Audi S7's Air Suspension Failure: Signs & Solutions

I had a similar issue with my 2011 A7 when the air suspension started acting up. Having some experience with these systems, I recognized the symptoms immediately, dropped ride height, warning lights, and that characteristic lean you mentioned. The air suspension pump was my first suspect too, but it turned out to be much simpler. My workshop found a damaged wiring harness and loose connector near the compressor. The cable insulation had worn through, causing intermittent connection issues with the air struts control module. Total repair cost was 95 Euro for diagnosing and fixing the connection issue. Much better than replacing the entire compressor unit. The suspension pump itself was actually working fine once properly connected. To help diagnose your specific case, could you share: Does the suspension make any unusual noises when starting the car? Can you still adjust ride height at all, or is it completely unresponsive? Did the issue develop gradually or happen suddenly? Have you noticed any air leaks or hissing sounds? Usually, these symptoms point to either electrical connections or compressor failure, but proper diagnosis is essential before replacing major components.

Thanks for sharing your experience. At 134111KM, my S7 is also showing similar suspension system problems. After checking your questions: I hear a faint hissing sound from the rear passenger side when parked, the ride height adjustment is completely unresponsive, and the issue developed over about a week. The load leveling stopped working first, then the whole system failed. I checked the wiring connections but they appear intact. This makes me think the air leaks might be the primary issue, rather than just a compressor failure. Would love to hear if anyone else has tracked down similar air suspension component issues.

Thanks for the additional details about the hissing sound and progression of the failure. Your symptoms are very similar to what I experienced, but the hissing noise points to a different root cause than my wiring issue. Based on the sound location and gradual system failure, you likely have a leaking air strut on the rear passenger side. The air suspension compressor probably still works but cant maintain pressure due to the leak. This explains why the load leveling failed first, as the system struggled to compensate for the leak before giving up completely. When my cars suspension started acting up, I learned these systems typically fail in this order: 1. Load leveling becomes erratic 2. Air suspension warning lights activate 3. Complete system shutdown The repair cost for a single air strut was around 850 Euro in my case. If you want to confirm the leak location, spray soapy water around the strut while the system tries to maintain pressure, bubbles will show at the leak point. Worth noting that worn air struts often fail gradually like this, especially around your mileage. Replacing just the leaking unit should resolve the suspension pump warnings and restore normal operation.

Based on that insight, Im going to have my strut checked first. The hissing sound and failure pattern matches exactly what you described. The gradual suspension system decline over a week makes more sense now, it was probably the air leak getting progressively worse until the load leveling gave up completely. My local workshop quoted 780 Euro for strut replacement, so your cost reference helps confirm thats reasonable. They also mentioned checking all other air lines while theyre in there, since air leaks in one place can stress other components. At least its not a complete compressor failure, which would have been much more expensive. Ill try the soapy water test to pinpoint the leak before taking it in. Thanks for helping narrow down the likely cause. Will update once I get it fixed in case others run into similar air suspension issues.