2015 Audi Q7 3.0TDi Quattro - 7 seater is a Safety Risk in South Africa

In 2017 I purchased a second hand Audi Q7 from Audi East Rand. The vehicle was in pristine condition and had done only 15000km's. The vehicle is a seven seater and as such has no spare wheel or biscuit wheel as the wheel well is consumed by the additional seats. The vehicle comes only with a small air-compressor (12V outlet powered) and a can of inflating foam. I was led to believe at the time of the purchase that this would be sufficient as the tyres are "run flat " tyres that are capable of being driven to the nearest service centre.

On the 10th of May 2018, I had an incident when a piece of protruding curb stone struck the side wall of my front, passenger side tyre. This led to an instantaneous deflation of the tyre and the inability to reinflate the tyre using the tools provided by Audi for such an event. I therefore decided to immediately drive 5 km to the nearest tyre service centre to have the tyre replaced.

It was after reaching the tyre service centre (Supaquick - Edenvale), that I was informed that the model of tyre fitted to my vehicle (21 inch Pirelli Scorpion-Verde A0) was not yet available in SA and that I would need to contact Audi for assistance. I therefore contacted Audi Assist along with the original dealer where I purchased the vehicle and Audi Rivonia where I had recently serviced the vehicle. The only assistance I received was from Audi Rivonia. They attempted to send through a spare 20 inch wheel that I would be able to use temporarily (not Ideal), but it turned out that the bolt fixings were spaced differently and as such this was a failed plan.

After many hours waiting (luckily in an urban location) I managed to talk to the used car manager at Audi East Rand. He was the first person who was able to advise me that Good Year made the same tyre and had supply in SA (Audi Assist would have just left me waiting). He further advised me that I would have to fit 2 of these tyres as the car would possibly incur damage should I only change a single tyre and that these should be installed on the same axle (preferably front). Having eventually sourced these tyres (another 2 hours), I was able to have them fitted and be on my way. In all I was stranded for 7 hours with no assistance from Audi Assist.

During the installation of the new tyres, it was pointed out to me that I had incurred damage to the inner rim of my mag wheel. I couldn't believe it as I only drove 5 kilometres on "run flat" tyres. Upon enquiring from the tyre dealership how this could have occurred, I was informed that the tyres where not in fact "run flat" tyres, but ordinary tyres.

Once mobile I called Audi Assist back to inform them that I was back on the road and to let them know that they needn't concern themselves any longer with the incident. My only request was that they (Audi) underwrite the replacement of only 2 tyres instead of 4 with an alternate brand. This was agreed telephonically would not be a problem and that Audi would provide me such comfort in writing.

The following day Audi changed their mind in this regard and informed me that I needed to change all 4 tyres for my warranty to still stand. Luckily Pirelli (obviously a far more responsible company than Audi) has in the interim offered to cover the cost of the additional tyres as they felt responsible for not having the tyre available in the country. The tyres were all replaced with Good Year tyres which are available in the correct size and specification.

When I was sold the car, I was lead to believe that I had run flat tyres (hence no spare wheel), it turns out that the tyres are not run flat and as such the 5km I did in getting to the tyre fitment centre messed up my rim.

I am extremely unhappy with how this was handled by Audi, but when I called customer services I was treated with total disregard. I am now extremely fearful to drive this car as I have no spare wheel, no run flat tyres and Audi Assist is no assistance at all. If this happens in a remote location such as the middle of the Karoo, I am going to be in a serious predicament. I cannot fit a spare tyre into the car as there is no place for such and would have to drive around with a full spare wheel (which I will have to purchase) and a jack in my boot (the car doesn’t have this either) in order to be safe.

I am of the opinion that the car has a major design flaw in a country where distances between towns can exceed 200km and Audi is unwilling to accept responsibility therefore. They would rather blame the tyre manufacturer's than face up to the fact that the car is problematic.

So in closing I would like to say thank you to Pirelli SA, Audi East Rand and Audi Rivonia, but to Audi SA and Audi assist I would like to give you a big thumbs down and let you know that I will be placing a formal complaint with the consumer complaints commission along with issuing a press release to the motoring press.