I never wanted to make a video like this.
Search on YouTube: Audi North Austin Warning: My "Brand New" SQ7 Was Damaged, Dealer Swapped & Never Disclosed
I have been an Audi customer and a long-time supporter of the brand. I believe in the quality, craftsmanship, and reputation that Audi has built over decades. That is why this situation has been so disappointing and honestly heartbreaking for me as a consumer.
I purchased what I believed was a brand-new 2025 Audi SQ7 -- a top-of-the-line vehicle that cost close to $90,000. I paid full price, believing I was buying a true new vehicle, represented to me as new, clean, and free from prior damage.
After taking delivery, I brought the vehicle to a professional shop to have it wrapped in clear Paint Protection Film. That should have been a simple and exciting step to protect a brand-new vehicle. Instead, the owner of the PPF shop called me and said they had to stop the work after discovering that the rear of the vehicle appeared to have been repainted. They also found significant damage to the rear tailgate area that had not been disclosed to me before purchase.
That was the moment I realized something was seriously wrong.
From my understanding, the damage occurred before the vehicle was dealer-swapped from Audi North Austin to Audi Palo Alto. Most importantly, that damage was never disclosed to me before I purchased the vehicle.
That is the reason I am making this video.
This is not about a small scratch. This is not about being difficult. This is about disclosure, transparency, trust, and basic consumer protection. When a customer pays full price for a vehicle represented as brand new, that customer deserves to know the full truth about the vehicle's condition and history before signing paperwork and taking delivery.
In my case, I was not given that opportunity.
The damage and repair issues I discovered were extremely concerning. The rear area of the vehicle appears to have been damaged and repaired before sale. The paint match on the repaired area does not appear consistent with the rest of the vehicle. There is also a long, visible, blade-like mark on the rear hatch area, and the repair work appears to have been handled carelessly. In the video, you can see what appears to be paint applied over adhesive residue from the original Audi emblem, rather than properly removing and refinishing the panel.
To me, that is not what any customer should expect from a brand-new Audi.
What makes this even more frustrating is the lack of timely communication and accountability after the issue was raised. From my position as the consumer, I went days without meaningful communication or a clear resolution regarding a very serious matter. I made multiple attempts to get answers. Instead of feeling heard and supported, I felt dismissed.
I want to be fair and clear. I am not making this video to attack people personally. I am making this video to raise awareness of what happened, encourage other consumers to ask more questions, and urge dealerships to do the right thing when damage occurs.
Consumers work hard for their money. Buying a new vehicle should be an exciting and trustworthy experience, not a battle over undisclosed damage.
I believe Audi North Austin, Audi Palo Alto, and Audi of America should take this matter seriously and determine a fair resolution. From my standpoint, that resolution should be either a full refund of the vehicle purchase price, including the additional money I invested in the vehicle, or a replacement with a truly new, undamaged Audi SQ7 of equal or better specification, including reimbursement or replacement of the blackout work already completed.
I remain willing to resolve this directly, respectfully, and professionally. I have also made clear that if this situation is handled fairly and appropriately, I would be willing to update my reviews and public comments to reflect that outcome.
But until then, I feel a responsibility to share my experience.
This video is for other consumers, Audi customers, the Audi dealer network, and Audi of America. Please inspect your vehicles carefully. Ask whether the vehicle was dealer-swapped. Ask whether there was any transport damage, lot damage, body damage, paintwork, repainting, or repair work before purchase. Ask for a written disclosure. Do not assume that "new" always means untouched.
Audi has built a global reputation on quality, engineering, trust, and attention to detail. I still believe in what the Audi brand is supposed to stand for. But this experience has fallen far below that standard.
Audi customers deserve better.
Hard-working consumers deserve transparency.
And any dealership representing a premium brand should do the right thing when something goes wrong.
My goal is simple: accountability, transparency, and a fair resolution -- not just for me, but for any customer who believes they. https://youtu.be/sXY_L-gBqRU?si=LpE5Q5pibRoWQCUy read more