Originally Posted by hkn125

OP is likely not in the US given his S-line package

Originally Posted by gsobol

This sounds like a power steering control module failure. This unit is located underneath the front of the car. Basically what the OP is describing is the loss of power steering assist. In older vehicles this would be all handled mechanically with the use of hydraulic pump, and the failure would be equivalent to loss of such power steering pump, power steering fluid or belt that drives the power steering pump. However since power assist in Q7 is electro-mechanical it's effectively controlled by electronic module. Loss of power or control signal to or internal failure of such a module would result in exactly the same issue - no power steering assist. Since we are all pretty much used to the light feel of the steering wheel (thanks to power assist), we rarely (if ever) get to experience driving a car with no power steering. Taking into account the weight of Q7, the gearing ratio in the rack and pinion and the size of the steering wheel, when the power assist goes, you would have a devil of the time to turn that wheel, especially at lower speeds, and extremely hard when stopped.

This reminds me of the similar issue ford/lincoln had back in the late 80's, early 90's with their brake systems. They replaced their vacuum driven brake booster system with an electrical one in order to support their ABS system. Electrical system allow them to achieve much higher boost pressure and allowed them to recover it much quicker when ABS was active effectively eliminating brake fade during emergency braking. One problem, the entire system could be compromised by a failure of a single relay. Unfortunately this used to occur intermittently, and since the relay would "un-stick" after power cycle, you would get the usual 'can not replicate' from the dealer. Ford took a while to acknowledge the problem and issue a recall to replace the relays with a new design.

Intermittent failure is the worst one since you take it to the dealer and they treat you like you lost your mind. Power cycle definitely cycles all the control modules, including the power steering one. I'm just surprised there was nothing in the OBD. I would go back to the dealer, insist that the failure did occur, have them document it and if they refuse to address it, inform them (preferably in writing) that you are going to be back with a layer if you get into an accident.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by RickObe

If the control module was failing intermittently, would not it have stored some fault codes? Did the dealer check for fault codes when they had the car?

Originally Posted by xxaudixx2510

Hello,
I've stumbed upon this forum desperate for help and expert advice!

I had purchased a brand new Audi Q7 2017 when it first came out (S-Line package, Fully Loaded with the Maximum Upgrades).
Sometime about a 2 months ago, while driving in local streets, my steering wheel suddenly stiffened and locked. Let me explain... imagine your car is off and your steering wheel doesn't move - the "lock" feeling is kind of like that! The "stiffening" feeling is what leads up to that.
With extremely hard pressure with two hands I could turn the car off the street and came to safe stop. At this time, my car is in parked and I tried to turn the wheel back and forth (left to right) to see if I could loosen the steering wheel. But the steering wheel would resist and made more changes. A lot of force was need to move it! So I turned off the car, waited a couple seconds and turned the car back on again. And the steering wheel and drive was back to "normal". I let this weird malfunction go at this time - hoping this was just a weird one time incident. Unfortunately, this was not the case a few weeks later (2 weeks I would say) this incident happens again. I had to do the exact same thing for it to reset (turn off & on the car). And finally, a week later it happened again, the only difference I had a passenger (On Valentine's day evening). Scary. Embarrassing. Right?
Side note: I've driven with car without Lane Assist when these issues occurred. Had no problems prior to. Had the car serviced for maintenance & all recalls prior to - the car is up to date.

I brought my vehicle to my dealership (the dealership I purchased the vehicle from).
1. I tried to explain the issue at hand. The service advisor, I received that day, before even servicing the vehicle, briefly looked at the car and saw a bit of curb damage on the rim and blamed it on that. Saying it there was driver's impact on the tire/rim and because the wheels and steering wheel are connected, it will cause the steering to have an effect. Gave me all these quotes on costs for labour etc. LOL Well, if thats the case why does the steering wheel not lock every single time from this "driver's impact". It only happens when the car chooses to. Sounds more like a defect. But wait, how are you making these statements without the car being serviced or looked at yet? (Food for thought).
Anyways, they took the car for 48 hrs and return the vehicle to me with "we couldn't find the problem", "you're probably feeling the Lane Assist", "try driving without the lane assist". They even put it on my servicing papers.
[Sorry Audi, I know I'm asian and young lol, but I've had this car for 50k when the issue had occurred - I know how to use this car and what Lane Assist feels like. I've previously driven Lexus & Mercedes, all brand new.]

2. Immediately, brought this issue to the Service Manager to be taken seriously.
2 days in, no faults found. Foreman drove it around and still no faults.
I refused to pick up the car. Addressed my concerns again.
They kept it again for 5 days. No faults.
I insisted they keep it for another 7 days. No faults.

3. No choice but to pick up my car today.

And I know they can't do much without the car locking and stiffening when they're driving it.
I understand they are in a bind as much as I am.
But there has to be something they can do. I did not spend 100k on a car for it to just chose when to lock & stiffen the steering wheel on me when it feels like malfunctioning. Am I wrong?
I know the service manager did the best he can and was thorough from what i could tell. But I still have an issue with no immediate solution.
Their solution for the time being is "When it happens again, drive the car immediately to the dealership and will try to fix it".

A little side rant.
Upon return of the car, I noticed the car was fully cleaned inside (like after every servicing) but there was cigarette ash on the driver's back passenger seat.
Great. I'm already taking back a faulty car. But to add to that someone was smoking in my car? For how long? What else were they doing with my car? Joyriding?
Brought it to the service managers attention, and the response "The people who drove your car don't smoke" "We will look into it" "Maybe in the Spring, we will take the car for detailing".


To summarize, 14 days with Audi Dealership, 1100kms later, no faults found. issue not resolved.
What do I do?

My concerns are:
Safety - I'm driving a car, with a steering wheel, that can lock at any given time for no apparent reason. I could be on the highway turning off and this could happen. I'm in a 7 passenger seat vehicle, I'm not only risking myself but my passengers & of course the public.

Sorry for my extra ranting!!! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME! WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
I WANT A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.

Originally Posted by mbs