year window, and it signals that ownership of any generation in this range may involve periodic dealer visits for safety-related repairs. Shoppers should verify whether any open recalls apply to a specific vehicle using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool before purchase. Owner complaints, at 47 total across all covered years, are relatively modest for a luxury model with this many units in service. Notably, the data shows zero reported crashes, zero fires, and zero fatalities among those complaints, with one reported injury. These are unverified allegations, but the low severity profile is worth acknowledging. Bottom line: the A7 shows genuine safety strength where it has been tested, but the incomplete federal crash-test picture and elevated recall count mean diligent pre-purchase homework is non-negotiable.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally praise the A7 for its distinctive fastback styling, upscale interior execution, and composed driving dynamics that set it apart from more conventional luxury sedans. Most acknowledge it as a strong all-around performer in its segment, though some note that its premium pricing and technology complexity can make the ownership experience demanding for buyers less comfortable with feature-dense German vehicles.
- The 2023 A7 earns a 99 out of 100 NHTSA Safety Index score, placing it in the Exceptional band, making it the standout model year for safety performance within our covered range.
- Side-crash protection reaches a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in the best-tested year, but frontal and rollover ratings are not available from federal testing, leaving meaningful gaps in the crash-test picture that shoppers should acknowledge.
- Thirty-four recalls across the 2019 to 2025 model years is a high count, and buyers of both new and used A7s should run a VIN check through NHTSA's free lookup tool to confirm no safety recalls remain open on a specific vehicle.
- Owner complaints total 47 across all covered years, with zero reported crashes and zero fatalities in that pool. While these are unverified allegations, the low-severity profile suggests the complaint volume has not translated into catastrophic outcomes based on current filings.
Most-recalled year on record: 2021 Audi A7 with 11 recalls.