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2021 Audi SQ7

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 SQ7.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2021 Audi SQ7 is a performance-oriented SUV equipped with an automatic (S8) transmission and achieves EPA-rated fuel economy of 15/21/17 mpg across city, highway, and combined driving, with a 10.0 qt oil capacity requiring 0W-40 viscosity for service intervals; its model year accumulated six owner complaints with engine-related issues representing the top concern area, alongside six total recalls—a complaint volume that, when viewed across the 2020–2026 model span, positions 2021 as the peak year for owner dissatisfaction while notably the 2024 model year shows the lowest complaint count at just one, suggesting measurable improvement in perceived reliability over subsequent production years despite the earlier model's elevated issue rate.

Model year2026202520242023202220212020

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity10.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-40OEM · verified
Lug nut torque118 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/21/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage. battery, OE oil filter 06M115331A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage.OEM · verified
Tire size285/40R21/XL 109HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim9.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06M115331A alt 06M115441G
Engine air filter4M0133843G
Spark plug0P2905601
Battery000915089BE
Front wiper blades4M1998002
Thermostat0P2121115E alt WHT008508
Cabin air filter4M0819439C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length199.2 in
Overall width77.6 in
Overall height68.5 in
Wheelbase117.7 in
Curb weight5280 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 65.4 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 21 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the SQ7 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.5–3.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.50 sec — 2020 Prestige
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Prestige 4.0L Twin-Turbo V83.50 sec12.00 sec500 hpAWD
2020Premium Plus 4.0L Twin-Turbo V83.60 sec12.10 sec500 hpAWD
2025Prestige Quattro (Black Optic Plus, S Sport) 4.0L Twin-Turbo V83.80 sec12.40 sec500 hpAWD
2025Prestige Quattro (Black Optic Plus, S Sport) 4.0L Twin-Turbo V83.80 sec12.40 sec500 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 10.0 qt of 0W-40 engine oil, Front: 0D; Rear: 0BX in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 118 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to Use new seal: 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidAudi P/N G 060 162 A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.0 qt
Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilFront: 0D; Rear: 0BX
Engine CoolantAudi Coolant G13-TL-VW774J
Engine Coolant Capacity10.5 qt
Engine Oil0W-40

Engine torques

Cylinder Head InstructionsOnly use new bolts.
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugUse new seal: 22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs80.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFront: 20.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 26.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 7.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 26.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity45 & 55 TFSI Equipped with one evaporator
Oil Capacity45 & 55 TFSI Equipped with one evaporator

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: NS, Rear: Use new bolts: 26.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque6.4
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079" in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1ZA; Rear: 2ED

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-1011 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire Repair Kit Sealant (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAir Conditioning Evaporator Case Drain (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 SQ7 sits at the peak of the generation's federal-record arc, posting the highest complaint count (6), recall count (6), and TSB volume (1,098) of any model year shown — a sharp jump from 2020's 2 complaints, 1 recall, and 943 TSBs. Complaints and recalls then fall steeply in subsequent years, dropping to 1–2 complaints and 1–2 recalls annually from 2024 onward, while TSBs decline steadily to 756, 495, and 142 respectively. The 2021 complaint profile clusters in Engine (2) and Electrical System (2) categories, with one additional report spanning Electrical System, Back Over Prevention, and Forward Collision Avoidance; the data does not specify root causes for any recall or complaint. No crash or fire complaints were recorded for the target year. The 2021 model year reflects a concentrated period of factory-identified and owner-reported issues that largely resolve in later production, making it the most service-intensive vintage in the dataset. Buyers should budget for above-average recall remediation and verify all six campaigns are complete, but the downward trend afterward suggests the platform matured quickly.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1098
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’20’21’24’25’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Engine2
Electrical System2
Electrical System,Back Over Prevention,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Forward Collision Avoidance1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V606000Seat Belts:Rear/Other:RetractorReported 05/08/2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback… Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact…

22V034000TiresReported 26/01/2022

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1098 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_2076404_82026-06-29Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin provides a deployment overview for customer service packages MLB and MQB…
TSB_2074640_32026-06-26EngineThis bulletin provides information when there is increased oil consumption; >0.5ltr/1000…
TSB_2074729_32026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides informationwhen noises/vibration are detected from front of…
TSB_2059335_72026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when there are noises from the area around the…
TSB_2065960_62026-06-23Electrical SystemThis bulletin provides information when the display of the Audi virtual cockpit is…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific SQ7. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group R batteryVehicles taking 10.0 qtEngine oil filter 06M115331AEngine air filter 4M0133843GSpark plug 0P2905601Battery 000915089BE

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 SQ7 take?

10.0 qt of Porsche C40 is Recommended or a 0W-40 may be temporarily used., per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 SQ7 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the SQ7 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.